I've been at the Bird Fair for most of the last three days - have you ever visited this event? If not - give it a try one year.
On Friday morning Martin Fowlie, from Birdlife International, was on the Radio 4 Today programme and did something I've never succeeded in doing - he made John Humphrys gasp, when he said that 20,000 birdwatchers would attend this event over the weekend. If anything - it seems record attendances may have been set - so the numbers may have been higher!
So who on Earth are these people? A bunch of weirdoes?
Well, to be honest, some of them (us!) are a bit odd but that's true of any bunch of enthusiasts, I guess. There's the old guy in the kilt, the guy with the large earring who told me all the things that are wrong with the RSPB, the wannabe celebrity, the geeky expert and a range of other characters. But most of the people attending are keen nature lovers who are attending talks and lectures, buying books and magazines, trying out telescopes and binoculars, buying bird food for their gardens, wishing they could afford to go on some of the most amazing wildlife holidays or buy the most beautiful artwork, and meeting up with fellow enthusiasts. Not so odd really - although, noticeably, lots of blokes with understanding partners rather than a balanced mix of both genders!
If, like me, you have been interested in birds practically all your life, and work for the RSPB, then it's quite difficult to move without meeting someone who wants to say hello, have a chat or fix to do some business at a later date. I spent the three days chatting (yes it's not that tough!) to an old school friend, ex-RSPB staff, a couple of Fellows of the Royal Society, a Baroness, at least one millionaire, colleagues from a whole range of other conservation organisations, RSPB members (almost everybody in this audience is!), my favourite bird artists, several Defra staff, at least two Sirs, my boss, someone I haven't seen for 20+ years, a range of local Northants birdwatchers, several readers of this blog (nice to meet you!), the person who first interviewed me on the radio (Radio Bristol - about 1970?), a very kind man from Butterfly Conservation who identified a butterfly for me that I'd seen in Spain last week, and a whole range of kindred spirits whom I wish I saw more often. It was a very birdy three days! And I have to say - I loved it!
My conversations ranged from the delightful to the difficult and covered areas as disparate as climate change and 'that bird we saw in 1977 and were never really sure about'. But just about everyone I met cared deeply about the natural world and its future. They loved nature and wanted to enjoy the natural beauty of this planet - and were worried about its future. They weren't twitchers, experts or obsessives (or at least only a few were!), but they were people who were probably slightly better tuned into the future of this planet than most of its inhabitants. Roll on next year!
Hi Mark what a lovely blog,yes I am sure it is a lovely event and bird watching seems to be more accepted now.I Feel lucky that my wife is equally as keen as me and we usually enjoy the walk and scenery as well as any birds we may see.It doesn't have to be a costly exotic holiday as two weeks on Mull and you get wonderful scenery,great birds,great local help and lots of help and sharing experiences with other like minded birders ranging from inexperienced ones only to pleased of any help to real twitchers,hopefully we come somewhere in between what I always think it was Simon Barnes said it was O K to be a bad bird watcher.
What a fantastic weekend it was too! I had my other half with me and he is now almost as keen as me after being dragged up to Scotland, Portugal and now to the Bird Fair - I hasten to add not on the same weekend! I find like minded people all want to help to preserve what our wonderful country has to offer and make sure it is still here for our grandchildren and beyond. Well done to the RSPB and everyone at the Bird Fair - it was our first time there but will certainly make another trip next year. Thank you.
I was on holiday not far from there but we didn't konw it was on so unfortunatly we couldn't go because we didn't hav any where to stay.
Yes Mark it was a really good weekend. (I'm the one who on Friday morning, asked you where you'd been to on your latest blog. I thought the Alps, was wrong again, but there you go.) The talks were great, as always too short ,but time is limited , the optics marquees were sadly, just to dream about, though thank goodness for warehouse express, and the weather served us well. Booked out next Indian trip. We returned to Scotland yesterday a day early after the wind in Lincolnshire was just too much for our tent but a great week was had.
Hello Mark
Only just found this blog, and yes The Bird Fair is excellent. We went on Saturday (even though Sunday had a discount for RSPB members)
We went to the bird Fair this year (like we have done so for the last 2 years).
It is one event that we enjoy going to each year. I have to admit i did feel that there where less marquees to look around this year (must be the recession that has put people off)
Each time we have added something new to our photographic equipment. It was a decent good quality Tripod this year. It is good that there is a percentage of the price knocked off if you buy goods at the Fair.
Last year I remember walking past Bill Oddie while in one of the Marquees. That is the only time we have seen anyone famous so far!
Look forward to the same event next year, and Rutland Water is one of our favourite place to visit anyway
Kathy and Dave