Keynsham Evening of Birds

In November, straight after my visit to Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust's offices in Bath, I headed to Keynsham, a small town between Bristol and Bath.

Avon Wildlife Trust's Keynsham Group was holding an "Evening of Birds" at Wellsway School. The event was being organised by Wellsway School's Green Team. Lots of that team came to the event and it was really good to talk to so many teenagers about getting into wildlife.

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at AWT Keynsham Event
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

Ed Drewitt was giving a talk about Peregrines in Bath and I was running a stand with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). 

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig and Ed Drewitt at AWT Keynsham Event
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

A Young Birder's tips for children

I was talking to people about how to get children interested in wildlife and nature, with copies of my articles from Bird Watching Magazine "Top 10 tips on how to get children interested in birds" and "Top 5 birds to get children hooked on birding". There were lots of people with children at the event, so it was brilliant to be able to speak to them and encourage them. 

Page in Bird Watching Artcle

My top tip for young children is to buy them a bird sticker book. Children love stickers and will go out birding just to get the next sticker and before long their hooked and don't need the stickers any more. I also talked to the children and their parents about ringing and coming to Chew Valley Ringing Station. Gordon Youdale ran the BTO side of the table, talking to people about ringing and surveying.

Gordon Youdale (BTO) and Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at AWT Keynsham Event
Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig

There were also stands for Avon Wildlife Trust, the Keynsham Group as well as other local groups. I brought along a couple of things for the raffle including a “birdgirl” hand silk printed T-shirt.

They had organised for Hawk and Owl Trust to come with some captive owls and birds of prey, which they had flying low over our heads. This had attracted all the young children with their parents, which was a perfect audience for me.

When I was at WWT Slimbridge two weeks ago, lots of people told me that they had met me in Keynsham, which was good to know.

The evening was really successful for all ages and is one that should be replicated in other groups. Getting children into nature and birds is something I not only feel strongly about but is also something that I want to actually do something to help, with talks, workshops and simply talking to and working with children and their parents.

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at AWT Keynsham Event
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

About the writer

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig on Scilly
Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig

Mya-Rose Craig is a 12 year old young birder, conservationist, writer and speaker. She is based near Bristol and writes the successful Birdgirl Blog, with posts about birding and conservation from around the world. She has recently been listed with the singer songwriter George Ezra and actress Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones as one of Bristol's most influential young people. Please like her Birdgirl Facebook Page and follow her on Birdgirl Twitter