Wednesday 4 February 2015

WWT Slimbridge - Festival of Birds 2015 Part 2



The Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) Slimbridge – A Young Birder’s Day at the Festival of Birds 2015 Part 2


Read Part 1 http://bit.ly/1LKSEIo


The day before, I had spent the day at the WWT Festival of birds and had given a one hour talk which was filmed by the BBC Natural History Department.  The talk had gone really well and I had lots of positive comments.  Read Part 1 of my blog post http://bit.ly/1LKSEIo


I had done some birding but was looking forward to doing more today.


Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig during Born to Bird talk at WWT Slimbridge
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig



Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Martin Spray CBE, CEO of WWT
Photograph taken by and copyright WWT, Sam Stafford
 
with Baz Scampion's photograph of Spoon-biled Sandpiper in the background


Sunday 1st February 2015



Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at WWT Slimbridge
Photograph taken by and copyright WWT, Sam Stafford




Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at WWT Slimbridge
Photograph taken by and copyright WWT, Sam Stafford


We arrived at Slimbridge, in time to do a bit of birding before a video interview of me as a young birder by Sam Stafford one of the Media Team at Slimbridge.  We wandered around the reserve to find the perfect spot for an interview, somewhere beautiful but not to open, as it was a windy day and I had to be heard over the gusts of wind.  Finally, after three attempts, we found the perfect spot.  The interview was great, being asked about how I got into birding, why I want to get other kids interested in nature and birds, what I liked about Slimbridge and its birds, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper project and my trip to Bangladesh to do survey work for that project.  I thought the interview went really well.  Sam seemed pretty happy with it too.


Young BIrder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig and Sam Stafford at WWT Slimbridge
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig


Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig and Sam Stafford at WWT Slimbridge
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig


Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig and Sam Stafford at WWT Slimbridge
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig


The reserve was really busy and there were twice as many people as the day before, probably because it was better weather.  Over the day, about 1300 people came into the reserve and all the stands that we spoke to had done very well, with lots selling out.


Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at WWT Slimbridge
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig


It was then time to see Mike Dilger speak, which was very entertaining.  He had lots of enthusiasm and was really amazing and awesome.  He was just really funny, cool and easy to relate to (by me anyway). The auditorium was packed full for Mike’s talk.  


I decided to buy his book about converting his garden into a wildlife haven.  Mike lives in the next village from us and we drive past his road most days.  So the wildlife that he gets in his garden is very relevant to me and my garden.  It was great to meet Mike after his talk and I had a brilliant chat with him about his birding and mine.



Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig and Mike Dilger at WWT Slimbridge
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig


After that, we decided to split up for a bit and I went up into the tower and saw two crane and lots of Lapwing, as well as some of the birds I saw the day before.  I then went to Wader Shore where they have captive breeding Avocets, Redshank and Ruff.  I also went to see the Flamingos including Chilean Flamingo which I have seen in the wild in Bolivia close to Sajama National Park at 5,000 m near the Chilean border.


Then there was time for a quick lunch and chat with Nigel Jarrett from WWT Slimbridge.  He asked me if I was interested in helping birds other than waders and I told him that I definitely was.  I told him about my visit to Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and my discussion with them about the Madagascar Pochard, a joint project with WWT Conservation.  Nigel seemed impressed with that, I think because it’s a project he is heavily involved with. 


Nigel then talked to me about the Baer’s Pochard, which has had its numbers plummet in recent years.  This is another bird connected to me through my Bangladeshi heritage.  They used to winter in Tangua Haor in Sunamgonj District in Bangladesh.  A haor is a big natural wetland and my Nanabhai (Mum’s dad) was from that area and his cousin still lives in Tangua.  Mum, Dad and Ayesha saw 6 Baer’s Pochard there in 2000.  So when Nigel asked whether I would be interested in getting involved in their project, my answer was a big yes.  


At the moment, they are checking the DNA of the birds held at Slimbridge, and then they are going to try to breed them in more stringent conditions.  I am going to get involved one weekend after the eggs have hatched.  By coincidence, a couple of birders found one in Philippines recently, the first time they have been seen there. Maybe there is a glimmer of hope for the Baer’s Pochard after all.


Nigel Jarrett with Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig, Chris Craig and Helena Craig
Photograph taken by Sayam Chowdhury copyright Chris Craig


After lunch and this chat with Nigel, we went outside for more birding.  Extra birds that we saw were Bewick Swan, Barnacle Geese, White-fronted Geese, Pochard and Ruff.


We then had a quick walk around the stands and spoke to the guys on the South West Peregrine stand, the Help a Hedgehog stand, Swarovski Optiks and the Paramo coat stall. It would be great to have one of their coats once I’m out of a size 0.


I sometimes wonder where the world would be without Captain Scott and his last instruction for his son, Sir Peter Scott, who set up both WWT and WWF. What a legacy to leave us and an inspiration for us all.




Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at WWT Slimbridge
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

It was a great weekend and I am looking forward to next year already.  I am hoping to have a cameraman with me during my trip to Bangladesh to see the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, so maybe I will be back to show the film and talk about my trip.


About the writer



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.











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