Sunday, 24 January 2016

Birdgirl’s Highlights of 2015



Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig birding locally on the Somerset Levels


2015 was a great year for me, with so much happening.  It’s hard to remember it all, but thought I’d have a got at putting it all together!

I went local birding and ringing most weekends.

I wrote 247 blog posts during 2015 and my blog ended the year on 900,000 views. I wrote about my best animals and birds for 2015 http://bit.ly/20150R8 and my favourite blog posts http://bit.ly/1RPXCbM

This is my video about trekking for amazing Mountain Gorilla youtu.be/abuqEr6KnnA

I also took part in the BBC Wildlife Magazine Local Patch Reporters and had the highest number of posts at 272 for the year and also the highest number of views with 49,500 views http://bit.ly/1SkH5NC

I also ended the year with 7,900 likes on my Facebook Page http://on.fb.me/1P5yGrb and 1100 followers on Twitter http://bit.ly/1yoslnK

The summary of my year is - Awards - 7, Television interviews - 6, Radio interviews 4, Newspaper and magazine articles - 31, Interviews, meetings and letters - 28, Guest blogs 17, Workshops and events 29, Talks given by me 11, Talks I attended 9, Twitches - 7 and World birding trips - 7



Awards

  • 01/01 At the end of 2014, I was nominated for 2014/2015 as one of Bristol’s most influential young people by Rife Magazine along with Singer Songwriter George Ezra and actress Maisie Williams http://bit.ly/1AKR0BJ
  • 02/01 I received “Letter of the Month” for my letter about getting kids into nature and won a pair of walking boots
  • 22/01 I received an award from my science teacher for all my efforts in birding and conservation projects, which meant a lot
  • 10/03 BBC Wildlife Magazine awarded me “Blogger of the Week” for my blog post on surveying Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Bangladesh
  • 05/10 I was made a Bristol European Green Capital 2015 Ambassador along with Simon King, Tony Juniper and Miranda Krestovnikoff and other TV celebrities http://bit.ly/1MTBUfB
  • 26/10 Birdwatch Magazine announced their Birders’ Choice Awards for 2015 and listed me in their shortlist for their Blog of the Year category http://bit.ly/1nwEC5i
  • 28/12 The BBC Wildlife Magazine announced that in the category for Young Blogger of the Year, I was awarded Highly commended
  • 28/12 Birdwatch Magazine announced the results (from voting) of their Birders’ Choice Awards for 2015 and I was mentioned as being runner up (after Mark Avery) in their Blog of the Year category and described me “At just 13 years old, she is a passionate conservationist and activist.”


Birdwatch Magazine Birders' Choice Awards Results


Birdwatch Magazine Birders' Choice Awards Results
showing Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig as runner-up in Blog of the Year Category

Television Interviews:

  • 21/01 I was filmed during an interview with a team of two from Channel S and broadcast on 11 Feb in the UK and Europe and on 13 Feb in Bangladesh on 24 hour news channel Ekkator TV
  • 31/01 I was filmed by a team of three from the BBC Natural History Unit giving a talk at WWT Festival of Birds
  • 01/02 I was filmed during an interview for WWT about their Festival of Birds
  • 21/02 I was filmed during an interview with Jamuna TV in Dhaka. This was shown on the 1st March in Bangladesh and the link is http://bit.ly/iBmYqYh and I am on at 10.27 minutes
  • 26/05 I was filmed live during an interview for Springwatch extra about my birding


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig being filmed at WWT Slimbridge


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig being filmed at Jamuna TV, Bangladesh


Live Radio interviews:

  • 21/01 Interview with Shepherd Radio, local radio station, about Sundarbans oil spill
  • 08/03 Interview on BBC Radio Asian Network about me, Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Bangladesh and inspiring other Bangladeshi girls on International Womens’ Day
  • 11/03 Interview with Shepherd Radio, local radio station, about Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Bangladesh
  • 11/11 Interview with Shepherd Radio, local radio station about Africa and Bristol Green Capital


Birdgirl and Nadia Ali at interview with  BBC Asian Network


Newpapers and Magazines

  • 02/01 Article in the January edition of Chew Valley Gazette about being recognised by Rife Magazine as one of Bristol’s most influential young people along with Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams who is also from the Chew Valley http://bit.ly/1Tv5Cid
  • 02/01 January edition of Chew Valley Gazette, where I have a column, about saving the Spoon-billed Sandpiper and World Wader Weekend on P52 http://bit.ly/1Tv5Cid
  • 09/01 Article in WWT website about my talk http://bit.ly/20gbAIW
  • 30/01 February edition of Chew Valley Gazette, where I have a column, about twitching Little Bustard on p14 http://bit.ly/1QAvbM7
  • 17/02 Article on Audubon Magazine (USA) “The Little Twitcher Who Could” http://bit.ly/1KPQJ2B
  • 22/02 Article in Prothom Alo in Bangladesh with the link http://bit.ly/1Dx1t6P
  • 24/02 Article in The Sunamganj Times http://bit.ly/1nxdm6G
  • 25/02 Article in The Daily Sunamkantha Times http://bit.ly/1KhPTfF
  • 27/02 March edition of Chew Valley Gazette, where I have a column, about surveying the Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Bangladesh p61 http://bit.ly/20AfCsd
  • 06/03 Article in the Bangladeshi Youth Magazine Kishor Alo http://bit.ly/1F6pRrc
  • 11/03 Article in The Daily Ittefaq in Bangladesh http://epaper.ittefaq.com.bd/
  • 03/04 Article in The New Nation English language paper in Bangladesh http://bit.ly/1yKIZKu
  • 24/04 May edition of Chew Valley Gazette, where I have a column, about giving a talk and birding on the Somerset Levels p55 http://bit.ly/1PJ7LAF
  • 01/05 Article in the Bangladesh Bird Club Jan-Mar 2015 Magazine about my visit to survey Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Dhaka talk
  • 29/05 June edition of Chew Valley Gazette, where I have a column, about GMO and the impact on our health and the environment p57 http://bit.ly/1Su3N4b
  • 26/06 Article that I wrote for the RSPB Birdlife Magazine Jul-Aug edition for children about how to identify waders and improve their skills
  • 28/08 September edition of the Chew Valley Gazette, where I have a column, about our trip to Uganda on p9 http://bit.ly/1NfCxVu
  • 28/08 September edition of the Chew Valley Gazette, article about World Shorebirds Day p9 http://bit.ly/1NfCxVu
  • 29/10 November edition of Bird Watching Magazine on p79 had a photograph of my with a nest box http://bit.ly/23AMnYJ
  • 30/10 November edition of Chew Valley Gazette, where I have a column, about seeing a Black Stork my 450th bird in UK on p44 http://bit.ly/1NIlEOl
  • 01/11 The Western Daily Press on-line (a Bristol newspaper) published an article about me and seeing my 4000th bird species in the world http://bit.ly/1SQRYX6
  • 02/11 The Western Daily News on-line (Bristol) published an article about me and seeing my 4000th bird species in the world http://bit.ly/1QzHkAL
  • 02/11 The ITV West Country News on-line (Bristol) published an article about me and seeing my 4000th bird species in the world http://bit.ly/200bLTa
  • 04/11 The Metro Nationwide published an article about me and seeing my 4000th bird species in the world http://bit.ly/23AMnYJ
  • 04/11 The Daily Express (A National newspaper) published an article about me and seeing my 4000th bird species in the world http://bit.ly/23AMnYJ
  • 05/11 The Somerset Guardian (a West Country newspaper) published an article about me and seeing my 4000th bird species in the world http://bit.ly/23AMnYJ
  • 05/11 The Midsomer Norton and Radstock Journal (a Bath newspaper) published an article about me and seeing my 4000th bird species in the world http://bit.ly/23AMnYJ
  • 27/11 December edition of Chew Valley Gazette, where I have a column, about the terrible fires in Indonesia being caused by Palm Oil Plantations on p43 http://bit.ly/1QAjWTK
  • 01/12 Article in the American Birding Association (ABA) Magazine Birding in their “Milestones” section about me seeing my 4000th bird in the world
  • 02/12 I wrote a letter to BBC Wildlife Magazine about sexism in birding and nature conservation.  My blog post with the extended version of the letter has had 20,000 views http://bit.ly/1QAjmFu
  • 12/12 Article in Weston Daily Press, about my birding and inspiring teenagers in get into birds and nature

Article about Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig in Somerset Guardian 

Interviews, letters and Meetings

  • 11/01 Meeting at BBC Natural History Unit with Charlotte Crosse, Tim Scoones, Anne Gallagher and Rosemary Edwards
  • 17/01 Interview with Audubon Magazine, New York via Skype
  • 03/05 Meeting with George Fergurson, Bristol Mayor
  • 03/07 Meeting with my MP Jacob Rees-Mogg to discuss hunting with dogs
  • 01/07 Prepared a questionnaire and sent it to ethnic minority birders and conservationists, to try to find the issues related to lack of diversity
  • 04/07 Letter to teaching Unions about getting teenagers into wildlide and asking to speak at their annual conference
  • 05/07 Letter to RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and The British Trust for Ornithology raising issues about the lack of ethnic diversity in nature and nature conservation
  • 06/07 Letter from Association of Science Educators (ASE) asking me to speak at their conference in Jan 2016
  • 06/07 Wrote to The Green Party, The Labour Party, The Liberal Democrat Party and The Conservative Party why it’s is important to educate our young people about nature and the environment and asking to speak at their party conference
  • 07/07 Letter from Green Party asking me to speak at their conference
  • 08/07 Letter from MP Jacob Rees-Mogg after our meeting
  • 12/07 I wrote a letter to my MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg about hunting with dogs http://bit.ly/1Vy7ViN
  • 13/07 Sent a video to my MP Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg, I am fox, http://bit.ly/1Sj4u22
  • 01/08 Interview with Charlotte Wasylik published on her blog Prairie Birder http://bit.ly/1P4tF20
  • 02/08 Letter from the Geographical Assocation asking me to speak at their next conference in April 2016
  • 15/08 Letter from Lib Dem Party with a positive response but saying that the conference was full
  • 25/08 Letter from Shadow Home Secretary Tristram Hunt to me about my wanting education about conservation and the environment in schools http://bit.ly/1TtjJ7x
  • 30/08 The Oriental Bird Club June 2015 Magazine, Birding Asia, had an article about my trip to Bangladesh to survey Spoon-billed Sandpiper and promote them http://bit.ly/1Ki9Ojh
  • 01/09 June 15 Edition of The Bittern, Somerset Ornithological Society’s Newsletter had an Article about Camp Avalon http://bit.ly/20eEQ2N
  • 28/09 Letter to Jeremy Corbyn about environmental issues and asking again to speak at the Labour Party Conference
  • 05/10 Meeting with Bristol European Green Capital 2015 organisers
  • 06/10 Interview with Wall Street Journal, New York via Skype
  • 11/10 Meeting and podcast with The Wildlife Trusts and Charlie Moores as part of their Every Child Wild Campaign and shown a month later http://bit.ly/1PMr2Yd
  • 29/11 Interview with Bristol Journalist Adanma Maduagwu
  • 05/12 Meeting with camera woman Anneliese Possberg about filming in Antarctica
  • 06/12 Interview with Audubon Magazine, New York via Facetime
  • 09/12 Interview with Audubon Magazine, New York via Facetime
  • 30/12 Interview with Matthias Benko of the Indiana Young Birders’ Club and published in their Fall Edition of their Magazine, The Warbler on page 2 http://bit.ly/1RTTgjX


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with The Wildlife Trust taking part in a podcast


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Bristol Journalist Adanma Maduagwu


Guest Blogs I have written or articles

  • 08/01 Article on American Birding Association (ABA) website about the oil spill in the Sundarbans, which led to $30,000 being raised for the clean up, http://bit.ly/14vMr1A
  • 19/01 Article on The Wild Network website about Big Garden Birdwatch http://bit.ly/2dqhzre
  • 19/02 Article on World Shorebirds Day website, “A Young Birder’s view on shorebirds” http://bit.ly/1BgHDw6
  • 23/04 Article online on the Bangladeshi Environmental website 4matters.com http://bit.ly/1dmaTa1
  • 29/04 Article on A Focus on Nature website, What I want the natural world to look like by 2050, about GMO http://bit.ly/1Q2wH8Y
  • 01/05 Article on Beyond GMO website, What kind of World would I vote for? A GM free one http://bit.ly/1KhpzHc
  • 06/07 Article on Reflectiveteens.com website, What kind of World do I want? Sharing my thoughts on GMO http://bit.ly/2dHxyDO
  • 07/06 Article on 4matters.com website, What kind of World do I want? Sharing my thoughts on GMO http://bit.ly/1Kj5g9A
  • 30/06 Article for The Wildlife Trusts about their #30 Days Wild initiative http://bit.ly/1KZncI5
  • 01/09 Article in Avalon Marshes Newsletter about Camp Avalon
  • 11/09 Poem about waders (shorebirds) written for Waderquest Newsletter
  • 16/09 Article for Swarovski Optik Blog about East Africa and seeing my 4000th bird in the world http://bit.ly/1Tuc2xU
  • 30/10 I entered a video of my encounter with Mountain Gorilla in Uganda for the RSPB Caingorms Nature young presenter of the year competition 2015 http://bit.ly/1OY04tb
  • 10/11 Article in the American Birding Association Blog (ABA) about my trip to East Africa and the birds and animals we saw there and seeing my 4000th bird species in the world http://bit.ly/1nFdP7D
  • 25/11 Article for Swarovski Optik Blog about World Shorebird Days as their Ambassador http://bit.ly/23BG8Eg
  • 01/12 Article for The Wildlife Trusts for their Every Child Wild about focusing on getting teenagers into nature http://bit.ly/20A7Ajd
  • 03/12 Article I write for Bristol European Green Capital 2015 website as an Ambassador about “How teenagers can help save the Planet” http://bit.ly/1TuXgXV


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig writing message for GMO guest blogs


Workshops & Events

  • 20/01 School visit to an Indoor Rainforest
  • 25/01 RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch
  • 28/01 RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch
  • 31/01 WWT Festival of Birds
  • 01/02 WWT Festival of Birds
  • 14/02 Wildlife Poetry Reading
  • 07/03 Bristol Naturalists Society Celebration in Bristol
  • 18/04 Leading a Family birding day at RSPB Ham Wall Reserve
  • 24/04 Chew Valley Bird Fair
  • 21/05 Leading a birding session for East Harptree Environmental Club
  • 26/05 Watching Springwatch Unsprung from the live audience and chatting to Chris Packham about world birding
  • 01/06 – 30/06 #30 Days Wild Project
  • 13/06 Bristol Festival of Nature
  • 14/06 Bristol Festival of Nature
  • 19/06 Avalon Marshes, Young Wardens Mothing Workshop
  • 19/06 Camp Avalon a camp for young birders and inner city teenagers, organised by me
  • 20/06 Camp Avalon a camp for young birders organised by me and inner city teenagers, organised by me
  • 21/06 Camp Avalon a camp for young birders organised by me and inner city teenagers, organised by me
  • 23/06 Demonstrating ringing at session with Bristol Nature Network
  • 26/06 Leading a session with Scouts to look for Nightjar on the Mendips
  • 27/06 Bath Festival of Nature
  • 06/09 World Shorebird Day spent at Spurn
  • 09/09 Mendip AONB Young Rangers, Working towards Muir Conservation Award
  • 19/09 Mendip AONB Young Rangers, Working towards Muir Conservation Award
  • 08/10 Ringing session with East Harptree Environmental Club
  • 17/10 Mendip AONB Young Rangers, Working towards Muir Conservation Award
  • 14/11 Mendip AONB Young Rangers, Working towards Muir Conservation Award
  • 23/10 Wildlife Film Roadshow, MShed and meeting Doug Allan and Simon King
  • 01/12 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 Exhibition Preview in Bristol, meeting Mark Carwardine (Judge) and Ben Hoare (BBC Wildlife Magazine features editor)


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig doing Big Garden Birdwatch

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig doing Big Schools Birdwatch


Bristol Naturalists Society Celebration

Birdgirl Mya-Rose leading Family Birdwatching Day at RSPB Ham Wall



Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig leading Family Birdwatching Day at RSPB Ham Wall

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig talking to Chris Packham and Biking Birder about world birding
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig talking to Chris Packham and being bombed by Michaela Strachan

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Camp Avalon


Camp Avalon


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig and Simon King at a Wildlife Film Roadshow


Talks given by me

  • 31/01 WWT Festival of Birds (particularly about the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Conservation Project)
  • 20/02 Born to Bird in Dhaka, talking particularly about the Bangladesh Spoon-billed Sandpiper Conservation Project with lots of Bangladesh Bird Club and media attending
  • 01/03 Born to Bird at Avalon Marshes Centre, The Somerset Levels
  • 24/05 Born to Bird at Scotland’s Big Nature Festival
  • 05/09 Oriental Bird Club AGM, talking about birding and seeing Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Bangladesh
  • 16/09 Born to Bird at Somerset Wildlife Trust Heart of the Levels Group, Somerton
  • 15/10 Born to Bird at Somerset Ornithological Society, Ruishton
  • 04/11 Born to Bird at Somerset Wildlife Trust Polden Group, Shapwick
  • 20/11 Born to Bird at Somerset Wildlife Trust Ilminster Group, Ilminster
  • 29/11 Addressing the Bristol Peoples’ Climate Rally on why teenagers are the future and need help to save the world.  This was part of 785,000 worldwide who marched leading up to the UN Conference on Climate Change December 2015 (COP21)
  • 08/12 Born to Bird, Bath Natural History Society with a focus on conservation projects I have been involved with


Birdgirl and Martin Spray WWT CEO at her talk at WWT Festival of Birds


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig during Dhaka talk

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Bangladesh Bird Club at Dhaka talk

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig giving talk at Avalon Marshes Centre
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Bristol Peoples Climate Change Rally


Talks I have attended

  • 28/01/2015 Bristol Nature Network hosted a talk with Stephen Moss and Sam Jones
  • 01/02 Mike Dilger at WWT Festival of Birds
  • 04/03 Nature our Big Allay with Simon King, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Stephanie Hilbourne
  • 05/03 Mark Cocker, Nature Writer
  • 07/03 Tony Juniper on “What Nature does for Britain
  • 26/03 An event at Yeo Valley, watching the film OMG GMO! Followed by a discussion chaired by Stephen Moss
  • 09/06 How to be a badass vlogger, Rife Magazine
  • 13/06 Bill Oddie at Bristol Festival of Nature
  • 23/10 Nature, camera, action! The secret of making incredible wildlife films Exhibition, MShed
  • 23/10 Doug Allan, Antarctic Cameraman at Mshed

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Mike Dilger after his talk

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Tony Juniper after his talk


UK Twitches

  • 01/01 Little Bustard
  • 09/02 Laughing Gull
  • 25/04 Great Blue Heron
  • 29/04 Hudsonian Godwit
  • 04/05 Red-throated Pipit
  • 10/05 Citril Finch
  • 05/09 Black Stork my 450th bird species in the UK


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Hudsonian Godwit twitch


World Birding Trips

  • 14/02 – 22/02 Trip to Bangladesh including a Spoon-billed Sandpiper survey with Bangladesh Spoon-billed Sandpiper Conservation Project.
  • 18/07 – 13/08 Trip to Uganda including seeing Shoebill and Mountain Gorillas
  • 13/08 – 18/08 Trip to Rwanda
  • 18/08 – 31/08 Trip to Kenya including seeing my 4000th bird, Red-throated Tit
  • 12/12 – 19/12 & 30/12 – 04/01 Chile including King Penguins and Puma
  • 19/12 – 20/12 Falklands
  • 21/12 – 29/12 Drake Passage and Antarctica Voyage including Emperor Penguin and Snow Petrel


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig surveying Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Bangladesh

Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig meeting local village children on Sonadia Island, Bangladesh


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig watching Mountain Gorilla in Uganda


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig camping on ice in Antarctica


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Adeile Penguin and icebergs in Antarctica


Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig "hugging" a Gentoo Penguin in Antarctica (for her friends)


About the Writer



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


Mya-Rose Craig is a 13 year old young birder, naturalist, conservationist, environmentalist, activist, 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 loved seeing Mountain Gorillas in East Africa and Penguins in Antarctica over Christmas 2015, her 7th continent. 

Mya-Rose is a Bristol European Green Capital Ambassador along with Kevin McCloud, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tony Juniper, Simon King, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Shaun the Sheep! See the full list of Bristol Ambassadors. She has also 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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