Young Birders

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THE NEXT GENERATION Nuthatch BTO NEST RECORDING Until 30 or so years ago, pretty much any young birdwatcher would have been familiar with the nests and eggs of most common British birds. The reason, of course, was that many of them grew up collecting birds’ eggs. Birdwatching luminaries such as Bill Oddie have talked about how that activity, above all else, taught them all the basics of birding and fieldcraft. These days, egg collecting is a no-no – taking them from the wild was made illegal in 1954, but since 1982, it has also been illegal to simply possess the egg of any British wild bird. But finding and recording nests remains important for scientific study, especially in tracking the breeding success or failure of declining or threatened species. Only 87 Mistle Thrush nests were recorded in 2014, only 23 Jay nests and less than 20 Little Egret nests, so whatever contribution you make to nest recording, it will be a valuable one! It’s a fantastic activity that many birders never consider, yet it’s a challenge that can be enjoyed by everyone. From the simple task of monitoring a Blue Tit nestbox in your garden, to the thrills of finding a Nightjar nest camouflaged on the forest floor, nest recording is rewarding and makes a really valuable contribution to bird conservation. More than 230 species have been recorded for the BTO’s nest record scheme over the years, ranging from Goldcrests to Golden Eagles, but there’s always scope for a lot more, with some relatively common and widespread species badly underepresented. For example, only 87 Mistle Thrush nests were recorded in 2014, only 23 Jay nests and fewer than 20 Little Egret nests, so whatever contribution you make to nest recording, it will be a valuable one! Before you start, make sure you have read the BTO’s Code of Conduct for Nest Recorders at bto.org/volunteer-surveys/nrs/coc Next, download the ‘Nest Record Scheme Quick Start Guide’, which provides a simple introduction and a registration card so you can become an official nest recorder. The next step is to find a nest. It’s great to start practising on easier nests, such as those you may have in your garden or local park. Blue Tits may not be the most exciting species in the world, but monitoring their nests can be fascinating and it provides good training on what to record. The BTO’s book “A Fieldguide to Monitoring Nests” is an excellent guide which can help you learn how to tell the nests and eggs of different species apart. Patience is a key part of nest recording, so take your time and enjoy all the nests you find, even the common ones – after all, not many other people will have taken the time to notice even a House Sparrow nest! Once you’ve had a go at recording a few easier nests, you can begin to wander further afield and search in more challenging terrain. At this stage, it would be great if you could either attend one of BTO’s nest recording courses or hook up with a nest record scheme mentor. Nest Record Scheme (NRS) Mentors are experienced nest recorders who are available to be contacted for advice and training. Be warned, though – nest recording is highly addictive and if you get hooked you’ll soon be on the lookout for nests everywhere you go! Please bear in mind that mentors are volunteers themselves, so their availability may be limited. To find a mentor visit bto.org/volunteersurveys/nrs/taking-part/nrs-mentoring. Essential reading for nest recorders 8 February 2016
VISIT A BIRD OBSERVATORY Situated in many of the best birdwatching locations in the British Isles, bird observatories are excellent places to visit – during peak migration periods, in particular, the sheer number of species and individual birds that you’ll see can be staggering, while at all times they’re good places to see rarer birds, both because they tend to be at good locations for vagrants making landfall, and because they’re well-watched by good birders. It’s also possible to stay at them cheaply, offering what can be unique opportunities to spend extended periods of time in a bird-rich environment, honing your skills while gaining valuable experience of volunteering. There are observatories at Bardsey, Gwynedd; Calf of Man, Isle of Man; Cape Clear, County Cork, Ireland; Copeland, County Down; Dungeness, Kent; Fair Isle; Filey, North Yorkshire; Flamborough, East Yorkshire; Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire; Hilbre, Merseyside; Isle of May, Fife; Landguard, Suffolk; North Ronaldsay, Orkney; Portland Bill, Dorset; Sanda, Argyll and Bute; Sandwich Bay, Kent; Skokholm, Pembrokeshire; Spurn, East Yorkshire; and Walney, Cumbria. Even better, every year, the BTO provides a number of grants of up to £200, to support young people looking to visit one of the accredited British and Irish Bird Observatories. Applications open in February: bto.org/volunteersurveys/takingpart/young-birdobs-volunteer-fund Dungeness ONE TO WATCH MATT WILLIAMS, 29 BW: What first got you interested in birds and wildlife? MW: One of my first memories is from a family holiday in Poole, Dorset. As a treat, my brother and I would get taken to Burger King. As we exited the car park, I looked up and saw a flock of birds on the roof of the restaurant. Their feathers glistened purple and green in the sunset light and they were whirring and clicking like mechanical toys. Then, as if with a collective mind, they fell silent and all took off at once. Those Starlings forged an early connection with nature. And it was thanks to my parents and grandparents fostering that interest that it really took flight. They bought me a youth RSPB membership, bird guides and binoculars and took me on trips to places like Brownsea Island where I saw a Little Egret in the days when it was still a rarity. BW: Which bird surveys/conservation projects are you involved in? MW: Well, I work for the RSPB on climate change and energy policy as my day job. I’m also the Associate Director of A Focus on Nature, the youth nature network in the UK. So, I suppose through that I’m focused more on the people end of things: engaging young people in nature, helping those are engaged to connect with each other and forge careers in conservation, and building a youth nature movement – these are all crucial for securing nature’s future. I do the odd bit of writing, and there are a couple of projects I’m looking to kick off this year. I hope that one will focus on diversity in conservation. BW: What has been your most memorable birding moment? MW: I’m not sure anything beats a Starling murmuration for me. And watching millions of Starlings pour into reedbeds in Somerset, Otter cubs play in the water in front of me, a Peregrine have a go at them, with Great White Egrets flying past and being surrounded by great friends... that’s unbeatable. BW: What would be the one piece of advice you’d give to other young birders? MW: Try your hand at everything. Even if you don’t think you’ll be good, have a go. And if you need to, ask for help, whether you need advice, equipment, or support. There are plenty of young people like myself happy to offer their pearls of wisdom. Portland BW: If you could make one change to the UK’s environmental policies, what would it be? MW: I’d like to see long-term change to the way we interact with nature. So I’d want outdoor time and learning about nature far more embedded into the national curriculums, particularly for teenagers – the age when we so often lose touch with nature. I’d also like to see London made a city national park, followed by nine more city national parks across the UK. birdwatching.co.uk 9
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Young Birders

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