Blogger: Kim Matthews, Campaigns Officer
This is an important month in the bird watching world. The first of January is the day the new year-lists start and many birdwatchers undertake the challenge of ‘A Big Year’ with the aim of seeing as many different species of birds as possible in the following 12 months.
January must be such an exciting time for birdwatchers everywhere, whether they are attempting a Big Year, monitoring a local patch or just looking forward to the unknown sightings ahead. A crisp, new notebook in hand, just waiting to be filled with ticks, notes and sketches. The year stretching endlessly ahead and full of excitement and disappointment, debates and discussions, and of course wildlife spectacles and breath-catching moments aplenty. Not to mention the camaraderie of shared sightings with fellow enthusiasts.
Now I am no birdwatcher but I do love seeing wildlife, although I am rather apathetic when it comes to actually getting off my behind and going out explicitly to look for it. Most of my wildlife watching is of an accidental nature, often whilst out walking with the dog.
Yet when I finally do get onto a reserve I wonder why I am not there every day. Surrounded by nature in all its glory, each intake of breath seems to somehow wash the stress of everyday life away. It always feels as if my senses have been parched with thirst and are now eagerly drinking in each new creature or habitat experienced, be it woodland, meadow or reed bed, common bird or rare butterfly.
When I told a work colleague that I wanted to do a ‘Little Year’ in 2013, she asked if that meant I was trying to see as few bird species as possible! Not quite, but I simply don’t have the resources, knowledge or dedication to tackle a Big Year. I don’t even have a telescope! But what I can do is break through that apathy barrier and make the effort to get out and about more often, especially to visit my nearest reserves and hopefully see oodles of fantastic wildlife in the process.
So here I am, armed with aforementioned new notebook, a pair of binoculars, my trusty wildlife hand book and the RSPB bird app on my phone*. All that remains is for me to switch off the computer, get my wellies on and step out that front door.
To find your nearest reserve, head to http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/ or if you want to start a little closer to home you couldn’t get much closer than your own garden or local park! Why not take part in this years’ Big Garden Bird Watch, that should get your own list off to a cracking start!
*Only available on i-phones at the moment
Photo: The Lodge nature reserve & gardens by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)