When you look at the Birdfair programme, it can feel a little overwhelming – there’s so much to see and do! How do you decide?
Here are my top five recommendations to add to your list:
1 Go see some art
At the art marquee, you’ll find some of the best wildlife artists in the UK. Not only do you get to see their paintings, you get to meet them in person, and even see some of them working. It’s wonderful to learn how birds and nature inspire artists. You won’t find a better range of wildlife art anywhere else.
2 Visit the RSPB
I and other RSPB staff and volunteers will be on hand all through the weekend, and we’d love to meet you. If you have a wildlife question you want answered, or you want to find out the latest news from RSPB reserves, or to discover more about RSPB conservation projects to protect rare species, this is the place to come.
3 Attend the lectures
Birdfair lectures are outstanding. You’ll get to see representatives from projects from the UK and overseas showcasing their extraordinary conservation projects. I recommend that you pick two or three key lectures that sound inspiring. From inside the Birdfair lecture marquee, you’ll be whisked away to places such as Sri Lanka, Angola, Japan, The Falklands, Borneo, Chile, China, Guyana, Gautemala, Bali, the Himalayas, and Anglesey. And on the Friday, I’ll be talking about our efforts to save golden eagles in the UK – come along and say hello.
4 Get inspired by wildlife tourism
Many countries from around the world are waking up to the benefits of wildlife tourism. By showing people like you and me some of the most spectacular wildlife in the world, they can raise vital funds to help protect it. It’s fascinating to hear about wildlife sites in countries and regions including Ecuador, China, Andalucia and Hawaii. A group from Mongolia will be visiting the fair for the first time this year. Please do go along and see what they have to offer.
5 Have a laugh with wildlife celebrities
Wandering around the Birdfair, you’re sure to bump into a wildlife celebrity or two. Visitors at this year’s fair include Steve Backshall, Chris Packham, Simon King, Bill Oddie, Miranda Krestovnikoff, Nick Baker, Mike Dilger, Anneka Svenska, and David Lindo. At the celebrity quiz events, you can see some of them at their most irreverent. The quizzes are hilarious – unexpected things happen, the audience gets involved. The marquee is full of high spirits. But most of all, they’re a great laugh.
This is, of course, just the tip of the iceberg. Check out the full programme on the Birdfair website to find out what else is happening.
In my next blog, I’ll give you advice about how to get the most out of your Birdfair experience.
Stuart Housden
The 2017 Birdfair is on 18–20 August, at the Rutland Water Nature Reserve in Oakham. For more information, and to book tickets, please visit the Birdfair website.