Some of our fantastic Dolphinwatch Volunteers share experiences which encouraged them to appreciate, enjoy and protect nature.
Volunteering for nature
What inspired you to protect nature?
Becky: I first fell in love with nature through a TV screen, religiously watching the likes of Steve Irwin, David Attenborough and Simon King getting up close to the largest mammals. I was in awe of them and knew one day I wanted to be like them. It wasn’t until one stormy evening as my family and I drove back to our house, when we came across an injured owl that I understood the fragility of nature. My family were professed animal lovers, so we tried to save it, taking it home to wait for the professionals to collect it. Unfortunately, the owl's story didn’t go any further, but this event added fuel to my passion for nature conservancy. I wanted to help protect nature and I realised that conservation projects can start at home. I was passionate to connect people with the wildlife on our doorstep and that’s why I joined Dolphinwatch. Each day we get to meet new people and show off the incredible bottlenose dolphins, seals and sea birds and hopefully inspire them to act for nature.
When did you first get inspired by nature?
Sheila: When I was 28, sitting in Aberdeen University’s Botanic Garden, a multi coloured wee bird perched right beside me. I was amazed, I gave no recollection of ever having seen such a gorgeous bird before. Being before the internet, my curiosity took me to a bookshop, and bought myself a bird book. The bird was a goldfinch, with it, along with the bird guide, led me into a lifelong interest in birds and their ecology. A birthday gift, shortly afterwards, had me owning a pair of binoculars! I’ve been watching birds ever since, enthralled by them, their habitats, and the fantastic work the RSPB does to protect them, home and abroad.
When did you develop your passion for the marine environment?
Lorraine: Growing up in the middle east, my passion for marine life developed on the shore of Indian Ocean. The amazing experiences I had there with sharks, turtles and porpoises fuelled this further, and I graduated with a BSc Hons in Zoology. Following my oldest leaving home to study medicine, I was determined to volunteer with wildlife, so I began to volunteer with the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme. Soon after, I began volunteering with RSPB Dolphinwatch and I loved it, it was absolutely the best decision. It’s a huge privilege to be part of such a knowledgeable team. Many people don’t know about the dolphins in Aberdeen, I have been spreading the word for a long time, following an extremely fortunate sighting of a large group of dolphins at the harbour more than 25 years ago.
Why did you want to volunteer with Dolphinwatch?
Alisa: For as long as I remember I’ve always loved nature from bird watching in the garden to going on boat trips to see whales and dolphins. I wanted to take part in Dolphinwatch as I wanted to share my passion for our local wildlife with the community.
What excites you about volunteering with RSPB?
Shelia: I’m now 60, aiming to retire soon. I spent my adult life sitting on committees including RSPB Council and its Scottish advisory committee. Being a wee bit fed up of sitting at a desk, I decided to get up, get out and volunteer with RSPB Dolphinwatch. The volunteering is a joy, we are well trained both by RSPB and WDC. The kids love it, there are lots of games for the children to play ranging from pond dipping, shell stacking, rock pooling, and bird watching, only to name a few. The dolphins nearly always turn up, and you get to hang around in the sunshine chatting to visitors about these wonderful creatures. The birds are good too, ranging from terns to eiders and every sort of gull known to man! We get brief visits of seals and otters, even rare visitors from Minke, Killer and Humpback Whales! Can you imagine the excitement?
What keeps you inspired to protect nature?
Christine: Before relocating to Scotland, we were living in Norway for some years where wildlife is abundant but not as easy to spot. In Aberdeen however, I find it right on our door step: I can watch rabbits on the lawn outside, walk through Hazlehead Park to spot many species of birds, deer and even red squirrels, I can watch the colony of grey seals at Newburgh beach and even observe the nesting marine birds at the RSPB nature reserve Fowlsheugh or Bullers of Buchan. This diversity helps me remember why we need to protect the wildlife we have right outside our doorsteps, that we may take for granted.
Why did you want to volunteer with RSPB Dolphinwatch?
Vivi: I started volunteering for Dolphinwatch last year and it really was the highlight of my summer so naturally I wanted to carry on volunteering. I work as a wildlife guide on a cruise ship in Norway, spending three weeks at sea and three weeks at home so wanted something meaningful to do when I was home. It might sound like a bus mans holiday to spend my downtime with Dolphinwatch but like anyone who works with and in nature would know, wildlife isn't just our profession - it's our passion. Nature means so much to me and through Dolphinwatch I am able to pay back a bit of that large debt that we all owe to our planet. My favourite part of volunteering is engaging with families. Helping young children spot dolphins in their natural habitat and seeing the dolphins work their magic on the kids is fantastic. You can't underestimate how important that connection is and what that impression will mean for young children down the line. That's how it all started for me - engaging and connecting with nature as a child made me eager to spend as much time as I could learning about it and seeking out education and career opportunities that could feed my obsession. It really is a passion that keeps on giving, especially when you live like we do with dolphins on our doorstep.