You would be surprised how many people have been interested in birds for years but don't know one bird noise from another.
At least, they say they don't, with upturned palms and a shrug, until you help them to remember what they do know - such as cuckoo, wood pigeon, magpie, tawny owl, a buzzard crying in the sky, the swifts over Tesco's car park. Most people know more than they think, but by and large we're not in the habit of using our ears the way we use our eyes. Have a look at Simon Barnes's brilliant "Birdwatching With Your Eyes Closed" - highly recommended (and available in your local RSPB shop, of course).
In recent years, we've run a springtime event aimed at improving "birdlistening" skills. It seemed a good idea to wait until May to do this, to get the widest variety, when the summer warblers are here and the males fully occupied in shouting the odds. But this year, we thought it might be useful to do it before the main arrival, to give people a chance to sort out the simpler tapestry of blackbird, chaffinch, song thrush, robin, nuthatch, great tit, blue tit, and so on - without the complications of blackcap and garden warbler, redstart and pied flycatcher.
So, this year, we're doing "Birdsong for Beginners" on Easter Saturday, 30th March. There will be a short session with slides and sound in the Lake Vyrnwy Experience building, starting around 11:00 am, followed by a walk with RSPB people to put our new knowledge into practice. Earlier would be nice, but we know it's a long way for most people to come. Usual event charges apply. No age limits (up or down), but you've got to be willing/able to be quiet!
And we'll be doing "Birdlistening" again in May.
Graham