Young birders show the way forward in lively panel discussion at Global Birdfair

 

All smiles from the panel - from left, Harry, Mya, George, Jack and chairman Ajay

ONE of the most interesting (and upbeat) events at Global Birdfair was a Friday-morning panel discussion where four young birders described how they came to the hobby and how they regularly contribute to the media, both mainstream and social.

Between them, they variously post on social media, broadcast  on BBC TV's Springwatch and BBC Radio 4's Tweet of The Week, blog and write for publications such as The Guardian and Bird Watching magazine.

The quartet comprised Jack Baddams, George Hassall, Mya Bambrick and Harry Day, and the session was  chaired by Ajay Tegala (who is a bit older).

Birders often speak of a 'spark incident' which ignites the passion for birding, but these four apparently had no such a moment - developing a random interest very early in their lives and allowing it, with encouragement from parents, to develop and take wing.

George, also an expert gardener, paid tribute to his father who introduced him to the wildlife on the Pennines outside Manchester where he grew up.

Asked if he had felt nervous when broadcasting live with the likes of Chris Packham, he replied; "Let's just say I needed a relaxing pint of Tennants afterwards!"

Jack, a birder since he was toddler, revealed that, in recent times, he had sometimes received flak on social media after posting videos of birds being ringed (despite his tender years, he is also a qualified ringer).

"I've been called all sorts of stuff which I can't repeat here," he said ruefully.

Mya was introduced by the chairman as a "TikTok sensation" because of her  prolific output on social media - she is also a 'veteran' of both YouTube and X (formerly known as Twitter).

What is it like to be presenting  on the other side of a  camera? "Being yourself is a skill," was her astute response.  

The 21-year-old, a student at Bournemouth University, lamented the paucity of female role models in birding, and expressed the hope that she could become one herself as she grew older.     

Aged only 11, Harry Day must be the surely youngest ever panellist in the long history of Birdfair.

Asked to describe, why he enjoyed birdwatching, he prompted chuckles from the audience when he replied: "It helps me to relax after a hard day's work at school."