I am really really pleased to be on Lush Player with Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig’s Podcast which I am particularly excited about as Lush is my favourite shop and perfect for me as a teen vegetarian/almost vegan, environmentally friendly, low impact products that actually work and smell great too. Also, Lush is a Bristolian slang word that means lovely or gorgeous. If you Add Gert to make it “Gert Lush” that adds “very”. So Mark Constantine, if you ever read this, I’d love to be a Lush Ambassador!
This is a podcast that I originally did for Charlie Moores which was published on The Sound Approach (TSA) podcast. I am talking about birding in the UK, world birding, Race Equality in Nature, racism, Twitter trolls and being President of Black2Nature.
Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Nature Connections Festival and meeting Chris Packham
On Saturday 10 September 2016, I had a brilliant time at the Nature Connections Festival organised by Derby University. I gave a talk “Born to Bird” about being born into a birding family, finding my own love for birds and nature, my journey to becoming the youngest person to see 4000 birds in the world and 450 birds in Britain, the importance to me of promoting conservation projects and getting young people and ethnic minorities interested in nature.
BBC’s Chris Packham with Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig Copyright Mya-Rose Craig
It was also fantastic to meet Chris Packham from BBC Springwatch, who remembered me from meeting me last year which was amazing. It was also good to catch up with Jini Reddy was talking about her new book.
It can be a real frustration arranging to do something at the weekend like this day, as that day it meant that I was not able to go to see a Cragmartin on the Isles of Scilly, which would have been a new bird for me.
About The Author
Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Last weekend was Camp Avalon, my camp for young people interested in birds, nature or from inner city Bristol wanting to connect with nature. We had 17 attendees with another two visiting and 50% were from an ethnic minority background.
We had an amazing time, birding, mothing. ringing, trying out wildlife magazine journalism and wildlife photography. Thank you to Ben Hoare (features editor from BBC Wildlife Magazine) and nature photographer Paul Collins as well as the Avalon Marshes Centre.
The camp was successful in engaging everyone at the camp and connecting them to nature. It was amazing to watch.
We also saw some brilliant birds including Bittern, Little Bittern, Great White Egret, Glossy Ibis, Bearded Tit, Nightjar and some great moths.
Next year Camp Avalon 17 will be running from Friday 30 June to Sunday 2 July and will be open for those aged 12 – 18. Please get in touch if you would like to come.
About The Author
Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
How Ethnicity and Wealth are Impacting on Children Going Out into Nature
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Camp Avalon
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Camp Avalon
Camp Avalon
Camp Avalon
Background
I am a 14 year old birder, naturalist, conservationist, environmentalist and activist. I have been going out into nature all my life visiting lots of different types of places like open countryside, nature reserves, the coast, country parks and urban green spaces. On these visits, I almost never saw Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) people. My Mum is British Bangladeshi and from seeing my Bangladeshi family’s lack of interest in nature, I assumed that BAME people didn’t go into the countryside because they didn’t like it. However, this didn’t fit with why there are birders in Bangladesh but not here.
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig on Somerset Levels
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Laila on Somerset Levels
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Laila on Somerset Levels
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Camp Avalon on Somerset Levels
Last year I ran Camp Avalon for young birders and used contacts in the community to get 5 inner city BAME teenagers to come. At first they were bored and didn’t know how to enjoy nature. Then over the weekend, they all connected in different ways, which was brilliant to watch http://bit.ly/1KqUtf1.
Camp Avalon
Camp Avalon
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Camp Avalon
Camp Avalon
Camp Avalon
Camp Avalon
Camp Avalon
That’s when I realised that anyone can engage with nature, they just have to be taken out into it and shown how to. David Lindo, a well known British BAME birder, has called this “opening the door to nature” which makes a lot of sense to me. After Camp Avalon, I wrote to the four biggest UK nature charities about getting more BAME people into nature. All were positive and wanted to meet up, which is how I had the idea of holding a conference. The conference is called Race Equality in Nature and takes place this Friday on 3 June 2016 and aims to try a d get more BAME out into nature.
I am also running Camp Avalon again this year 15-17 July 2016 and want to take 10 BAME teenagers from the inner city out with us.
Facts In 2011 “The Natural Environment White Paper” was published which said that the Government wanted to “strengthen connections between people and nature” and in particular “for every child to be able to experience and learn in the natural environment”. The White Paper also confirmed that the opportunity to get benefit from spending time in natural environments (NE) were not open to everyone, which could contribute to health and other inequalities.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Select Committee inquiry into the Natural Environment White Paper called for DEFRA to set a target to increase the number of people that engaged with NE and for the Department for Health (DoH) and the Department for Education (DoE) to set out measurements which show how more people engaging with nature would be better for people’s health and education.
So Natural England in partnership with others ran a 2 year pilot to develop a way that children’s access to NE could be measured.
The aim of this pilot was to find ways of measuring children’s access to NE. The results from 2 years confirm that we can quantify and monitor the proportions of all children in England visiting NE’s by different measures and also consider any links between how often they visit and things like family income and ethnicity.
The Results Natural England Report – Published 10 February 2016
The pilot stated that there were clear links between better health and access to NE across all socio-economic groups, so for this reason the review set out its role of increasing people’s access to NE.
The research relates to children under 16 in England only
How often children visited NE was linked to ethnicity and socioeconomic status, with those from BAME households less likely to visit 74% of non-BAME children visited NE frequently 77% of children from higher income households (socio-economic groups A & B) visited NE frequently 65% of children from lower income households (socioeconomic groups D & E) visited NE frequently 56% of BAME children visited NE frequently 11% of non-BAME children never visited NE 9% of children from higher income households never visited NE 14% of children from lower income households never visited NE 17% of BAME children never visited NE As well as highlighting clear social inequalities in how children are accessing NE, this report also shows a strong link between adults visiting NE and children living in the same household visiting NE
In households where the adults were frequent visitors to NE, 82% of the children were also frequent visitors
In households where the adults rarely (or never) visited NE, the proportion of children visiting frequently halved to 39%
75% visited NE with a parent; 15% visited with grandparents, and another 15% visited with other family members that didn’t live with them 8% visited NE with their schools 10% of children in higher income households visited NE with their school 6% of children in the less affluent C2 and DE groups visited NE with their school 22% of children visited NE without adults (alone or with other children) 48% of children visited local urban parks
Analysis of other data has previously shown that adults are also more likely to be frequent visitors to NE when there are children in their households.
Variations by ethnicity and Socio-Economic Group (SEG) The proportions of children visiting NE were lower amongst BAME and less affluent people. More affluent socio-economic groups were also more likely to visit with Scouting or Guiding Groups and visiting with grandparents was noticeably higher among children from the non-BAME population (18% non-BAME vs 5% BAME) Visiting with friends (with no adults present) was also higher among children in the non-BAME population (15% non-BAME vs 8%) Locality Children were more likely to visit local places than places further away. The highest proportion of visits by children to ‘non-local’ destinations was to urban parks and the beach/other coastlines (11% and 8% respectively). Places visited most often by children were urban parks (48%), playgrounds (28%), playing fields (26%) and country parks (16%). Of visits to a nature reserve in the previous month 7% non-BAME visited a nature reserve 10% of children from higher income households visited a nature reserve 4% of children from lower income households visited a nature reserve 3% BAME visited a nature reserve. I think the results in this section show that we should focus on getting BAME into nature close to their homes in cities and that very few are visiting nature reserves, so work needs to be done in this area.
Reasons for taking children out was similar for all families for the top few reasons, however overall the reasons for BAME were more limited – to play with children, let children play, get fresh air, spend time with family and relax and unwind. Summary There is a strong link between the visiting behaviours of adults and children within households. I, therefore, think that we need to focus more on getting parents out into nature and not just on the children.
The results of the report show obvious social inequalities in how children are accessing natural environments, with both their ethnicity and socio-economic background having a big negative impact.
I think these results are shocking and are what led me to go ahead with organising the “Race Equality in Nature” National Conference hosted by Bristol Zoo Gardens. The event is supported by Bristol Multi Faith Forum, which is keen to support the conference.
There are complicated reasons why BAME people don’t go out into nature. I’ve interviewed people and things that come up repeatedly are feeling the cold (lots of BAME people will say that they are genetically evolved to live in hot climates and therefore feel the cold more than non BAME people), lack of warm and waterproof clothing, crowded inner city parks in the summer with anti-social children hogging play equipment, poverty and lack of public transport, fear of gangs or that their children will be targeted as trouble-makers by the police, cultural fear and dislike of dogs, fear of racism in the (white) countryside and feeling that nature activities are for white people as these are the images used by nature charities and television.
Once I’d started to think about these issues from my family’s point of view, I have realized that things will only change if we can help overcome barriers. We also need BAME role models within nature TV and then try to increase the number of BAME people who watch these programs. I hope that one day, when I walk in the countryside it will be normal to see a BAME family walking along, enjoying the nature around them.
About The Author
Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
In the UK, it is rare to see an ethnic minority person out in a nature reserve, even in the inner city.
People from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities do not have equal access to nature, which has an impact on physical and mental health. We can no longer ignore the statistics, with 17% of BAME children never going to a park or playground.
This conference will bring together those from nature conservation, the environment, universities, schools etc with those who have an understanding of BAME communities, in order to identify the barriers, find practical solutions to overcoming them and creating role models.
This is the first time that this crucial subject is being addressed so please share with relevant organisations and come if you can.
If you are BAME living in the UK and interested in wildlife, nature, conservation or the environment, please can you complete this questionnaire to give us more understanding http://bit.ly/1numtom
If you live in Bangladesh and are interested in wildlife, nature, conservation or the environment, please can you complete this questionnaire to give us more understanding of why Bangladeshis living here don’t get into nature but some of those in Bangladesh do http://bit.ly/1U26tbj
About The Author
Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Questionnaire for Naturalists living in Bangladesh
If you live in Bangladesh and are interested in wildlife, nature, conservation or the environment or know someone in this group, please read on. Hamza at Camp Avalon 2015
In the UK, it is rare to see an ethnic minority person out in a nature reserve, even in the inner city.
People from ethnic minority communities (like British Bangladeshi’s) for some reason rarely connect with nature.I would like anyone living in Bangladesh and with any interest in birds, wildlife, nature, conservation or the environment to complete the following questionnaire so that we can see if there is anything that might help in encouraging Bangladeshis here in the UK.
If you know anyone from this group, of any age, please can you ask them to complete the form and return it to me at birdgirl.uk@gmail.com. All answers will be treated as confidential.
Dear fellow nature lover
I hope you don’t mind me contacting you.
As you will be well aware, there are very few Bangladeshi people showing an interest in birding, nature or conservation. In the UK, the numbers are even lower.
As you are part of that growing number of people living in Bangladesh who are interested, in nature, I wanted to ask you some questions so that we can find out what the barriers are and whether they can be overcome.
Your answers will be treated in complete confidence as I understand these can be sensitive issues.
Please feel free to add anything you like your answers.
Questionnaire for anyone living in Bangladesh and interested in birding, nature or conservation.
Name
Address
E-mail
Facebook
Ethnicity/Religion (including if you are mixed heritage)
What is the background of your family? For example, do older people in your family have degrees or professional jobs? Are they in an upper, middle or lower socio economic group? Are they well off, middle or lower income?
What sort of place did u grow up (for example city centre, city suburbs, town or village)?
If you did not grow up in the countryside, did you visit the countryside during your childhood?
In your childhood, were you taken into nature (somewhere with grass or trees) such as a park or green area?
If so, how often?
Were you allowed to run around with free play or was your play organised, such as playing cricket or football?
Growing up, did you have lots of contact with ordinary/less educated Bangladeshi family and friends who influenced you?
How did you become interested in nature?
How old were you when you first became interested?
Did you have a role model or someone who got you interested?
What was the response of your family and friends?
Have you managed to get another person interested through your interest?
What do think are the barriers to Bangladeshi people getting into nature or wildlife?
How do you think promotional materials can be targeted to increase people’s interest or involvement or state if you do not think this would help?
Can you give details of anyone else you know in Bangladesh who are interested in nature so that we can contact them?
Is there anything else you want to add?
About The Author
Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, March 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
In June 2015, I organised Camp Avalon, which attracted lots of young teenagers to the Somerset Levels, to spend the weekend birding and getting involved with nature. It included keen birders and people who had never been to the countryside or camped. Share the Camp Avalon Blog http://bit.ly/1Q7ktfV
These are the links to my blog posts about last year’s camp.
This is a camp for young birders and is also suitable for those who have no experience of nature at all. We hope to have a number of teenagers coming from inner city Bristol who have no experience of birds and nature and have never camped. We have plenty to help to ensure that both groups are catered for and that one can inspire the other.
Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, March 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
Come to a camping weekend on the Somerset Levels for young birders between the ages of 12 to 18 and at secondary school or 6th form. Please contact us if you are a little bit younger and still wish to come.You may be accompanied by an adult if you wish but you do not need one with you, CRB checked adults will be with the teenagers at all times.
Based on the ABA Camp Colorado and Camp Avocet in the USA (ABA Young Birder Camps), where 40 young birders each summer experience a week of new birds, people and learning. The idea that those with experience share it with young birders. The USA camp is relatively expensive and is for a week compared with what we are trying to do here at Camp Avalon.
Ham Wall RSPB Reserve, Somerset Levels, March 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
Camp Avalon – Programme
This is a sample programme based on the one for 2015 with improvements. The programme will be finalised after feedback from those attending. At the moment, Mike Dilger from The One Show and Ben Hoare from BBC Wildlife Magazine are hoping to attend. So please get in touch with your ideas for the camp. Friday 15th July 2016 All activities are dependent on weather 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm (CS) Set up tents & time to socialize 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm (CS) Dinner cooked on fires at the campsite 9.00 pm – 10.30 pm (MD) Looking for Nightjar on the Mendips Led by Chris Craig, Avon and Somerset, British and world birder
Saturday 16th July 2016
7.00 am – 7.30 am (CS) Breakfast at the campsite 8.00 am – 11.00 am (AMC) Bird ringing demonstration at Avalon Marshes Centre Mike Bailey Chair of Chew Valley Ringing Station and BTO ringing trainer (with Chris Craig assisting)
11.00 am – 11.30 am (AMC) Refreshment break Avalon Marshes Centre
11.30 am – 12.00 pm (AMC) An introduction to Bird Ringing, how to get involved and how it benefits conservation<
Mike Bailey Chair of Chew Valley Ringing Station and BTO ringing trainer
12.00 am - 12.30 pm (AMC or SHCP)
How to keep and submit good records and understanding fieldcraft (for the keen young birder)
Brian Gibbs, Somerset County Recorder or
Bio Blitzing at Shapwick Heath (optional for beginners)
Mike Urwin, RoAM12.30 pm – 1.30 pm (AMC)
Lunch
Avalon Marshes Centre
1.30 am – 3.30 pm (AMC)
Bird Photography
James Packer, Chris Griffin and Brian Gibbs, Somerset County Recorder and bird photographer and James Packer, who writes the blog The Somerset Birder and is a Somerset birder and bird photographer.
3.30 pm – 4.00 pm (AMC)
Refreshment break
Avalon Marshes Centre
4.00 pm – 4.30 pm (AMC)
Born to Bird, a talk focusing on how those with ethnic minority heritage can connect with birds and animals from those places.
Mya-Rose Craig (age 14) 5.00 pm – 7.30 pm (CS)
Downtime and dinner cooked on fires at the campsite
8.00 pm – 9.30 pm (HW)
Evening Bittern walks at Ham Wall. Meet at SHCP.
Led by Chris & Helena Craig
Sunday 17th July 2016
7.00 am – 7.30 am (CS) Breakfast at the campsite
8.00 am – 10.45 am (SH & HW) Birding at Shapwick Heath and Ham Wall, searching for Great White Egret, Bittern and lots of other great birds. Meet at SHCP. Led by Julian Thomas, Somerset birder, British and day lister and world birder (with Chris Griffin assisting)
11.00 am – 11.30 am (AMC) Refreshment break Avalon Marshes Centre
11.30 am – 12.00 am (AMC) An introduction to world birding and volunteering with conservation projects abroad Andy Mears, World birder, Oriental Bird Club active Member and one of only a few birders to have accomplished the huge feat of seeing all the Pittas of the World 12.00 pm – 1.00 pm (AMC)
Lunch Avalon Marshes Centre 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm (AMC) Sketching for birders John Gale, acclaimed bird illustrator for ID publications around the world as well as a bird artist 3.00 pm – 3.30 pm (AMC) Refreshment break Avalon Marshes Centre
3.30 pm – 4.00 pm (AMC) Close and looking forward to Camp Avalon 2017 (30 June -2 July 2017) Mya-Rose Craig, Young Birder
4.00 pm Finish
Key to locations
AMC – Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9TT, telephone 01458 860556 CS – The Isle of Avalon Touring Caravan Park, Godney Road, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9AF, telephone 01458 833618
HW – Ham Wall RSPB Reserve, park in the new Ham Wall Car Park if open or Shapwick Heath Car Park opposite, Ashcott Road, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9SX
MP – Stockhill Woods, Priddy, Mendips, Somerset BA5 3BE (drive through Wells and then follow A39 towards Bristol and Bath, turn left onto Priddy Road and at the crossroads (with the Hunters Rest on the corner) turn right, the woods are on your right and park in the pull-in before the car park).
SHCP – Shapwick Heath NNR English Nature Car Park, Ashcott Road, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9SX (bio blitzing on the Discovery Trail off the car park)
Bittern, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, March 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
Cost
£20.00 per person including carers, excluding camping costs (£16 per night for two people or much less in provided shared tents).
Grants
There will be a limited number of grants available to those young people (and a parent if they are under 16 years old) from an inner city area who have little or no experience of engaging with nature and whose families are receiving means tested benefits. Camp Avalon recognises that there are almost no young birders from black or ethnic minority backgrounds and so hope that these grants will encourage disadvantaged young people to be able to attend. All equipment needed will also be loaned for the weekend.
Thank you to Opticron for the load of five pairs of compact binoculars to this project.
Transport
Free transport is available to and from Bristol train or coach station. The camp site is a 10 minute drive to Ashcott Corner car park.
Thank you to Avalon Marshes Centre for their support and to the birders who have offered their time in order to pass on their knowledge to young birders. Please get in touch if you would like to get involved by e-mailing campavalonuk@gmail.com.
Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, March 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
How to Book
E-mail campavalonuk@gmail.com with your name, age, if an adult would like to come with you and any dietary requirements or post a comment on the Camp Avalon blog.
Hudsonian Godwit, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, April 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
Grass Snake, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, April 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
About The Author
Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
