Calling all young birders

09 Jun 2016 | No. 2016-16

As part of the Spurn Bird Observatory Trust (SBOT) 2016 Migration Festival, SBOT, the Next Generation Birders (NGB) and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) are running a competition to find the Observatory’s Young Birder of The Year.

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If you will be aged sixteen or under on Saturday 10 September 2016, and know the difference between a Marsh Tit and a Willow Tit, and feel you can communicate this to someone else, you probably have just have what it takes to enter.

Any young birder is eligible to apply by filling in the competition questionnaire online, answering questions such as whether or not you have a local patch, where you go birding further afield and if you can tell the difference between the songs of Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.

The online questionnaire is the first part of the competition. Four entrants will be chosen to take part in the final that will be held on Saturday 10 September at the Spurn Migration Festival. During that day they will answer questions on bird identification and distribution and be observed doing a visible migration watch and a seawatch, two challenging types of birding.

Nick Whitehouse,  Spurn Bird Observatory Committee, said, "Spurn Bird Observatory wants to encourage young birders of real ability to develop their skills.  Just being able  to take part in the Young Birder of the Year competition will be great fun but also a real and fair test of field knowledge.  Good luck to all the contestants - even if you don't win you'll be assured of a warm welcome from all the birders at Spurn."

All four finalists will need to be available on 10 September for the final at Spurn Point, and will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Entry to the Migration Festival and a camping pitch will be provided free for the finalists.

The prizes last year included binoculars, fieldguides, free membership to SBOT and much more.

Think you have what it takes?

Enter today

Closing date 30 June 2016

Notes for Editors

  1. The BTO is the UK's leading bird research charity. A growing membership and up to 60,000 volunteer birdwatchers contribute to the BTO's surveys, collecting information that underpins conservation action in the UK. The BTO maintains a staff of 100 at its offices in Thetford, Stirling, Bangor (Wales) and Bangor (Northern Ireland), who analyse and publicise the results of surveys and projects. The BTO's work is funded by BTO supporters, government, trusts, industry and conservation organisations.www.bto.org
     
  2. MigFest 2016 will be held on 9,10 and 11 September

Contact Details

Paul Stancliffe
(BTO Media Manager)
Office: 01842 750050
(9am to 5.30pm)
Mobile: 07585 440910 (anytime)
Email: press [at] bto.org

Images are available for use alongside this News Release.
Please contact images [at] bto.org quoting reference 2016-16

The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.
Please contact us to book an interview
Office: 01842 750050

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