- Bird Fair 2019 was great
- the weather was mostly OK but rain on Friday made the slithering around in places part of the fun – I can’t remember a recent Bird Fair when we’ve had to do that (but they all merge into one really)
- I met some interesting new people and some interesting old friends and heard some good gossip
- I hardly got to a talk, but the ones I attended were very good: Paul Thomas had a small audience but his talk was very funny, Simon Tonkin and Niki Williamson did a good job in explaining how a bird tour company can help to make birding travel more sustainable, Ruth Tingay was ace on Friday and the Bird POTY prize winners were, as always, contentious and fascinating
- the food was good – miles better than a few years ago (just miles better)
- the pint of cider and pint of beer I had were both delicious
- everyone was very friendly
- I’ll be back next year
More considered thoughts soon.
Were you there? What did you think?
A triumph of volunteering!
Was nice to see the increased focus on UK campaigns alongside the international work that’s central and vital to the fair.
The admission price is still very reasonable!
The range of speakers was excellent as always in the smaller tents and groups, but the main tent is at risk of becoming a “Now That’s What I Call Birdfair” compilation album, repeating itself each year. Perhaps that’s ok for new visitors and dedicated fans – but it was noticeable how packed smaller tents were with people ready to take the main stage next year I think.
They’re still getting to grips with promoting the widespread participation by female scientists, speakers and experts (as well as visitors!) – a late publicity dash (largely around Carrie Symonds) hasn’t really tackled this yet, so I think they still need help here, to understand the issue and improve what they do.
The mud was a big issue for many people who walk with sticks and use wheelchairs. I would have been interested to catch up with Birding for All about this but they’d been unable to attend. They need to think about the pinch points for access. Moving between two sides of the site was out of the question for some.
Hi Mark – sdorry I didntbump into you on Saturday -never mind. Returned after a year away, and this was my firsdt Saturday at Birdfair – always been on a friday in the past. Big cheer to the site volunteers for the managementof the access routes – it was tricky at 9.15am. Not sure if it got better or worse as more folk arrived later.
Made it to the 10am talk, alrthough why we had to make a decision between TWO amazing female speakers at that time was a mystery…… and Amy-May Beer spoke to a not-very-full tent, despite being a great speaker.
Birdfair for me is aboutt he organisationsthat arethere, not holiday companies…. Yes, there were as many of those as ever, maybe a few more and a coupel of NGOs notable by their absence – Buglife (although I didn notice Matt SHardlow in the crowds, but they were not on the list of stalls and I didnt see them), Birdlife Malta, probably a few others – presumably its a difficult choice betwenthe cost of going, the positive benefits and the amount of staff time it needs.
Beer – yes, good, although the moving of the bar to the other end of the tent threw me for a while! didnt go tot he food stalls but they did seem to be an improvement on other years – only reason being I was lunching with a friend on stuff they had provided.
Its a day for catchign up with BTO, rare breeding bird panel, wildlife trust, etc who I rarely see, and yes, Nikki and Simon of the Inglorius Bustards since their move from east anglia to spain. I kept missing talks, because I was spending so much time with folk like bird obs council and OSME, discovering the great work they do – really wanted to go to the wildcat one. But, overall, was pretty much my usual catch-up day, with not many surprises and old friends nattered to till next year….And of course, the local produce tent, witht he beer and charcuterie to take home to appease the one who cannot understand why I go every year….
birdfair 2019 friday visit.First visit for a few years.top views from swarovski tower of osprey over the lake.plenty of book stands ,new plus 2nd hand.art tent a joy.rebecca naismith photography amazing.loads of talks.rspb stand boring.sound approach need more products.swarovski lost the plot with rubbish baseball hats at £20.used to be a fiver and top quality in good colours for birdwatching.didnt see mark avery!simon king, scott bloke but not punky packham!
mark p – many thanks for your first comment here.
There’s something special about Rutland Water, but it’s not great for access by public transport.
Finding accommodation can also be a big problem for those coming from afar.
I wonder if the event would work as well (or better) at a conference or exhibition centre.
Perhaps there ought to be two Birdfairs per annum, with one of them being held in a different town/ city each year.
James – good thinking. But for Bird Fair to run as well as it does then it depends on a large number of experienced volunteers and that would be difficult to replicate elsewhere – at least immediately. But I like the way you are thinking.