NEW GENERATION

“I was nine days old the first time they took me out,” says Mya-Rose Craig of her bird-loving parents. “It’s always been something I’ve really cared about. I have a really strong connection to nature because of that.”

For Craig it is more than a hobby. One of Britain’s most prolific birdwatchers, she has spotted more than 470 species in the UK. She has seen several rarities (often lost visitors from overseas) including an eastern crowned warbler in South Shields, and the bearded vulture on Dartmoor last year. “That was more than a rarity, that was really exciting,” says Craig.

Craig, 18, may be the youngest person to have seen half the world’s birds. Growing up, her parents made birdwatching an “adventure”. “I loved the excitement, but I was less appreciative of the slower bits. Now one of my favourite things is that separation from everyday life. I’ve always been terrible at mindfulness. This is my version, I go out and don’t think of all the stuff that’s going on, I just spend time with nature and look at birds.”

She is also an activist. At 12 she campaigned to save the spoon-billed sandpiper in Bangladesh, where her mother’s family is from, and since 13 has helped introduce nature to children from minority ethnic groups through her organisation Black2Nature, primarily through summer camps.

“A lot of these kids have never been able to go on school camp,” she says, and even the countryside can be out of reach. Through activities such as bird ringing or competitions to find as many species as possible, children from diverse backgrounds are introduced to nature.

The goal isn’t to create environmentalists. “We’re just trying to give these kids a new opportunity.” Best, she says, is when children explain how, since camp, they’ve been more aware of nature simply on the walk to school.

Craig admits that birdwatching among Gen Z is relatively rare, though social media has brought those interested closer together. “People talk about how social media is stopping people from going outside. Sometimes it’s doing the opposite.”

For someone who travels the globe, 2020 brought things closer to home. Far-flung reserves gave way to the family’s garden in the Chew Valley. “I actually really enjoyed it, especially because it was breeding season and there were loads of young birds around,” says Craig, who participates in the Big Garden Birdwatch every year.

“I love it because it makes me think about what’s in my garden. I just sit and quietly watch things for an hour. It’s really easy – anyone can do it.”