30-Minute Birder
Schools are the perfect place to start getting your 30 minutes of birding a day, writes Mya Bambrick – it could form a lifelong habit!
Starting in small doses in the schoolyard to form lifelong habits
Some of my first memories of seeing birds was at my primary school. One day, while I was gazing out of the window during a maths lesson (not my favourite subject), I spotted a Green Woodpecker searching for ants on the side of the playground. Having never seen one before close-up, I was amazed by its beautiful and vibrant plumage. Connections with birds like this at such a young age certainly instilled an interest in ornithology in me for a lifetime.
I was lucky enough to go to a primary school which actively welcomed wildlife into its grounds. We had a nature conservation area, where we could do pond-dipping and watch Blue Tits fly back and forth to their nest box. In the library, we even could watch them raise their chicks via a nest box camera. Growing up, though, I didn’t know anyone who was as enthusiastic as me about the natural world, so I created my own school wildlife club. I would encourage my friends and those in other year groups to come along and get involved with identifying birds, looking at pond creatures, and generally learning about wildlife. I really hope my passion rubbed off on some of them.
Throughout the years I’ve been at school, I’ve had some of the most memorable experiences with birds and other wildlife. They are not often thought of as great birding locations, but keeping an open mind can pay off.
A few years ago, on a very cold and snowy morning, I was making my way through the school gates. To my utter surprise, I heard the distinctive ‘pee-wit’ call of the Lapwing. Looking behind me, on a small piece of grass was this beautiful wader. As my school is right in the middle of a bustling town, it was so unexpected. It just goes to show that given the right conditions, anything can turn up, anywhere.
More recently, at the end of a long day, I was cycling past the school field. With a background of a hazy sunset, a small beige bird with a distinctive white rump
flushed out in front of me. It was a Wheatear! That sighting made my week – and it certainly surprised me to see a bird like that in the middle of such an urban area.
Sparking a passion
Seeing these species right on my doorstep has shown that towns and cities shouldn’t be disregarded, but explored. Throughout the past year, I’ve been discovering the amazing pockets of wilderness within my town. The abundance of wildlife that can be found hidden within housing estates, next to main roads, or in parks, has truly surprised me. One of my best birding moments this year was in an area I came across during lockdown. I was on a lovely walk, listening to the birdsong and watching the insects buzz around the blossom blooms, when I heard the breathtaking song of a Nightingale. I believe it had never been heard at this site before!
Because of my experiences during my time in education, I know first-hand how vital it is to introduce birds and other wildlife into children’s lives while they are at school. Not only does it give them understanding of the nature and environment, but it could spark a passion that they could carry into the future. In my opinion, both primary and secondary schools should be making the most of their outside spaces if resources are available, no matter if they’re located in an urban or rural area. Create wild areas on the school field, for example, or plant wildflowers and fruit trees. Not only are you boosting biodiversity for the area by doing this, but you are also bringing young people closer to nature.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been working on a project to create a wildlife garden at my school. With funding and resources kindly given to me by the Cameron Bespolka Trust and CJ Wildlife, this small courtyard area is beginning to become an urban oasis for nature. Helped by my friends and teachers, we’ve been able to sow wildflowers, put in plants which are popular with pollinators, and provide nest boxes and insect houses.
During the lockdown, while all pupils were at home, I was pleased to receive an email from a teacher to say there had been many birds visiting the feeders and that we’d had a visit from a Mistle Thrush. It’s been wonderful to see the area develop into a place which is much richer with wildlife, as well as somewhere for young people to relax and connect with the natural world. Having left sixth form now, I hope this area will thrive for generations to come.
● Do you birdwatch at school? Tell us about it by emailing: birdwatching@bauermedia.co.uk