AFON
Young Birders’ Training Course
Scottish Ornithologists’ Club and Isle of May Bird Observatory invest in the future of wild bird conservation.
Aged 16 – 25 years, a keen birdwatcher and looking to improve your bird survey skills and techniques? If the thought of being parted from your hair straighteners /Playstation /the outside world for seven days doesn’t fill you with dread and you’re amenable/prepared to spend longer getting showered in bird poop than you are in hot water day-to-day, read on, this could be a fantastic opportunity for you!
For the third year running, our colleagues at the Isle of May Bird Observatory (IoMBO) and we at the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC), have launched our search to find six promising young birdwatchers to take part in the next Young Birders’ Training Course (embed link: http://www.the-soc.org.uk/young-birders-training-week/ ), a week-long funded opportunity on the Isle of May run by the SOC and the IoMBO, in early July.
‘Spending a week on the Isle of May as part of the young birders training course, was an amazing experience. It showed me another aspect of ornithology; seabird research and the running of a bird observatory. This has encouraged me to get out birding much more, visit other bird observatories and to count and record everything I see, as well as inspiring me to get involved with this type of conservation work in the future’.
Daniel, 2014 course participant
The only one of its kind in the UK, the Young Birders’ Training Course presents a unique opportunity for budding ornithologists’, both in its setting and teaching options. The six individuals selected to take part in this year’s week, will gain invaluable first-hand practical experience of a wide range of bird survey skills and techniques. What’s more, participants will be able to draw on the talents and knowledge of highly experienced bird ringers, researchers and surveyors, with additional support and resources provided by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) staff on the island.
‘As well as providing an excellent range of experiences (including seabird research with CEH and surveying with SNH), spending a week on the Isle of May and staying in the observatory with reminders of esteemed previous visitors all around was unsurpassable (not to mention the great birding and seawatching with highlights including Black Guillemot, Minke Whale and stunning views of Great Skua!)’.
Samuel, 2015 course participant
The course provides a thorough introduction to the practice of recording birds and other wildlife, experience of species counts, monitoring, ringing, trapping, ageing and sexing birds, as well as opportunities to participate in activities such as visible migration watches and co-ordinated sea-watching counts. Outwith the scope of most university curricula, these practical skills are essential attributes for those thinking about a career or role in wildlife recording, surveying and conservation.
‘As a trainee ringer, the Young Birders’ Training Course provided me with the opportunity to ring several new species: improving my confidence in handling unfamiliar birds and confirming my decision to become a ringer. Taking part has also encouraged me to volunteer at other observatories and it helped me to decide that my eventual career choice will also (hopefully!) be working in bird observatories’.
Eleanor, 2015 course participant.
Our organisations hope that the experience will provide not only a platform for young birders to pursue a future in wildlife monitoring and conservation, but a network of contacts to assist them on their journey.
‘The course definitely cemented my career choice of becoming an ecological consultant, and also allowed me to learn more about the agencies /organisations I may work for in the future’.
Catherine, 2014 participant.
The lucky participants will also have the chance to find out more about the Isle of May’s rich cultural history and to sample observatory life, with accommodation for the duration of their stay being provided within the recently refurbished ‘Low Light’, a former lighthouse. The island, which lies five miles off the Fife coast, is one of Scotland’s National Nature Reserves, managed by SNH and protected by European and UK legislation because of its internationally and nationally important seabird and Grey Seal colonies.
‘Being able to fund formal training for young birders is a fantastic opportunity for the SOC to ensure that in the years to come, there will be another generation of birders recording, conserving and speaking up for Scotland’s birds’,
Ian Thomson, SOC President
As Scotland’s Bird Club, we’re delighted to once again be joining forces with the country’s oldest bird observatory to provide this opportunity and help young birdwatchers progress with future involvement in wildlife recording and conservation.
The Young Birders’ Training Course initiative has received widespread support from partner organisations and across the birdwatching community. It is one of the Club’s projects of which I am personally most proud, not just because of our shared role in training and developing young birdwatchers, but in a broader sense, in regards to the contribution they will make to recording and conserving our country’s wild birds.
‘The course was a fantastic experience which helped to further cement the direction I want to follow for a career in conservation. Since the course I’ve taken steps towards getting involved in ringing as well signing up to volunteer on Fair Isle during the summer and have continued studying Countryside Management at college’.
Samuel
The project has been made financially possible thanks to generous past members and supporters who have left legacies to the Club. Their assistance has enabled SOC to fund each young birder’s place on the course, ensuring that birdwatchers from all backgrounds are able to apply to take part, something which both our organisations were very keen to ensure.
The Club’s governing body, SOC Council, felt investing in a future generation of bird recorders and surveyors was an excellent use of the income we’ve received from legacies and goes hand in hand with the charity’s aim of encouraging a greater number of young people to get involved with, and carry on the Club’s work. Likewise, the Club subsidises student places at our Annual Conference, funds amateur research projects and publications and offers generously discounted student/junior membership of the Club.
So what are you waiting for? Visit the SOC’s website for more information on the Young Birders’ Training Course and to download the application form. Please make sure you satisfy the minimum criteria below. The closing date for completed applications is 5pm, Monday 2 May 2016. Good luck!
Send your completed form via email to jane.cleaver@the-soc.org.uk or post to: Jane Cleaver (Confidential), SOC, Waterston House, Aberlady, EH32 0PY.
Minimum criteria necessary to be eligible for a place on the course:
Candidates must be aged 16 – 25 years on the day of trip departure (written permission will be required from a parent or guardian if under 18 years of age) and must be available for the full duration of the course (Saturday 2nd – Saturday 9th July 2016). Successful applicants must be able to make their own way to and from Anstruther, Fife, and make a personal contribution of £25 (towards food & drink supplies). Applicants seeking support to fund their travel costs to Anstruther should research funding support. For example: http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/taking-part/young-bird-obs-volunteer-fund