History

How did I get interested in birds?

A brief history

My interest in birds began in childhood, when my father handed me a pair of binoculars and asked me to identify all the birds in our garden. The comings and goings of tits, blackbirds, sparrows, and—above all—jays and woodpeckers kept me occupied for many afternoons when I was about ten years old.

COVID time

In early 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, my daily habits changed drastically. I found myself cycling more and reconnecting with nature. Birds I once believed belonged only in the pages of my field guides suddenly appeared before me. So I thought—why not cycle to Scotland’s west coast, seeking out its most pristine habitats and nature reserves? Conferences available

World trip

In early 2025, I set off on a year-long journey around the globe, determined to set foot on every continent. Along the way I met local people, tasted local food, and crossed borders mostly by land—all while methodically recording my bird sightings. The trip proved a success: in just 14 months I managed to observe around 22.5% of the world’s bird diversity. Conference available

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