What inspires me to inspire others - Part 1

Tue 19th Jul, 2022

An insight into the world of birding tourism: what inspires me to inspire others.

There would be no better way to start my first ‘bona fide’ birding experience than waking up at 5.00 am to the sound of robins and blackbirds singing their morning song. As a teenager, I would never have thought myself to be the person who would get up early in the morning chasing the sunrise to go and experience some of the greatest birds in the Yorkshire forests. But, here I am.

Maddie on her first day working on our North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project

As a young girl I was fascinated with wildlife, I would dream of travelling to the most exotic countries to work alongside some of the most extraordinary animals and birds that graced our planet. I was especially mesmerized by the magnificence of the Toucan – with their immense orange bill and uncanny ungracefulness as they flew through the sky. I soon realized I needed to bring my adoration for wildlife closer to home.

My dad spent many years of my childhood showing me the birds in our garden and the park – I didn’t realize how great an impact this would have on my life until a few years ago – I appreciated the beauty of the British birds but nothing could reign in my fascination for exotic wildlife. Until a few years ago when something clicked.

Goldcrest © Richard Baines

I stood looking in my garden and watched a Goldcrest ‘dance’ in front of the garden mirror. This sparked an enchantment for me, and I found myself wanting to research more into the behavior that this tiny bird was showing. That short moment sparked a massive change in the way I saw British wildlife, and now I can’t get enough of it.

The experience of stepping into the Great Yorkshire Forest with Richard Baines (Director of Yorkshire Coast Nature) for the first time induced a childlike sense of excitement. The excitement of the unknown of what was to be experienced, and the ‘firsts’ that I was about to encounter.

Dippers in North Yorkshire © Richard Baines

A Dipper was the first bird to greet us as we approached the forest singing its morning song as it sat on the fisherman’s pole. I knew from this moment, that the day was going to be rich in spectacular sights. I wandered through the forests in awe of the talent that Rich possesses. Every sound that was made in the forest was distinguishable to him, whether it was the sound of a tiny wren in a distant tree or the exceptionally intelligent song thrush mimicking the noise of the Goshawk.

I could go on forever about all the wonderful birds that we experienced that day, but this blog would take the monotonous form of a list. However, I could not help but mention an utterly amazing bird that is the Goshawk. We spent most of the day scouring the skies for this particular beauty of a bird but didn’t have much luck due to us trying to find a new route for Rich’s Goshawk Safari Tour.

Goshawk North Yorkshire © Richard Baines

Fortunately, Rich has impeccable hawk eyes and spotted a magnificent Goshawk as it was chasing away a pair of Common Buzzards from the area. The mysteriousness and ferociousness of these striking raptors instigated an overwhelming sense of triumph that I have never felt before. There is no greater feeling than seeing these breathtaking birds of prey in their natural habitat.

Maddie Brown

Maddie is a second year Geography student at York Saint John’s University. Maddie has been working with Yorkshire Coast Nature in 2022 on her industrial placement.