Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder – it’s back!

08 Jun 2021 | No. 2021-25

After a year without this annual celebration of the skill and dedication of young birders from across the UK, Spurn Bird Observatory Trust and the BTO are once again welcoming all young birders to take part in the Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder event. This Spurn Migration Festival (Migfest) tradition is named after the late Martin Garner, a knowledgeable, inspiring and encouraging birder who shared his expertise and passion for birds with so many, something this event aspires to do.

Join us! The online submission consists of questions covering your birding life and gives you a chance to showcase your passion for birds. The questionnaire covers things like how you record your day to day birding, what activities you are involved with, where you go birding and tales from your birding life, and then moves onto your birding knowledge and a couple of ID questions. The questionnaire needs to be submitted by the 4th July 2021 and can be accessed here, or by contacting sarah.harris [at] bto.org (Sarah Harris).

Oscar Puls, 2019 finalist, said, “I really enjoyed the competition which was good fun and It was great to meet other young birders that shared my interests.”

From these submissions, six lucky finalists will be chosen to meet us in the field at Migfest for a day’s birding with our expert judges in a welcoming, friendly environment! The day involves seawatching, experiencing visible migration, watching birds on the Humber and in the bushes and answering a couple of theory questions back at base. Our laid-back but enthusiastic judges are eager to share the magic of Spurn with you and find out more about what drives you to pursue birding as a hobby. At the end of the mornings assessments, two of the finalists (from two age categories) will be crowned the Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder of the year and each winner will be awarded a pair of top quality binoculars. All the finalists who make it through to the final will receive various birding memberships to fuel their birding passion, and a trophy celebrating their achievements in getting to the finals!

To take part in the final, you must be 16 or under and able to attend Spurn Point, East Yorkshire on the 11th September 2021, accompanied by parent or guardian. 

Contact Details
Paul Stancliffe (BTO Media Manager)
Mobile: 07585 440910
Email: press [at] bto.org (subject: News%20release%20enquiry)

Images are available for use alongside this News Release. These can be downloaded from this link for which you will need to enter the password MGSYB202125 alternatively, please contact press [at] bto.org quoting reference 2021-25

Notes for editors
Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder - the highly respected birder, ornithologist and author Martin Garner was a committee member at Spurn Bird Observatory until his untimely passing in 2016. More information can be found here.

Martin was keen to support young birders with real potential and agreed to give his name to a competition to be organised each year to find Britain’s best young birder.

BTO is the UK's leading bird research charity. A growing membership and up to 60,000 volunteer birdwatchers contribute to BTO's surveys, collecting information that underpins conservation action in the UK. BTO maintains a staff of 100 at its offices in Thetford, Stirling, Bangor (Wales) and Belfast (Northern Ireland), who analyse and publicise the results of surveys and projects. BTO's work is funded by BTO supporters, government, trusts, industry and conservation organisations. www.bto.org

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