Bird Fair another version of the same event (1 Viewer)

[Peewit]

Birdfair – ‘Glastonbury of birdwatching’ – cancelled after 30 years

Annual event at Rutland Water highlights carbon footprint concerns over international attendees

www.theguardian.com

After many years of the many joys (2007) of the Bird Fair, I for one have had many enjoyable experiences meeting all birders from Forum members to Spanish Birding Leaders.

Including meeting Steve Backshall, Simon King etc... and other famous Willdife presenters

There is now another slighter and slimmer version of the BirdFair in July each year called the

Global BirdFair Conserving Nature Worldwide in July time of the year.

Wonder what peoples thought are on this event.

Not been myself , but I am happy to give it a go

If there is another similiar thread on this Forum I have overlooked it by accident

 

[Mono]

There is this thread
Tim Appleton has announced Global Birdfair will take place at Rutland Water on the 15th,16th & 17th July Global BirdFair Conserving Nature Worldwide Global Birdfair 15th,16th & 17th July 2022

 

[Peewit]

I was aware that it is called the Global Bird Fair last year in 2022,

I did not attend it at all

Looking forward to hearing other members views about the Birdfair as it is now

 

[Mike Crawley]

I went to "Global Bird Fair" at the Rutland show ground in Oakham.
I have also been a regular attendee when it was held at Rutland Water.
Don’t get distracted by the name, it’s essentially the same event.

In my humble opinion the fair at the show ground in Oakham was a great improvement. There seemed to be the same number of exhibitors but fewer visitors (at least on the Friday I was there) but the organisation - parking, layout of marquees, etc. was far superior.

I spoke about the bird fair to a birding couple recently, they were en route to the fair but didn’t go in the end as they thought the marquees might be too hot. I was able to inform them that they had been mistaken. Although it was warm the marquees weren’t unpleasant.

A number of "famous faces" there who were chatting to their admirers.

Give it a go in July, I’m sure you will enjoy the day.

 

[Euan Buchan]

I’d love to go someday in Scotland from 2012-2016 we had The Scottish Birdfair which was later renamed Scotland’s Big Nature Festival. I attended it from 2013-2016 it was great similar idea marquees, book signings, music talks and bird ringing even had famous people from David Lindo The Ubran Birder & Bill Oddie. I was gutted they cancelled it after 2016 it was my highlight in May.

 

[Patudo]

In my humble opinion the fair at the show ground in Oakham was a great improvement. There seemed to be the same number of exhibitors but fewer visitors (at least on the Friday I was there) but the organisation - parking, layout of marquees, etc. was far superior.

For what it's worth, in my humble opinion the Rutland Water location was far superior, with views over a much wider variety of habitats (very important if you were trialling optics). I particularly missed the great views over the reservoir (at the last Birdfair before Covid an osprey was hunting in front of the big binocular tent and must have had hundreds of binoculars trained on it as it dived and caught a fish). Heat haze over the fields that were all you could view over at the Oakham showground was intense, which made it almost impossible to determine sharpness and detail at distance. The exhibitors were as interesting to speak to as always, and if your interest is in birding holidays, books or art etc it's still a worthwhile trip, but the departure from the Rutland Water site, to my mind, is very much to be regretted.

 

[delia todd]

I’d love to go someday in Scotland from 2012-2016 we had The Scottish Birdfair which was later renamed Scotland’s Big Nature Festival. I attended it from 2013-2016 it was great similar idea marquees, book signings, music talks and bird ringing even had famous people from David Lindo The Ubran Birder & Bill Oddie. I was gutted they cancelled it after 2016 it was my highlight in May.

I'm sure the Birdfair at Vane Farm was held earlier in the 2000's Euan? It was there for a few years, but then I think transferred to the Edinburgh area (can't remember the actual location now but think it was at a big house beside the river?) but then it petered out after a few years.

but the departure from the Rutland Water site, to my mind, is very much to be regretted.

Agree, but don't think the current organisers have any option as, I understood, the wildlife trust no longer wanted to operate it.