Does anyone make their living in Bird related occupations (1 Viewer)

[django]

As there are a large number of members on this site I wondered if there are any who make their living in occupations related to Birds and Birding (eg photography conservation selling bird related gear optics Mags Books e.c.t I worked in a specialist outdoor shop and we had a lot of birders who came in for weatherproof gear real interesting, thought it would be great to have some input it may make a interesting thread

 

[Steve Babbs]

As there are a large number of members on this site I wondered if there are any who make their living in occupations related to Birds and Birding (eg photography conservation selling bird related gear optics Mags Books e.c.t I worked in a specialist outdoor shop and we had a lot of birders who came in for weatherproof gear real interesting, thought it would be great to have some input it may make a interesting thread

I worked for years doing mainly ornithological research but also some other conservation work. It was a childhood dream but the reality was very different. I don't recommend it dreadful wages, lack of job security, long hours etc. Changing career was the best move I ever made. I could rant for hours but the point is I'd recommend anyone to think very carefully about working in their hobby. I enjoy my birding much more now I'm just an amateur, I don't feel like I'm dressing for work when my bins go round my neck for a start.

Steve

 

[django]

Your DREAM and BAD WAGES

Steve aint it always the way you can have a job you love doing and the wages are crap!,you can have a job you hate and the wages can be good! but to get a job you love with good wages never comes easy,I had a great love of horses and worked at a stable up at five bad weather but I still loved it however it got to a stage when I just had go for a job with better pay,thanks for your input.

 

[Edward woodwood]

used to

as Steve said the pay is useless, hard to survive on really and no long term prospects of improvement

I did teach abroad for a few years and that enabled me to go birding in many exotic locations and i would recommned that to anyone

I now teach in Norfolk with a view of the sea so i have the best of both worlds... amazing birding on my doorstep, the ability to educate children about birds and conservation and a resonably nice well-paid job. Don't listen to all the negative comments it's a great job. I've never laughed so much in any other job i've done! I'm sure Steve would agree!!!

Tim

 

[dbradnum]

It was a childhood dream but the reality was very different. I don't recommend it dreadful wages, lack of job security, long hours etc...

Interesting thread...

Post A-Levels, I had a tough choice to make between following my hobby as a degree (i.e. Ecology and Conservation), or following the strongest academic talent (Maths, in my case) which opens a great many career options anyway.

A couple of short spells of voluntary work with the RSPB were enough to convince me to take the second option - all the RSPB short-term contract staff were permanently worried about getting future work and lack of money. Getting a long-term contract appeared unlikely for most people, and even then the money would be far from brilliant.

Now, a few years down the road, I have the odd moment when I wonder if I did the right thing... but on reflection don't regret the decision one little bit. I have the salary to do what I want to do, more or less when I want to do it, and thoroughly enjoy my work, with genuinely intelligent people in a relaxed environment. Money isn't the be all and end all (indeed I could earn more in similar jobs nearby), but conversation just can't attract all the best people paying as it does, IMO.

I could also argue teaching doesn't attract the best graduates for much the same reason, but that's a different thread...

 

[Jos Stratford]

I worked for years doing mainly ornithological research but also some other conservation work. It was a childhood dream but the reality was very different. I don't recommend it dreadful wages, lack of job security, long hours etc. I enjoy my birding much more now I'm just an amateur.

Steve

Exactly the same here ...after having done some years in conservation work, I made the conscious decision to separate work and hobby. In reality, there is plenty of opportunity to get involved in conservation in an active, though voluntary role, so I took the position to not try to also earn an income from it - now can think how best to benefit birds, rather than how to survive to the next year. Have never really lost the desire to return to conservation in a full-time capacity however!

 

[Edward woodwood]

I

I could also argue teaching doesn't attract the best graduates for much the same reason, but that's a different thread...

slightly off thread but teaching doesn't attract the best 'teachers'

the 'best' graduates in my experience make lousy teachers, no life experience and a bit nerdy...

common sense, sense of humour, passion for your subject, a healthy enjoyment of working with young people, and having seen a bit of life make for a good teacher. Most graduates don't have those qualities at the time they enter teaching... Plus there's that 'something' that you either have or don't and cannot learn!

I would certainly recommend working in conservation in your 20s, or just travelling and birding until you really need to earn some money! It expands your horizons in so many ways and probably adds something to whatever you choose to do.

Tim

 

[dbradnum]

the 'best' graduates in my experience make lousy teachers, no life experience and a bit nerdy...

common sense, sense of humour, passion for your subject, a healthy enjoyment of working with young people, and having seen a bit of life make for a good teacher.

OK, I know exactly the type of grads you mean, Tim... but as far as I'm concerned, however intelligent they may be, they're not the 'best' graduates! They struggle to get jobs, because they're often unable to relate to real people, or explain their thinking at an appropriate level for their audience.

However, plenty of very bright people with all the qualities you describe are coming out of top universities, but worringly few want to be teachers - that's my point.

 

[postcardcv]

I'm another who has worked in conservation but doesn't anymore - I did a fair bit of unpaid work for the BTO in my younger days and more recently worked for the RSPB. As others have said the short contract thing leads to a total lack of job security which is not ideal.
In the end when kids were on the way I stopped working to look after them - my wife is in a stable job and I couldn't rely on getting another contract. I must say that I did love doing the work and am very glad that I did, however it's even better now. I stay at home with the kids - really this means I drop my eldest at school and take my 1 year old out birding with me. I do work at the weekends in an optics shop, so I guess I do still earn a little in birding related work.

 

[buckskin hawk]

slightly off thread but teaching doesn't attract the best 'teachers'

the 'best' graduates in my experience make lousy teachers, no life experience and a bit nerdy...

common sense, sense of humour, passion for your subject, a healthy enjoyment of working with young people, and having seen a bit of life make for a good teacher. Most graduates don't have those qualities at the time they enter teaching... Plus there's that 'something' that you either have or don't and cannot learn!

I would certainly recommend working in conservation in your 20s, or just travelling and birding until you really need to earn some money! It expands your horizons in so many ways and probably adds something to whatever you choose to do.

Tim

Words from another teacher--Large 2 year community college in Accounting

Tim is exactly right. I have found that the best teachers are those that had to struggle and study some. They have more common ground with that of their students, specially at a community college. You need to have the personality for it--someone who delights at their student's progress and is somewhat of an idealist with good personal insights.

It is just a plain fact of life that everyone needs a living wage that cooresponds to the education required and their expectations in order to stay in the field. We have so many teachers that leave the field of teaching not because they didn't like their job but because they were tired of the struggle to make ends meet at home. They are the people that then volunteer their teaching skills. I call them the frustrated teachers. Is conservation really any different?

I don't think that we are that far off topic. We need to restate our values and invest more resources in the future (of our planet and our children). Most of the time we are so short sighted tending to look at this year's bottom line to determine our success or failure. (Yes I teach accounting.) How do we get people to stretch their goals out further into the future? Who ever heard of a 10 year income statement or a 20 year? I bet if we weren't so worried about our success today that we might spend our money differently.

PS Just turned my hobby of horses into a business. Definity not going to quit my teaching job and it has changed my perspective. I now ride and train my horses to please the customer rather than me. Isn't that the definition of work?

 

[Euan Buchan]

I used to do volunteer work in a Nature Reserve

 

[Hedgewitch]

Like Tim said: used to....

worked for RSPB studying whinchats and mapping hideously steep hillsides for population studies.
Done my share of volunteering too.

In the end, the call of decent money took over... arrrgh!

 

[dbradnum]

I basically agree with everything you've said, buckskin - well thought out post.

One thing to add, though: the best teachers may well have had to struggle, as you put it... but not necessarily at the same level as they are teaching.

It's important to be able to have been through the struggle, so you can empathise with the students, because that's how you appreciate their sense of achievement when something finally clicks into place after lots of work... but it's just as important to really understand the subject matter you're teaching inside out - you shouldn't be struggling with it yourself!

The (real-life) example in my mind is of a maths teacher who delivered a lesson on irrational numbers, using sqrt(9) as the example, over and over again. Clearly didn't actually grasp what he was doing. (Apologies for obscure example to non mathematicians!).

So, for me, the best teachers are probably those who know what hard work is all about, and have struggled with difficult academic work themselves.... but have also got a comprehensive knowledge and understanding at at least the level they are teaching, if not higher.

 

[jurek]

I studied biology, volunteered and twice led birds tours for about 10 days, then worked for half a year - and had to quit. No prospects of making ends meet on this salary.

I don't regret changing job and wouldn't switch back to birds. It is much better as a hobby. Although I appreciate these enthusiastic people who continue to do it (many old friends do).

I have an opinion that a well paid job related to wild birds does not exist. Anybody ever HEARD about it? (things like royal falconer of Arabian sheikh don't count )

 

[StuartReeves]

I have an opinion that a well paid job related to wild birds does not exist. Anybody ever HEARD about it? (things like royal falconer of Arabian sheikh don't count )

Last year in Finland I met a ranger who worked on some of the reserves in Lapland. He was a birder and a few of the reserves under his care had facilities (bird towers etc.) that had been paid for with European Union money. A couple of days later he was expecting a visit from the head of the unit in the European Commission that had funded these facilities. This guy (an Irishman as I recall) was coming on a tour of inspection to check that the money had been spent as claimed. He also had a list of birds he wanted to see while he was in Northern Finland! I reckon he could be the highest paid birder in Europe!

Stuart

 

[Steve Babbs]

Tim[/QUOTE]

We mostly seem to agree working with birds isn't as good as it seems. Ironically I spend more time doing the kind of birding that I want to do now I have have chucked it in as a career. It helps that I got a job as a teacher, as Tim says this is rewarding as a career you never doubt you are doing a worthwhile job (although it can be very stressful), and is excellent for birding particularly if you are into foreign birding. Although it's not so good for twitching. I tend to do a 2 week family/birding trip in Europe over Easter and 5-6 weeks further afield (either with a friend or with my family) over the summer. How many other jobs could you do that and still have 4 weeks holiday left? The pay's not anywhere near as bad as people think I earn well over twice what I was earning after working for nearly 10 years in conservation.

Sorry I've gone well off thread here. I still have friends who work in conservation and I think one of them may actually be thinking of staying in it but through luck/dedication/skill he got a very good job. Of course that means he has to live in Bedfordshire - I couldn't handle that! (apologies to anyone from Bed.s)

Steve

 

[Andy Wraithmell]

I have worked for the National Trust, RSPB and at Dungeness Bird Obs in the Uk and at Cape May Bird Obs over here. The pay is not that great but if you are single and just wanna bird everyday then there isnt a better life, I had 7 great years and then I got married. Ive had a temp job here banding Bachman;s Sparrows but thats the only bird job Ive heard of in this neck of the woods. I'm just about to start a new job working at a Wild Birds Unlimited store and will be doing some bird talks and walks as well for them so thats good. If anyone is thinking of a career in birding then get a pHD because thats where the really good jobs with money are, especially on this side of the pond. My dream is to run my own birding tour company B

 

[Andy Wraithmell]

I will add that it really depends on where you work. The RSPB weren't that great but I birded all over the country whilst working for them and saw some mega rares on my travels! Great Spotted Cuckoo, Terek Sand, Blackpoll Warbler to name a few. The best was working at bird observatories, the pay isnt very much but you get free accommodation, you bird every day, get to find rares (Ibe Chiff, Paddyfield W etc), ring/band rares (Dusky Warbler, G G Shrike etc).
I will agree though unless you are really really dedicated its a hard career with little money and long hours. I have to admit I enjoy my birding a lot more now as I dont get to go out as much. You can burn out very easily when you bird every day.......I mean have you walked around the trapping area at Dunge on a wet February morning!!!! 3

 

[Hanno]

I have wanted to work in "nature" since I was a little kid, until I met my Uncle, an ornithologist. He has been working in Greece for decades, Ebro Delta I believe, and he has a hard time getting food on the table for his family. This convinced me to do something else. I am a Hotel Manager now, which gets me around a bit and pays a darn sight better (not that I have much time to go birding).

The dream still endures though: Hotel Manager in a Safari or Eco Lodge, getting the best of both worlds. If anyone needs a hotel manager...........

 

[jurek]

If anyone is thinking of a career in birding then get a pHD because thats where the really good jobs with money are, especially on this side of the pond. My dream is to run my own birding tour company B

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