Online course inspires novice birdwatchers
June 2022
An online series of talks by Bird Aware Solent rangers is helping local residents brush up their knowledge of Solent’s coastal birds.
The free Zoom classes are held once a month and are dubbed The Beginner’s Guide to Birds by the Coast.
Different species of birds are discussed at each session. This means those taking part have been able to compile a thorough understanding of birdlife on the Solent coast. The talks began with just a few participants at the start of the year. Popularity has quickly grown with spaces now completely booking up for each session.
Councillor Seán Woodward, Chairman of the Partnership for South Hampshire, the body that oversees Bird Aware, said: ‘By encouraging appreciation of the unique birdlife that shares our beautiful coastline we can help these birds thrive by giving them the space they need to feed and rest’.
Recent talks have focused on summer migratory birds such as swifts and swallows, as well as wading birds and geese. To book a place on the next Bird Aware Solent talk, visit www.birdaware.org, and go to the Bird Aware Solent events page.
Bird Aware Solent raises awareness of the ducks, geese and wading birds that spend the winter on the Solent coastline. It works on coastlines around the New Forest, Southampton Water, Portsmouth, Chichester and Langstone Harbours and the northern coast of the Isle of Wight and is formed of a partnership of 19 different local authorities and wildlife organisations.
