To celebrate the fantastic work of wildlife-loving birders, Happy Beaks has been speaking to those who champion, photograph, and generously share their birdwatching tips with others. We recently caught up with Mya Bambrick – the inspirational birder, conservationist, naturalist, and presenter also known as @myabambrick. Here’s what she told us…
How did you first get interested in bird watching?
My name is Mya Bambrick, and I’m a 22-year-old naturalist, presenter, and birdwatcher. My love of the natural world blossomed at the age of eight, after I was inspired to visit my local nature reserve by watching BBC Springwatch.
Despite growing up in an urban area, I developed a deep appreciation for nature right on my doorstep – from the Pied Wagtail roosting at my school, to the Starlings visiting my garden, to the Redwings I’d hear migrating overhead at night.
Over ten years later, I’ve just completed a degree in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation and now work for a conservation charity, Birds of Poole Harbour, as their Engagement and Projects Assistant.
What are your favourite birds?
One of my earliest birdwatching memories is seeing my first Kingfisher. Bright blue and orange, yet often tricky to spot, the excitement and pure joy of spotting one never wears off – that’s why they’re my all-time favourite.
The unique and crepuscular Nightjar is also in my top three. The ‘churring’ song the males make is one of my sounds of summer.
What are your top tips for successful birding?
- Spend as much time as possible out in the field: Field guides and books can be useful, but nothing beats spending hours outdoors observing different species, their behaviours, and different individuals.
- Learn your bird sounds: Top ornithologists often identify birds solely by their calls or songs while birding. Challenge yourself to learn five bird songs throughout the season, then gradually add more to your repertoire.
- Surround yourself with fellow birdwatchers: Over the years, I’ve learned a huge amount by chatting to knowledgeable and friendly birdwatchers I’ve met whilst out and about or in hides.
How has birdwatching impacted your life?
Birdwatching has been a real saviour for me in many ways. My academic journey has come to an end, and throughout that time, going outdoors and spotting birds was a real stress-reliever during exam seasons. It comes with so many benefits for both mental and physical wellbeing.
It’s also allowed me to meet some amazing people and given me opportunities to visit stunning places like Colombia. I feel incredibly lucky to now be able to pursue a career that’s also my passion.
In my spare time, I do as much as I can to inspire the next generation – and people from a diverse range of backgrounds – to take an interest in nature. Part of that includes creating social media content and documentaries. I recently presented a short documentary called Conservation: The Next Generation. You can watch it, along with some of my other projects, on YouTube at @myabambrick.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about Mya Bambrick – aka @myabambrick as part of our ‘Featured Bird Watcher’ series. If you want to encourage more birds into your garden, read our helpful bird food guide before stocking up on specialist bird seed mixes to attract specific species.
