SOC/BTO Scottish Bird Camp, 26–28 May 2023

“It was really great fun and so was the rest of bird camp. It was the best weekend of my life!”

2023 Bird Camp participant

“Thank you very much for what sounded like an incredible weekend. Our son loved every minute and I’m sure it will be an experience he will never forget. We have heard so much about it and I’m sure we will hear even more over the next wee while!”

Parent of Bird Camp participant

Testament to the success of the first Scottish Bird Camp in June 2022 (see SB42(4), pp. 342–345) and SOC /BTO’s respective efforts to engage, support and develop young bird enthusiasts in Scotland, we were delighted to be met with a flurry of applicants from 100 young people, all eager to take part in the 2023 event. It was no small task whittling down this unprecedented number of applications in order to award the 14 available places to children aged 10–16 years from across Scotland.

Our first-class team of residential and session leaders who joined us for last year’s Camp generously returned to support this year’s event, which meant participants were able to enjoy: n a moth trapping session with specialist Katty Baird n several bird identification training activities expertly led by Camp co-organisers, Ben Darvill and Steve Willis (BTO Scotland staff), ably assisted by Carol Miller (volunteer Leader and SOC Highland Branch Committee member) and Ptolemy McKinnon (volunteer Leader and SOC Youth Connect member) n paper bird model making with lecturer, Darren Woodhead n a nest-finding demo with nest finding-wizard, Colin Davison n a boat trip out to the Bass Rock with Blue Wild Nature Boat Tours n a nest box making session with young birder Mike Sinclair - new for 2023! n a ringing demo with Lothian Ringing Group