Students from the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences at Queen Mary University of London recently took part in the Big Bird Race 2024, an event organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) - and walked away in first place in the Inlands Birds Category!
The annual event, which aims to engage young birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts across the UK, is growing in popularity, and this year, these Queen Mary students embraced the challenge head-on.
What is the Big Bird Race?
The Big Bird Race is a friendly competition where teams venture out with binoculars in hand and aim to spot and identify as many bird species as possible within a specified time window. The event offers participants the opportunity to explore local wildlife while testing their bird identification skills. The team with the highest number of species recorded wins. The students heard about the event through the BTO, which has been hosting this competition since 2023 to promote birdwatching among the younger generation.
This year's Queen Mary team— "Sparrowhawk"—chose to compete in a four-hour window from 09:00 to 13:00. Explaining their timing decision, Karmannye shared, "Bird activity tends to be higher during this time, and we hoped to make the most of the window we had." This timing proved crucial for spotting a wide variety of species, as mornings tend to be when many birds are at their most active. This choice played out in their favour and may have been a key factor in their win.
Birdwatching in the Wetlands: Location Matters
The team opted to spend their race at Walthamstow Wetlands, one of London’s largest urban wetland nature reserves, known for its rich biodiversity. Karmannye explained their reasoning behind the location choice: "It’s a site some of us were familiar with, and we knew it had a good species richness, including water birds, passerines, and woodland birds." This familiarity helped them navigate the area quickly and efficiently as they searched for different species, but they were also prepared for surprises.
Species Spotted and Highlights
The team's hard work paid off, with 43 bird species recorded over the four hours, securing their win in this year's race for the Inlands Birds Category. Although they initially aimed for 50, the weather conditions were not ideal, which affected the number of species they were able to spot. "We missed out on some common passerine species", but they remained optimistic, given their solid total. Their standout sighting of the day was a Yellow-browed Warbler, an uncommon passage migrant in the UK.
"Seeing a Yellow-browed Warbler was definitely a highlight for us," This rare sighting added an extra element of excitement to their day. Despite their team name, they did not spot a Sparrowhawk sadly! But they did walk away with brilliant BTO merch from their win.
Why Participate in the Big Bird Race?
For the Queen Mary team, made up of Karmannye Om Chaudry, Lauryn Stevenson, Salwa Jama, Bouchra Derbal and Louis Boettger, all students from our Biology and Zoology programmes, the Big Bird Race was about more than just ticking off species. It was an opportunity to connect with nature, bond with fellow students, and develop their birdwatching skills in a practical setting. Participating in events like these offers students a chance to engage with wildlife and conservation in a hands-on way, which is crucial for those studying biological and behavioural sciences. The event also provides an opportunity for budding ornithologists to sharpen their identification skills, an essential part of fieldwork in this area of study.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Birdwatchers
This experience highlights how participation in such events can enhance students' academic and personal growth. With a growing emphasis on conservation and biodiversity, events like the Big Bird Race offer a platform for students to not only explore their academic interests but also raise awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation.
The Big Bird Race is open to all young bird enthusiasts and offers a fun and educational way to develop a deeper appreciation of the natural world. Whether you’re an experienced birdwatcher or just starting out, there’s no better way to immerse yourself in nature and see first-hand how your studies at Queen Mary can be applied outside of the classroom.
If you're a current or prospective student at Queen Mary and are passionate about birds or wildlife, the Big Bird Race could be the perfect opportunity to test your skills and explore London’s diverse bird population.
Interested in participating next year? Keep an eye on the British Trust for Ornithology’s event page for updates on how to get involved, maybe follow in the winning footsteps of team Sparrowhawk.