British Birdwatching Fair facts for kids

The British Birdwatching Fair, or Birdfair, is a large yearly event for people who enjoy birdwatching. It used to happen every August at Rutland Water in England. Staff and volunteers from the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust organized it.

The Birdfair was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In late 2021, the original Birdfair stopped completely due to money worries. However, in early 2022, one of the people who first thought of the Birdfair, Tim Appleton, announced a new event. This new event is called the Global Birdfair. It started in July 2022 at a new place, Rutland Showground.

Many people call the Birdfair "the birder's Glastonbury" because it's such a big and important event for birdwatchers. At the fair, you can find many companies selling things like binoculars, cameras, books, and clothes for birdwatching. Artists and tour companies also show and sell their products. There are also talks and other fun activities to enjoy.

The first Birdfair took place in 1989. A great thing about the Birdfair is that all the money the organizers make goes to a charity. This charity is called Birdlife International. It works to protect birds around the world. Before the 2008 fair, visitors had already given over £1.4 million to help save birds. By 2018, the fair had raised a total of over £4.6 million for bird conservation.

Other countries have also started their own bird fairs, just like the British Birdfair. For example, the South American Bird Fair began in 2010. The Amazon Birding Fest started in 2019.

Helping Birds Around the World

Each year, the Birdfair chooses a different project or cause to raise money for. These projects help protect birds and their homes in different parts of the world. Here are some examples of the important work they have supported:

• In 1989, they helped stop bird hunting in Malta.
• In 1990, they worked to save Doñana National Park in Spain.
• In 1991, they helped the Danube Delta, a wetland area.
• In 1996, they supported a forest project in Kẻ Gỗ Nature Reserve in Vietnam.
• In 2000, they started the "Save the Albatross Campaign."
• In 2005, they helped save Gurney's Pitta birds and their forest homes.
• From 2007 to 2009, they focused on preventing birds from becoming extinct.
• From 2011 to 2013, they worked on "Flyways" projects. These projects protected the paths that migratory birds use when they travel long distances.
• In 2014, they helped protect the world's seas and oceans.
• In 2016, they worked to save Important Bird Areas in Africa.
• In 2018, they helped protect Mar Chiquita, a special place for flamingos in Argentina.
• In 2019, they focused on conserving five important bird species in Cambodia.

The Birdfair was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the new Global Birdfair was announced. It took place from July 15–17 at Rutland Showground.