Page 59 - BBC Wildlife - August 2017 UK

RUTLAND SPECIAL

MAKE THE MOST

OF BIRDFAIR

THIS YEAR’S SHOW PROMISES TO BE THE BEST YET.
BEN
BEN HOAREHOARE SELECTS SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.

S Test the
Always wanted W Plan youry
to see shoebills? latest optics
Plan your trip to next trip
Uganda at Birdfair. Even if you don’t intend to
Inspired by our features buy anything, Birdfair offers a
on Ugandan shoebills, unique opportunity to try a vast
Asian elephants, Bornean range of binoculars, telescopes,
orangutans or Alaskan brown cameras, lenses and accessories.
bears and want to see these Almost every major equipment
species for yourself? A host manufacturer will be there, and
of tourist boards, lodges the open-sided Optics Marquee
and wildlife tour companies overlooking the reserve allows
from all over the world have you to put a lot of the equipment
stands at Birdfair, and many through its paces. Swarovski’s new
enthusiastic experts will be BTX system – which combines
giving illustrated talks, so you a telescope’s power with the ‘3D’
can get no-obligation advice image produced by a binocular
on the best places to visit, eyepiece – will be an undoubted
when to go and what you draw, but there will also be many
might expect to see. Closer other exciting models to suit all
to home, dozens of British budgets making their debut, as
and Irish tour operators well as trusted favourites.
are also represented.

Does natural history T Don’t forget
TV fail to address
conservationissues? the wildlife
Despite the crowds, you can
still see exciting species in and
around the Birdfair site.Don’t
miss the moth-trapping session
onFriday at 12–12.45pm with
SGet youryourGet experts Richard Lewington
S
books signed and Phil Sterling. Our other
tips includeBTO bird-ringing
An impressive line-up of demonstrations andguidedg
writers will be giving talksin walks, hawkmoth caterpillars
theAuthor’s Forum marquee at Butterfly Conservation
and signing booksatthe (Marquee 7, Stand 18–19) and
WildSounds stand (Marquee fen raft spiders at the British
3, Stand 3–4). Highlights Arachnalogical Society
include a session on Friday at (Maarquee 8,
3pm hosted by Critical Critters’ Listen to the big debate Stand 7–8).
author Ceri Levy (see the extract
on p34). Many other authors Recent Birdfairs haven’t shied away from tackling thorny
will be there whose work has subjects such as raptor persecution and the slaughter of
featured in this magazine migrant birds in the Mediterranean. This year on Friday (7.30–
over the past year including: 9.30pm, booking essential) an expert line-up debates whether
Helen Pilcher (latest on TV companies and programmes do enough to raise awareness
p74), Marianne Taylor, Philip of conservation issues. BBC Wildlife columnists Chris Packham
Lymbery, Richard Smyth, Hugh and Mark Carwardine will be on the debating panel.
Warwick and Jack Perks.
August 2017