Birding - for all.

I recently read an article in BTO News regarding gender equality in birding. This is something that's often hit me in the face like an off course pigeon. Alison Johnston talks about how "subconsciously most of us think that men have greater interest and skill at birdwatching". This is something many of us are guilty of. I'm lucky that I work in an environment where everyday I can, and I'm encouraged to, challenge my subconscious preconceptions of people. However, I'm finding in the birding world I'm often overlooked as a female. From my experience, and commonly known, birding is a middle-class, older, white mans game. A young female, hard hit by the mid-twenties baptism of fire of council tax, national insurance and pensions, results in me and my crap gear being overlooked.

What do I mean by overlooked? When talking in hides if I say I've seen an interesting bird, I'm met with looks of almost sympathy. As if "bless her, she thinks she's seen a goldeneye". Or, more commonly, I'll be out with my partner and they address him. Not me. To put this in perspective, I've volunteered with RSPB for years, I have a first-class biology degree where I specialised in wildlife conservation. I spend most weekends birding. My partner, is supportive and frequently goes with me, but is proud he can identify an oystercatcher. When he says 'oh I have no idea, this is her thing', we're met with shock. One man even ignored this and commented on how I must be bored and want to go shopping. It took a lot of control for me not to push his scope (probably worth more than my car) over.

Obviously, this isn't everyone. Some lovely individuals don't talk down to me, allow me to borrow their scope to look at far away birds and say how we need more young people in the birding world. It's a worry for many that the generations interested in wildlife are ageing. However, if we really want to encourage everybody into birding, regardless of gender, race, age or any characteristic, we need to challenge our subconscious preconceptions. So next time your out birding, challenge yourself, don't make assumptions based on an individuals characteristics. This way, we really can group together to save the wildlife we love so much.