Birdfair is re-born. Join in to make this THE future of Conserving Nature Worldwide
Birdfair is re-born. Join in to make this THE future of Conserving Nature Worldwide
Our massively successful Whinchat Podcasting Station will be back in 2025.
If you would like to be involved in 2025 please complete and send this year's Podcast Enquiry Form
If you have any questions, please email Charlie, our Podcast Co-ordinator
We are delighted to share the great news that Global Birdfair is donating a fantastic US$125,000.00 to help create the Galala Bird Observatory with Nature Conservation Egypt, a BirdLife International Partner.
Massive thanks to everyone who was involved - sponsors, exhibitors, guest speakers, visitors, contractors, Lyndon Top - our amazing new site and of course the amazing Global Birdfair volunteers.
GLOBAL BIRDFAIR 2024 PROJECT
The reason we keep hosting Global Birdfair!
Creating Brighter Futures - Global Birdfair 2024 project
Total amount being donated in 2024 will be announced on Friday 6 September at the BirdLife Africa Congress in Senegal.
Featuring BirdLife International partnerships and projects with Tim Appleton, BirdFair founder, and Martin Harper CEO of BIrdLife International. If you missed this at the Global BirdFair, or if you want to watch it again, hear from Nina Mikander about the BirdLife International Flyways projects, and from Tomas Haraldssen and Khaled Noby from the Ornithological Society of the Middle East and the Galala Bird Observatory project in Egypt, beneficiary of this year’s BirdFair funding support.
Many thanks to Steve Shelley for filming for Front Row Productions
Merlin vs The Two Dans in Osprey Events on Saturday 13 July at Global Birdfair 2024.
Merlin vs the two Dans: Can an app taught by machine learning beat birding experts and the audience in identifying birds and their songs?
If you missed this at the Global BirdFair, if you want to watch it again, hear from Alli Smith of the Cornell Lab, and experts birders Dan Rouse and Dan Brown
Comments from The Two Dans:
Dan Rouse "When asked to do this event against the Merlin, I was nervous knowing how intelligent Merlin was. Nevertheless we pulled together and managed to beat one of the best apps than I unashamedly use every day! It's always such fun to be on stage at Global Birdfair and having audience participation was a huge highlight for me"
Dan Brown "Thank you for the invite to be part of it, it was a fantastic event to be involved with and I felt it was a perfect combination of science, technology and birding fun (in fact this can be my quote!). I thought Ally hosted it very well and it was great to start with the background to Merlin and to end with the ability for people to ask questions"
Many thanks to Steve Shelley for filming for Front Row Productions
"Mastermind" Style Quiz held in Osprey Events on Saturday 13 July at Global Birdfair 2024.
The main 4 Bird Club Regions are represented by representatives who are willing to face their turn in The Black Chair!
African Bird Club, Neo-Tropical Birding, Oriental Bird Club and OSME.
Bird Brain: Competing for the Charles Gallimore Trophy are Adam Riley, Billy Rodger, Chris Balchin and Victoria Saravia-Mullin.
Chaired by Stephen Moss, adjudicator Mark Maddox, timekeeper Tim Appleton
Many thanks to Steve Shelley for filming for Front Row Productions
Debate held in Osprey Events on Friday 12 July at Global Birdfair 2024.
Nature, the environment and climate change barely featured in this year’s election. How can we make political parties and the people who vote for them care enough to take action? If you missed this panel discussion at Global BirdFair, or if you want to watch it again, hear from the people with a plan: Dominic Dyer, Will Travers, Hannah Bourne -Taylor, James Wallace and Roger Morgan-Grenville
Many thanks to Steve Shelley for filming for Front Row Productions
Words, wisdom and wonder from the Global BirdFair. Learn about people and projects doing their best to save nature, and why you need to get involved. A refreshing antidote to doom and gloom, brought to you from Rutland, where else!
Filmed by Steve Shelley, Front Row Productions
Production adviser - Dr Robert Tansey
In Association with The Society of Environmental Authors and Journalists
Thanks to Simon McCabe for creating this brilliant video of many aspects of the event
We are always delighted to welcome conservation organisations to Global Birdfair to showcase the amazing work they do across the world. Alongside individuals and other organisations committed to protecting species and habitats, we hope you can join us in 2025 on 11, 12 and 13 July at Lyndon Top.
by Robert Tansey
"So many events and activities on a continual rolling programme, speakers, projects,
anticipation, all with an air of continual excitement. One thing above all coming out of this
international event was its international spirit. People of all nationalities and cultures
coming together in the cause not only of birds but of all wildlife, and to tell us all about the
need to save the world we all love so much."
Robert is Editor of the The Magazine of the Society of Environmental Authors and Journalists
Chief Reporter is Steve Shelley, who also filmed the Osprey Events shown above.
Thanks to them all for their fantastic contributions to Global Birdfair 2024.
Did you enjoy Global Birdfair?
If you came along and wish to make a small contribution, thank you!
You can Donate to the Project Here
Galala Bird Observatory will become a flagship observation point of global significance in terms of the numbers and diversity of species during the spring migration.
The migrant birds passing Galala represent globally significant proportions of species populations that spend the summer in eastern Europe and in western and central Asia.
There are no other similar migratory observation points in Egypt.
During a six-week period at Galala Mountain in Spring 2023, NCE observers counted an astonishingly high number (380,000) and diverse range of species, including 1,300 Egyptian Vulture, 35,000 Steppe Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle, 200,000 Steppe Buzzard, and 52,000 White Stork.
Massive thanks and credit to David Tipling for his wonderful image of the Egyptian Vulture. You can meet David at Global Birdfair.
Every Global Birdfair Volunteer is crucial to the success of the event
We were delighted that our amazing Volunteer Co-ordinators let us know about this piece on BBC Sounds, Radio 4 by Michael Mosley about the health benefits of volunteering
If you would like to volunteer, visit our Volunteer page to register
Public access times
Friday 11, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July 2025
Main Exhibitor Marquees open 9am to 5.30pm daily. Last admission 4pm
PLUS
Events, catering and bar open until 9pm Friday and Saturday evenings.
Valid tickets allow you to remain on site until 9pm Friday & Saturday.
No dogs other than assistance dogs are allowed on event site. Assistance dogs should wear appropriate lead or bib and the handler must carry their assistance dog card and be prepared to show this at the main entrance to avoid any misunderstandings on site.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING DOGS WITH YOU TO THE EVENT AND LEAVE THEM IN YOUR CAR - IF ANY DOG IS IN DISTRESS IN A VEHICLE WE WILL RESCUE IT BY FORCE IF NEEDED
There will be photographers on site throughout the event who are authorised by Global Birdfair
Available to book online from January/February 2025.
Prices shown for 2024 - there may be a small increase in ticket prices for 2025.
Please try to buy your tickets in advance.
Three day pass £40.00 early bird price, £45.00 standard price
One day pass £15.00 early bird price, £16.00 standard price
Family Sunday tickets (2 adults and up to 4 children) £22.00 early bird, £25.00 standard price.
Reduced prices for students.
Under 18's FREE with a paying adult
Carer tickets
We will have cashless payment systems for ticket sales on the gate
Programmes can be bought in advance with your tickets & collected on your arrival at Global Birdfair by providing your Programme voucher
Exhibitor Enquiry forms and Lecture/Workshop Enquiry Forms systems open on Monday 4 November 2024.
By Shuttle Bus:
We have a shuttle bus available between Oakham Railway Station and the Global Birdfair site at Lyndon Top. First Shuttle around 8:30am from Oakham Station
By Bicycle:
Bicycles can be ridden to an allocated area near the event entrance where they can be left during your visit to Global Birdfair. Bicycles are not permitted on the event site.
By Car:
There is ample free car parking at Lyndon Top including forward parking for those with Disabled badges and those who require mobility assistance during the event. Please do NOT park on the roads approaching the event or in the Rutland Nursery or Golf Club. You cannot access the event from these locations.
National Highways Travel Updates
By Train:
Oakham Railway Station is 5 miles from the Global Birdfair event site.
We will run a shuttle service between the station and the event. Watch for details.
By Bus:
There are several bus services running through Oakham. Please see the Rutland Council website and search for Oakham for details of services. You can also travel by bus to Manton and then it is around 1 mile to the site along a flat path separated from the road.
By Taxi:
There will be a taxi drop off and collection point near the main entrance to the Global Birdfair event site.
By Plane:
Nearest Airport East Midlands - around a 1 hour drive from the site..
There are trains direct to Oakham from Stansted Airport and train transfers available from Birmingham Airport. London Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport are accessible by train via Peterborough, Leicester and Corby.
We have spaces for people to camp on the site or bring a caravan/motorhome. Book direct with Lyndon Top Caravan Site
You can also book Glamping on site in advance for 3 night stays. Portable showers are available for Glamping guests - BOOKINGS TAKEN TIL 3 JULY
We also have a limited number of spaces available at The Paddock for Global Birdfair attendees (exhibitors or guests). The Paddock is an adult only caravan/motorhome site opposite the Global Birdfair site and includes hook up electrical provision and a chemical waste emptying facility. Minimum 3 night stays are available for Global Birdfair guests and exhibitors. Cost is £75.00 for 3 nights from Thursday to Sunday but of course you can book for longer if you wish! Book direct by email here: hello@thepaddockrutlandwater.co.uk
Alternative suggestions are on our Venue Information page.
There will be a range of food and drink outlets situated within the Global Birdfair site to cater for most needs. A fully licensed bar will be available.
Catering will be open until 9pm on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Event Mobility Charitable Trust will be providing electric scooters and manual wheelchairs for the use of disabled, elderly and mobility impaired visitors to the show.
We are delighted to announce the amount being donated to BirdLife International and Aves y Conservation for the project to Sustain Forest Life is $120,000.00.
Massive thank you to everyone involved for making this happen and we hope you can join us in 2024.
The Secret is finally out! Hope you can enjoy this filmed by Steve Shelley
A Massive Thank You to everyone involved in creating such a special event on Saturday night at Global Birdfair:
Stephen Moss for hosting, Mark Maddox for production & of course all the guests.
If you were in the audience, thank you to you too!
Here's the amazing caricature by John Cox presented during the event.
Moments from Global Birdfair - so sit back and enjoy (without getting wet!)
Thank you to all those people who contributed to this video including Sony UK, Swarovski Optik, Viking Optical and Zeiss
Tim Appleton announced on Wednesday 14 September 2022 during the BirdLife International World Congress in Cambridge, that the total sum being donated by Global Birdfair to the 2022 Conservation Project is an incredible €100,000.00.
The Global Birdfair 2022 Project being supported through BirdLife International is Revive La Janda, an area in Andalucia, Spain which acts as a vital link for migratory birds to the UK from Africa.
Global Birdfair was held on 15, 16 and 17 July 2022 at Rutland Showground, Oakham UK.
Global Birdfair wishes to thank all visitors, exhibitors and sponsors for their fantastic support for the event.
Over 130 volunteers gave their time to make a massive contribution to the smooth running of the event. Global Birdfair is incredibly grateful for their dedication and hard work.
The number of attendees exceeded 11,600
The event hosted 245 exhibitors across various sectors including conservation organisations, art, media, photography, books, optical equipment, nature tourism, local produce, clothing, bird food and other nature related products.
A large number of conservation organisations were Global BIrdfair Exhibitors. Thanks to the main Conservation Sponsor, Rising Phoenix for supporting smaller conservation organisations.
Massive thanks also to other sponsors including RSPB, Birdguides, Viking Optical, Anglian Water, Swarovski Optik, Zeiss, Sony UK, Vive Andalucia, Park Cameras, Leica, BBC Wildlife Magazine and Rockjumper.
3 Lecture stages hosted 132 lectures during Global Birdfair as well as Osprey Events stage. Over the 3 days, over 10,500 people attended a lecture or event.
We hope to see you again for Global Birdfair 2024
You can help promote Global Birdfair too!
Simply copy this poster image and distribute to your local school, college, bird club, youth group, local nature group or reserve and anyone else you think might be interested!
We are keen to welcome everyone to the event & encourage more people to get involved in loving nature
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