From evening talks to adventurous walks, Anna Temple looks back on her first year as NHSN’s Ornithology Co-ordinator
As I reflect on my inaugural year as Ornithology Coordinator for the Natural History Society of Northumbria, I’m satisfied that my work has supported their community-based conservation initiatives. This role has enabled me to connect with local nature enthusiasts, apply my ever-growing expertise in ornithology, and encourage conscientious naturalism, whether in the field or otherwise. I’m pleased with the work I’ve done, and I’m very grateful to everyone who has engaged with it.
Field Trips: Exploring Nature Outdoors
One of the most rewarding responsibilities of my role has been leading field trips to some of the region’s most naturally fascinating sites. I’ve introduced guided bird-walk attendees and the NHSN’s new Assistant Naturalists to the diverse birdlife of urban, coastal, and wetland habitats such as Jesmond Dene, St. Mary’s Nature Reserve, and Killingworth Lake. These outings provided practical opportunities to develop ornithological field skills, familiarising themselves with these sites, and deepening connections with local biodiversity.
A highlight was International Dawn Chorus Day, held on the first Sunday of May. As part of Gosforth Nature Reserve’s Centenary celebrations, I invited local songbird enthusiasts to join me at first light for one of nature’s most vibrant overtures. Springtime highlights included the songs of Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, and Sedge Warblers, alongside nest-building displays from Blue Tits, Reed Buntings, and even the Reserve’s first Common Tern of the year inspecting a newly installed floating platform to aid in breeding efforts—what a way to welcome the season!
Collaborative Talks: Bridging the Gap
As part of the Winter Talks Programme, I organized two ornithology talks on shorebird conservation—a subject of both personal expertise and regional importance. Richard Willis from Space for Shorebirds discussed the challenges of protecting coastal bird species amid habitat loss and disturbance in Northumbrian dunescapes, while Becky Lakin from COAST Sunderland highlighted the vital yet perhaps overlooked conservation efforts taking place on the North East’s more urbanised southern shores. With expanding coastal development and ourism severely impacting these habitats, the talks underscored the need for conservation strategies that enable increasing human populations and threatened shorebirds to coexist.
Covering two prominent halves of the North East was a deliberate choice to highlight shared conservation challenges beyond human-imposed geographical boundaries, encouraging a broader appreciation of these habitats, the wildlife inhabiting them, and efforts to conserve all. As a firm believer in in multi-faceted learning, I complemented the talks with subsequent field trips, encouraging people to experience the broader region’s biodiversity firsthand.
A Conversation with Tom Cadwallender
One of the most personally affirming experiences I’ve had was organizing a unique presentation with my long-time birding acquaintance and respected local ornithologist, Tom Cadwallender. Tom was among the first birders to welcome me into the local community many years ago, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see how our lives immersed in ornithology have evolved to the point where we can now collaborate on public events. Our talk focused on Tom’s story, including the remarkable advances in globally impactful ornithology that he’s been involved in locally in Northumberland, his immense public outreach efforts—including introducing famed comedians to our local Eurasian Curlew populations on TV!—and the vital role of generational skill-sharing, something we’ve experienced firsthand. I like to think there’s worse ways to spend a murky, winter evening than listening to us two rambling on about birds for a couple of hours—and our receptive audience, supplemented with mince pies and wine, seemed to agree!
Authorship: Sharing Knowledge and Passion
This year also marked my debut as a published author (a goal since childhood realized!) in the NHSN’s North East Naturalist edition vol. 93, A Guide to North East Coastal Wildlife journal, and in its North East Nature magazine. Producing articles on the best places to responsibly observe wildlife across the region enabled me to share insights extracted from my own field experience. Sharing my knowledge through writing has been both cathartic and fulfilling—translating moments in nature into words and making them accessible to others feels like a way of preserving them, and I always encourage others to experience those moments for themselves!
Looking Ahead
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended walks, talks, and other events this year—it’s been a privilege to share these experiences with such an engaged and enthusiastic community. I look forward to the succeeding year of exploring nature with you all, and I hope to see you in the field or lecture theatre soon. Good luck, and happy birding!
