The brilliant Migfest 2021 brought with it another Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder (MGSYB) final! Six top birders from across the UK made it through the initial application process and were invited to Migfest to be put through their birding paces.
20 September 2021
The finalists made up two categories - Juniors (under 14s) and Seniors (14 - 16 year-olds). Rounds included birding in different situations; bushes, estuary watch, sea-watch and visual migration where they identified three species chosen by our judges and then answered three supplementary questions relating to anything from identification features to where the species overwinters. A lab test round follows, with questions ranging from "Point out the tertials", "Name this bird call" to "Tell me why Red Kites are increasing"
After a morning assessing their skills, it was clear that, once again, all the participants were exceptional birders with such a vast array of knowledge. It was almost impossible to select the final winners! However, Levi Gravett (Juniors) and Corin Woodhead (Seniors) were awarded first place and Josiah Evans, Felix Urwin, Jenny Allen and Conor Boakes were all worthy finalists. A very well done to all of them.
We would like to thank our MGSYB sponsors; Swaroski, Optircon, British Birds, Rare Bird Alert and the Oriental Bird Club, the event organisers; BTO and SBOT and, of course, the late Martin Garner to whom we owe the inspiration for this competition and who always encouraged everyone to question and learn everything they could about birds!
