Young Naturalists

[Rob_Williamson]

Afternoon,

Thought I’d start a thread where young naturalist could chat etc…

I’ll kick the thread of by introducing myself.

Hi I'm Robert; I'm 16 and live in Norfolk. I'm currently at college studying countryside management & conservation and have a part time job with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. I've been birding since 2008 and my life list currently stands at 235 and includes such rarities as Oriental Pratincole, Marmora's Warbler, Bufflehead, Pallid Swift, Great Reed Warbler and Black Throated Thrush. So far my best self find has been a Green-winged Teal which was the second record for Holme NWT. Away from birding I also have interests in moths, orchids, herps, butterflies, dragonflies and mammals.

Kind regards,

Robert

[aeshna5]

Welcome Rob- you certainly sound very keen + enthusiastic. We certainly need all the young naturalists we can get to keep up the good cause of wildlife conservation.

[loony]

hi , i`m loony and have been a member of WAB for a while and its great to have a chat where younger members can chat about wildlife . i`m a member of RSPB Wildlife Explorers/Phoenix and Wildlife Watch among others . I`m a keen birder and got my first choughs and gannets at RSPB South Stack ,Anglesey on Sunday ! I`m at Wolverhampton University doing Creative and Professional Writing ./English . i`m part Scots/Welsh .

[Rob_Williamson]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Welcome Rob- you certainly sound very keen + enthusiastic.

Thanks very much aeshna5

[Rob_Williamson]

Originally Posted by loony

hi , i`m loony and have been a member of WAB for a while and its great to have a chat where younger members can chat about wildlife . i`m a member of RSPB Wildlife Explorers/Phoenix and Wildlife Watch among others . I`m a keen birder and got my first choughs and gannets at RSPB South Stack ,Anglesey on Sunday ! I`m at Wolverhampton University doing Creative and Professional Writing ./English . i`m part Scots/Welsh .

Hi Loony

Thanks for posting on this thread and I look forward to your contributions.

[Alex90]

Guess i could give this a go,

I'm Alex, 16 based in hampshire. My main interests lie in Mammals particularly rodentia(would consider myself very knowledgable in the husbandry of small mammals) and herps with birds following closely behind. I maintain a small private collection of small mammals and am involved in several recognised breeding programs for several rarer species. I have been involved in the breeding and release of Harvest mice with a local project for just over a year now. I keep many non-native species perhaps the most interesting and my personal favourites the only breeding pair of European Garden Dormice in the UK (according to the BIAZA zoo's and collection inventory list). Southern-Exotics

I do a fair bit of wildlife photography now, although i wouldnt consider myself anything more than a beginner... im getting more and more into it now though and hoping to get better over time.

I have just finished my first year of college and have decided i won't be going back, i am now running my own company along side one of my Dads firms.

I guess thats my biography to date summarised in 3 short paragraphs

Alex

[squishy]

Hi, I'm Adam, 15, in Solihull.

My main interest is insects and macro photography.

I think I've now got a reasonable basic knowledge of British insects. I'm currently holding off a bit on learning more about entomology while I'm doing my GCSE's. I'm trying to grab all of my free time at the moment out with the camera, improving my macro skills, or on the PC learning on this forum or editing my photos.

[posie]

..Well done Rob, for starting this thread....I am not a 'junior' but find it very refreshing to read the younger generation's posts.....Keep it going, guys (and hopefully soon some girls will appear)..

Hi Alex, I too am in Hampshire, and have 20+ acres, which has miriads of rodents, also weasels, stoat, hedgehogs, deer (roe), hares, badgers, (hence no squirrels),a pond, etc.. and of course a variety of birds...With regards to the rodents, I have no knowlege of habitats, signs etc, but I do know that there are many different sorts here, cos they are mostly undisturbed.

Posie

[Rob_Williamson]

It’s great to see that there are more people around my own age interested in wildlife and not just birds. I've only met 3 people my own age with the same interests as me whilst out and about but they are only birders so its really nice to speak to some people interested in other aspects of wildlife.

Although my short introduction makes me out as a birder I really want to be an all-rounder as have many other interests other than the ones I've already listed such as shieldbugs, grasshoppers, spiders etc...etc...

Again it’s great to hear from you all!!!

Kind regards,

Robert

[Alex90]

Hi Posie,

Wow sounds like a haven for wildlife! i guess we could technically claim to have over 20 species of small mammals on our property?

We recently moved to our current house 5 months back, its lovely place, sort of an old fashion manor house (its well over 400 years old) with nice big grounds and 5 acres of private woodland .... i'm going to be honest i've hardly looked on our property for wildlife, im aware of the presence of badgers, foxes, Roe Deer, muntjac and far too many grey squirrels. Should really conduct a small mammal survey with the longworth traps around here.

I suppose the new forest isnt much of a trek for you either is it?


Alex