About the event

Have you ever wondered what bird was chirping in your oak tree or why the friendly robin in your garden seems to have a variety of different of types of song?

In this beginners course, tutor Dan Banks will answer these questions and much, much more. He will discuss the five birds you are most likely to hear in the Surrey woodland.  This will allow all participants to build their confidence in recognising specific bird song and ensure that every delegate leaves this course being able to identify at least these 5 birds simply by their calls.

You will then be taken on a guided walk through the ancient woodland of Nower Wood. Dan will point out all the bird song heard in the woods and explain the difference between alarm calls, communication calls and territory calls.

Each of these birds will be listed and discussed back in the classroom over a well-deserved cuppa.

 About your tutor Dan Banks:

'I have always been interested in the natural world.  As a teenager, I became increasingly fascinated in the ornithology, subsequently studying Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at Brighton University. I then worked in South Africa on a project mapping the nests of raptors.  I am now a licensed ringer with the British Trust for Ornithology, adding to my growing knowledge of how and why birds migrate. I have spent time on a migration ringing project in Greece, where we were recording migrating raptors and other birds moving through.

Having volunteered with the Sussex Wildlife Trust, I was employed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust originally as the Education Intern before becoming the current Citizen Science officer.

In my spare time I regularly go birdwatching and enjoy reading about different bird types. I have currently seen over 150 different bird species found in the UK.'