Hardcore stash!I suddenly had the urge this afternoon to get the loft ladders out and have a good root around. Not to locate an old porno stash, as no doubt some of you are thinking, the Porn Fairy took those a long time ago. Butt to dig out my old collection of notebooks. Whilst reading some of them I realised that finding an old stash of GILF mags would have been less embarrassing! The first 'proper' notebook in there was dated from May 1985. This was the notebook that I entered for the YOC's Young Ornithologist of the year competition, which was won by my good friend Mr Fray - there's a photo somewhere in an old BB' of Mr R' sporting a very ordinary haircut and being leered over by a very suspicious looking Peter Holden.* Anyhow back to those notebooks. The contents are hilarious, though I'm not sure if I'm comfortable reproducing them on here but here goes...
There's a reason these were hidden in the loft, I just can't put my finger on it!! On the plus side how many 15 year old birders take notes these days? Come to think of it are there any 15 year old birders out there*** By suspicious I wasn't implying anything illegal.
** I am just curious as to the future of birding.
6 comments:
Those sketches are awesome and obviously display an early talent. You should be proud some of us never got past that point. Loads of 15 year old birders, er well I knwo two but I'm sure there are more.The future of birding looks great if your into rares as most species in the UK are heading that way.
I had one of those Birdwatcher's Logbooks I can see lurking at the back of that box. I think it's still in a cupboard at my parents' house, but I certainly wouldn't dare show it to anyone!
Re young birders, I don't know (or even know of) any under 30 in Leicestershire now. If there are any younger ones they're keeping themselves well hidden.
I knew there was some reason Bentos won Young Ornithologist of the Year...
I had one of those logbooks as well - they still advertise them for sale!
One should never be retrospectively embarrassed about artwork or literary skill. The vast majority of 15 yr olds I know now cannot cannot draw, write or even speak properly.
The lack of young birders is a worry. Apart from a few talented teenage birders/photographers in the U.K. who are out to make a name for themselves, they seem to be few and far between. Just look at a photo of any major twitch and all you see are folk in their "30's" upwards.
The root cause of course is the lack of young "birdwatchers" (kids who are interested in natural history) which are the embryonic birders of the future.
Interesting point about young birders. I am one myself (16yrs) and we are definitly a description species these days. I've dug out one of my old notebooks and wacked a few shots on my blog. (http://joshsbirding.blogspot.com/)
Great blog by the way...
Josh
When I was 15 (now 16) I loved taken notes and still do. I was always told your notepad is the most important piece of kit (other than you bins)so I've alway got it on me.
Love the blog,
ATB,
Rob
Post a Comment