Since 1999 I've been lucky enough to earn a significant part of my income leading birding tours around the world. As a result I have spent a lot of time getting on and off aircraft in the course of pursuing the birds I and my clients want to see. For much of this time, I have been either ignorant of or unwilling to acknowledge the damage flying causes to the climate. Clearly there is much to be done throughout society in order to address the climate crisis, and one which most people (including myself) are not yet facing up to fully. Obviously I still have to earn a living, and the occasional tour will doubtless continue to be included in my work-mix, but there is a modest step I can begin to take. Whilst not giving up flying completely at this point - although in the absence of technological breakthroughs I expect that will come - I have decided to significantly reduce the number of flights I take. Over the past 30 years, a typical year has seen me undertaking 10, 20 or even 30, frequently long haul, flights. In 2018 I reduced that to a single return trip to India, whilst in 2019 trips to both Portugal and Spain saw me taking the lowest number of flights in my adult life. I'll readily accept that some people will say its not enough, but it is a start!
In addition to reducing my flying, I am also trying to address the amount of driving I do for recreational birding. Giving up the car for work is not practical. I've yet to find too many survey sites blessed with a railway station or that are well served by public transport. However, I can reduce my recreational birding carbon footprint, and in the process maybe lose a bit of weight and improve my fitness! I am sure I will still indulge in the occasional twitch and certainly there are locations I'll want to bird that will require me to get in the car. But at least I can begin to reduce the carbon footprint of my birding.
So, in an effort to motivate myself, I've embarked on a 'green / low carbon' year list. Thus far this has involved increased walking around Scarborough to look for birds and even getting back on a bicycle for the first time in over 30 years. In time I also plan to use the train to visit birding sites. Not revolutionary stuff I know, but it is a start and it should do me and hopefully the planet a little bit of good.
At the time of writing the 'Green' year-list stands at a modest 65, seen mostly around town of Scarborough, but including cycle trips up to Long Nab and to the northern edges of town. That total includes this Waxwing which was within 20 minutes walk from home, but which I would previously have just jumped in the car to go and have a look at. It is a very, very small step, but hopefully I will motivate me to begin to developing some better habits. I'll post an update on how I am getting on later in the year.
In addition to reducing my flying, I am also trying to address the amount of driving I do for recreational birding. Giving up the car for work is not practical. I've yet to find too many survey sites blessed with a railway station or that are well served by public transport. However, I can reduce my recreational birding carbon footprint, and in the process maybe lose a bit of weight and improve my fitness! I am sure I will still indulge in the occasional twitch and certainly there are locations I'll want to bird that will require me to get in the car. But at least I can begin to reduce the carbon footprint of my birding.
So, in an effort to motivate myself, I've embarked on a 'green / low carbon' year list. Thus far this has involved increased walking around Scarborough to look for birds and even getting back on a bicycle for the first time in over 30 years. In time I also plan to use the train to visit birding sites. Not revolutionary stuff I know, but it is a start and it should do me and hopefully the planet a little bit of good.
At the time of writing the 'Green' year-list stands at a modest 65, seen mostly around town of Scarborough, but including cycle trips up to Long Nab and to the northern edges of town. That total includes this Waxwing which was within 20 minutes walk from home, but which I would previously have just jumped in the car to go and have a look at. It is a very, very small step, but hopefully I will motivate me to begin to developing some better habits. I'll post an update on how I am getting on later in the year.