The Lincolnshire Bird Club

A few weeks ago, I bought a book entitled 'Bird Brain of Britain, believing it to be a general birding quiz book. Upon reading it, I was rather surprised to find out that the book title related to an actual competition held at the Rutland Water Bird Fair, and the quiz questions were those actually asked, year by year since 1992. As expected the Foreword has been written by Bill Oddie, and he actually asks the questions in the quiz.

Since then, my curiosity about this quiz has increased significantly, and I would love to one day be a contestant. How do you go about applying or being nominated for it? As far as I understand, you have to be either an experienced ornithologist (do my Sundays at Freiston count? ), a member of a birding organisation like the RSPB, BTO, BirdLife, wildlife Trusts or the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. as I'm in the RSPB and World Owl Trust, I technically qualify under that clause.

On a purely egocentric level, I would relish the chance to show Bill Oddie how much I know about birds (he might be so dazzled by it that he'll ask me to be a fourth presenter on Springwatch!) and this seems an ideal platform to do just that! Are there any bars to my becoming a contestant outside the 'experienced ornithologist' thing, and how experienced do I have to be? Would anyone be willing to endorse my attempt?

Hi Katherine

The entrants are usually nominated by some of the bigger organisations such as African Bird Club, OSME etc. Last year it seemed a bit slacker though - I was not sure who some of them were representing.

Bill Oddie is quite a ruthless and micky-taking question master. You would have to expect some abuse!

Maybe you could suggest that they have this year's quiz between the local county bird clubs: you could put yourself up as the LBC entrant (and I could be the Leicestershire contestant). What would you have as your specialist subject?

Steve

Probably British Owls, the History of the RSPB, or perhaps Birds of the Wash...... failing all those, Birds of my Back Garden!

And I have quick wit on my side! I don't mind the Mickey-taking either; he'll probably tell me something about myself I know already!