Bird Art, Ospreys, and New Friends – My First Global Birdfair
This summer I finally got to visit the Global Birdfair for the first time – and even better, I had my own stand selling my wildlife illustrations and bird art! It was a whirlwind of friendly nature lovers, bird chatter and a crazy heatwave.
What is Global Birdfair?
Global Birdfair is one of the world’s leading events celebrating birds, wildlife, and conservation that is held every year in the UK. It brings together birdwatchers and nature lovers to enjoy talks and workshops, browse artists' work, support charities and even sign up to bucket list trips abroad. It also is a huge showcase of the latest photography and binocular equipment to support your birding passion. The event as a whole is a huge fundraiser for a single conservation project which changes each year.
Meeting Online Nature Friends
One of the best parts of Global Birdfair was meeting so many people that I have learnt to call my friends from social media in real life. From customers who’ve been collecting my bird art for years to fellow artists and creator friends I have been wanting to meet forever, including Rachel Bigsby and James Cook, it was so lovely to have them visit my stand and vice versa.
It was the perfect setting to make so many new nature friends too! The amazing wildlife photographer Simon King was one of my stand neighbours who was great to chat to and get advice from as a new member of the bird fair crew.
Designing & Building the Stand
I wanted my Global Birdfair stand to feel like a cosy wildlife shop rather than a market stand, but as always, it was going to be full of colour. After weeks of sketching ideas for layouts, I packed my tiny car with all my stock, including prints, wooden decorations, keyrings and some brand-new bird art designs just for the fair.
As it was my first time ever at the event, I had no idea what to expect of the space, so I took my table and also borrowed a more lifestyle-style display stand from my friend along with other display materials. It was a heatwave that week, so unloading my car was a full-on workout, but when I actually get to setting up and designing, that's where the fun really begins.
What People Loved Most
It turns out bird art was not the only favourite over the weekend. The heatwave brought out a flourish of butterflies, and that really swayed people's buying habits – butterfly keyrings being my best sellers of the entire weekend!
Bird art Treasures I Took Home
Of course, I couldn’t leave Global Birdfair without a few bird art treasures for myself – I bought stickers from fellow illustrators, a clay magpie and a goldfinch, and you bet I spent a fortune at the RSPB pin stand where they had hundreds of designs (I am quite the collector), and I picked up a few pieces for a donation at the Lek it be capercaillie stand.
Evening Event Activities: Rutland Osprey Hunt
To keep me company over the weekend, my bird-loving dad, Phil, came with me. He kept me company on my stand and made my lunches and cooked dinners. In the evenings there were various activities on, from talks to meals and even a disco, but we decided to keep it chilled at the campsite, birdwatching and spending time together. It was only a short walk to the lake where they have ospreys (the bird I really wanted to see this summer). One evening we went in search, but we made the mistake of walking further around the lake rather than heading to the hides, where numerous people told me the next day they saw so many! So, no luck for me this time – but plenty of other Birdfair attendees saw them, so I’ll be trying again next year. It did mean many people loved my Osprey pins to remember their sightings.
Closing & Next Year’s Excitement
My first Global Birdfair was more than just a market; it really felt like a community of nature lovers coming together to celebrate nature. I can’t wait to be back next year with new bird art and, hopefully, a few osprey sightings!
The Author: Ferne Glannan-MacRae
Ferne Glannan-MacRae is a wildlife illustrator and designer with a passion for British wildlife and conservation. She creates intricate digital artwork on her iPad, capturing the beauty and diversity of the natural world. Before going freelance in 2022, Ferne honed her skills during six years in the print industry as a designer. With a background in wildlife photography, her work is deeply rooted in a love for nature and a commitment to raising awareness for wildlife on our doorstep.
