Highlights from the 2023 Global Birdfair

By TWBF Staff

From July 14-16, 2023, the second Global Birdfair was held at the Rutland Fairgrounds, in Oakham, United Kingdom. This bird and wildlife festival is the largest of its kind in the world and featured over 300 vendors from across the globe. With a theme of Sustaining Forest Life, funds were also raised for Aves y Conservation, a conservation group in Ecuador working to restore and protect forests in Ecuador's North West Choco for species like the Black-breasted Puffleg. Participating in the event for the first time was TWBF's Director of International Affairs, Scott Pursner. Though the TWBF did not have a booth, he was able to meet many new friends and discuss the conservation and outreach work being done by the organization as well as its 21 partner organizations.

Cover of the Booklet for the 2023 Global Birdfair

While at the Global Birdfair Mr. Pursner was able to meet representatives from a number of conservation groups from countries such as Israel, Malta, Cyprus, Spain, and Greece. He was able to share with these groups information on the conservation issues and efforts in Taiwan currently, particularly with regard to salt pan conservation.

Mr. Pursner met with and discussed salt pan conservation with various conservation groups, including Mr. Ramon Marti of SEO BirdLife in Spain

Mr. Pursner was able to meet the head organizers of the Global Birdfair, Mr. Tim Appleton and Mrs. Penny Robinson. Though he had coordinated with them as early as 2020, this was the first time to be able to meet in person. The organizers are also members of the group which organize the Global Birding Weekend, an event which takes place twice a year and looks to enhance awareness of birds, their habitats and conservation. The TWBF has been happy to actively promote these activities in Taiwan and the Global Birding team.

Mr. Pursner and the organizers of the Global Birdfair, Mr. Tim Appleton and Mrs. Penny Robinson

Also in attendance at the Birdfair were representatives of eBird. Run out of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, this real-time online platform for recording birding checklists has international reach and various country portals. The eBird Taiwan portal is managed by the TWBF and Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute. Mr. Pursner was able to meet with Mr. Ian Davies to discuss current actions for Taiwan with regard to eBird including outreach materials and the upcoming eBird Taiwan Breeding Bird Atlas.

Mr. Pursner shows Mr. Ian Davies of the eBird team a map highlighting Taiwan's contributions to citizen science and open data