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#30DaysWild - finding time for nature

We hear from Birda's Sarah Cunningham about how you can make birdwatching part of your #30DaysWild challenge.

One of the biggest challenges we face is finding time for nature. Scheduling a few minutes each day to really appreciate the natural world. In our modern lives, we find ourselves glued to screens. In fact, many of us rely on screens for our jobs, our hobbies and our entertainment. But what if these screens that are keeping us indoors could be the very ticket to getting us outside again?

It’s somewhat ironic, I work with an app to help people get outside in nature, yet sometimes I even struggle to find time to get myself outdoors!

I’ve always been a huge fan of the natural world and my interest started at a young age: from watching garden birds, to visiting the local duck pond, to exploring woodland nature reserves. It was the help of amazing charities, like The Wildlife Trusts, that nurtured my interest and sparked my love of birds.

Sarah Cunningham stands on a sea cliff with her binoculars.

Sarah Cunningham (c) Birda

As I’ve grown older, and have more appreciation for the natural world, I really understand the importance of fresh air and what being in nature can do for mental health. For me, nature is a place of comfort, clarity and learning. Each time I’m outside, I learn a new way to remember the birdsong I hear, the wildflowers I see, and the beetles I find.

My job as Birda’s Community Engagement Officer means I chat to birders all day about their love for birds and the outdoors. One of the resounding pieces of feedback we get is how much Birda has helped them connect to nature, and find a community of like-minded people.

If you haven’t heard of Birda, it's a social birding app where people come together to discover, log, and share their experience of the birds around them. You join birding challenges to get extra motivation to go outside, win fun badges, track your days wild and get bird ID help from the community - all while helping conservationists get the valuable data they need to protect species.

Female Mallard with outstretched wing.

(c) Birda

Tracking my time out in nature is really important to me and I have found I’m more productive, happier and calmer when I’ve had time to appreciate the natural world, even when it’s pouring outside!

To help everyone spend more time in nature Birda is honoured to once more be partnering with The Wildlife Trusts to host the ‘3 in 30 Days Wild Challenge’ for their #30DaysWild campaign.

To have even more fun and easily track your days wild while enjoying the birds around you just download Birda and join the ‘3 in 30 Days Wild Challenge’. To complete the challenge, win your digital finisher badge and be in with a chance to win a membership to your local Wildlife Trust, all you need to do is log a new sighting or birding session for 3 separate days during June 1st - June 30th.

Too easy? Do the whole 30 days then! If you’re not sure about a bird sighting, just snap a picture and post it as Unidentified on Birda and the community will give you species suggestions and tips and tricks to ID that bird in the future. No picture, no worries! Just have a look through the in-built app, or web, species guide.

I’m excited to challenge myself and hear the local cuckoos, blackcaps and willow warblers as they go about their business. I cannot wait for brighter, sunshine filled evenings, long and happy walks through the woods and birdsong…yes, plenty more birdsong. That is what keeps me going and that is what I want to protect.

Join the 3 in 30 Days Wild Challenge

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