Tuesday 23 June 2015

Trust Members Outnumber Ducks !

After two and a half years The River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust has now more members than ducks on the River Nairn. 

We now have 153 members to date, this is testament to the people of Nairn and the visitors who love the place. I have never had an advertising campaign to recruit new members, and most local people have seen me going about my daily routine of feeding and caring for the river birds over the past 10 years.

Ever since the discovery of my first Robins nest 60 years ago at the age of 10, while on a fishing trip to Aberfeldy with my father, I have always loved the natural world and all it's wonders. Even today I still get a buzz from seeing new life appear - whatever the species. 

It is great to know that there are so many like minded people in a world increasingly stressed out by technology, consumerism and greed, who appreciate the value of the Natural World.

Some youngsters asked me last week how I managed to get the birds eating out of my hand, I explained that kindness and offering food wins them over, making no sudden or threatening moves they will gradually trust you. With that I gave the two boys some bird seed and told them to hold out their hands flat, then passed a friendly pigeon onto them, I think those boys will now see birds and nature in a different light - hopefully for the rest of their lives ! 

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