Course: Winter Migrating Birds

A variety of birds rely on habitats that provide enough food to nest and raise their chicks. As the seasons change, they must move to different climates to thrive and survive.

Tutor Dan Banks, will discuss how and why certain birds in Surrey migrate during the winter months. He will describe the different types of birds that move from place to place and their migration routes in the winter. As Dan is an active member of the British Trust for Ornithology, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share on the reasons for ringing birds and the importance this activity holds in understanding avian migration.

You will learn how to identify the most common six duck species in flight before looking for them during your afternoon guided walk around Tice’s Meadow. Every bird we see will be recorded and added to the ‘BirdTrack’ records app.

This year, we are pleased to confirm that Dan will also be running a Summer Migrants course on 15th August 2025.

About your tutor Dan Banks:

'I have always been interested in the natural world. As a teenager, I became increasingly fascinated in ornithology, subsequently studying Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at Brighton University. I then worked in South Africa on a project mapping the nests of raptors. I am now a licensed ringer with the British Trust for Ornithology, adding to my growing knowledge of how and why birds migrate. I have spent time on a migration ringing project in Greece, where we were recording migrating raptors and other birds moving through.

Having volunteered with the Sussex Wildlife Trust, I was then employed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust. This was initially as their Education Intern and I have since become the Citizen Science Officer.

In my spare time I regularly go birdwatching and enjoy reading about different bird types. I have currently seen over 150 different bird species found in the UK.'