Tuesday 24 March 2015

Interview on BBC Asian Network on 8 March 2015




Sunday 8th Mach 2015 was another special day.



As a young female Bangladeshi birder, I was due to appear on the 8 pm Nadia Ali show on BBC Asian Network radio. It was International Woman's Day and it was exciting to be asked to speak as a young Bangladeshi woman.

Dad drove us to London and we had decided to visit the Natural History Museum. As it was a Sunday, we managed to find free parking on the road. I had never been to the museum, except did the Oriental Bird Club AGM, when there was no time to look around.

It was amazing to see the the dinosaurs and the animals. Unfortunately there was work going on so only a few birds on display. It was sad to see the stuffed Dodo and Great Auk. There was a cabinet with hummingbirds including a Sword-billed Hummingbird and tiny Bee Hummingbird. 




Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at the Natural History Museum, London
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig





Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at the Natural History Museum, London
In front of Darwin's statue
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig





Engraving on Darwin's statue, Natural History Museum, London 
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig




Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at the Natural History Museum, London
In front of Wallace's painting
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig




We walked around the Blue Whale and elephants, being one of the last to leave.

Then we had the short drive across central London to Broadcasting House.  Again we found free parking, found the entrance to the building before going to Pizza Express for dinner.

I had a quick think about what I wanted to say, which was to tell people about Spoon-billed Sandpiper.  Mum practiced a bit of Sylheti as well!



Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig in front of BBC Building, London
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig




Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig in Pizza Express near BBC Building, London
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig



A Young birder at BBC Broadcasting House




Then we were off to BBC Broadcasting House. The BBC News was on the ground floor, so we took a few photos.



Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with BBC visitor badge, BBC Building
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig




Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig in BBC Asian Network Studio, BBC Building
Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig


Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig in BBC Asian Network Studio, BBC Building
Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig



Once upstairs, the interview went really quickly.  I talked about what I wanted, which was great.  I want to use any opportunity I have to talk about rare birds, so people want to save them.  I also spoke out to inspire other young Asian girls to realise that they could achieve anything they set their minds to, no matter what people told them.





Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Nadia Ali and guest in BBC Asian Network Studio, BBC Building
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig


Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Nadia Ali in BBC Asian Network Studio, BBC Building
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

The Radio One Studio was next door, so I got to take some photos there.


Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig outside Radio One Studio, BBC Building
Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig




I had the most amazing time being interviewed by Nadia from BBC Asian Network for Bangladeshi listeners. I managed to talk about Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Bangladesh. This was the link on BBC Iplayer, 40 minutes in http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b054fp45

We were celebrating International Women's Hour at BBC Headquarters. Got to see the BBC News Room and BBC Radio One Studios.

Dad drove us home, which was great as it meant I could sleep in the car. 

This was a really memorable day that I'm not going to forget in a hurry. 




Young BIrder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig and Chris Craig, BBC Building lobby
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig






Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig and Chris Craig, BBC Building lobby
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig






About the writer


Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig on Scilly
Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig


Mya-Rose Craig is a 12 year old young birder, conservationist, writer and speaker.    She is based near Bristol and writes the successful Birdgirl Blog, with posts about birding and conservation from around the world.  She has recently been listed with the singer songwriter George Ezra and actress Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones as one of Bristol's most influential young people.  Please like her Birdgirl Facebook Page and follow her on Birdgirl Twitter











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