There's only six weeks to go until we - the Zeiss Yorkshire Terriers - set off for the Negev, ultimately to wander round the desert like increasingly dishevelled lost puppies during Race Day itself. But, it's safe to say that in this case, it really is all about the journey; we're here to help shine a light on, and fund-raise for, a cause which should be close to the hearts of any free-thinking lovers of the natural world.
That journey began towards the end of last year, when the wheels started turning and the good people at Zeiss stepped up and offered some logistical support for our team, which consists of myself, my long-term close friend, colleague and general conservation legend Rich Baines, the ever-dynamic and inspired York-based birder Jono Leadley, and the embarrassingly talented and but disarmingly modest (yep, I hate him too) wildlife artist, Darren Woodhead. All my team-mates are obsessively birdy, rabid about conservation (locally and globally), brimming with enthusiasm and positivity, and are all lovely people: not a bad line-up, eh?
I was fortunate to take part in last year's race, which was an amazing experience and I was very proud and appreciative to raise several thousand quid for the cause, thanks to the donations of many good folk, friends and strangers alike. This year? Well, there's no point in doing these things by halves, is there? So it's a pedal-to-the-metal, no-holds-barred, head-against-a-brick-wall, carpet-bombing approach to fund-raising (sorry everyone! Well, not really...), and here we are with just a few short weeks to make a difference.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the cause, I'd urge you to have a good look at the Champions website and see for yourself what a brilliant initiative it is. Every year, the recipient country and cause is different, but always targets the illegal killing of many, many millions of migratory birds as they battle through the Mediterranean flyway, one of the busiest and most important avian superhighways on the planet. This year, Champions brings together Birdlife Croatia and Birdlife Serbia to launch an on-the-ground campaign aimed at changing hearts and minds, silencing the guns and the tape lures, and educating communities as to why it's still not too late to turn the tide.
If it all seems a bit distant and international, I always try and remind myself exactly what species are being slaughtered, on an industrial scale, and in what numbers. I was shocked enough to find out that no fewer than 25 MILLION birds are killed on the flyway every year, and just as shocked to discover which ones were perishing pointlessly in the highest numbers. I've nicked these graphics from The Killing, a report by Birdlife international in 2016 (which is available in full for free here.). 'Sobering' hardly begins to describe it.
So, what have we been up to? Plenty. Blogging (here and elsewhere - and expect much more to follow); slaying social media (via all our Twitter and Facebook pages, as well as our dedicated team page, more of which in a while); speaking (we've been talking to lots of bird clubs, societies and RSPB groups over recent weeks, with many more to come in the remaining time - and what a wonderful response!); shaking the can and twisting arms (metaphorically and literally); approaching businesses and groups for sponsorship (and offering pretty sweet deals in return - contact me for more info); and, in a few day's time, we'll be launching our Flyway Sale. So if you've made it this far down this post, here's your reward - fair warning of a special sale we're holding via our Facebook page throughout February....
Basically, we're flogging loads of ace stuff at stupid prices, with 100% of the brass going straight to the cause. This will include: bespoke Darren Woodhead originals, Yorkshire Coast Nature whale trip and forest safaris, expert-guided Birding Days across Yorkshire, exclusive Zeiss merchandise, and much more - all at at least 30% off the normal prices - but it'll be accessible only via our Facebook page. So, be sure to click here, give us a like, and look out for the sale of the century!
If you'd like to contribute to the cause, every little helps. It takes less than a minute to donate, and by doing so, you are a Flyway Champion. Click here - and thank you!
