Mya-Rose Craig
{{Short description|British-Bangladeshi ornithologist and activist (born 2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Mya-Rose Craig (May 26th 2022).png
| caption = Craig in 2022
| birth_name = Mya-Rose Shanti Craig
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2002|5|7}}
| birth_place = Bristol, England
| alma_mater =
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Mya-Rose Craig (born 2002), also known as Birdgirl, is a British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmental activist, and author. She became known for her birdwatching achievements from a young age, including becoming the youngest person to see half of the world's bird species and holding a Guinness World Record for birding on all seven continents.
Early life and education
Craig was born in Bristol{{Cite web|url=https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/life/sustainability/gen-z-climate-activists|title=8 Gen Z climate activists to follow now that aren't Greta Thunberg|work=Marie Claire UK|first=Ally|last=Head|date=28 September 2023|accessdate=14 March 2025}} to English father Chris, an engineer, and British mother of Banladeshi descent, Helena Ahmed, a lawyer,{{Cite web|url=https://www.audubon.org/news/mya-rose-craigs-search-family-amid-extraordinary-life-world-birding|title=Mya-Rose Craig's Search for Family Amid an Extraordinary Life of World Birding|work=Audubon|first=Nicholas|last=Cannariato|date=15 August 2023|accessdate=14 March 2025}} and grew up in Compton Martin, Somerset.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristol247.com/climate/news-climate/birdgirl-mya-rose-joins-national-geographics-young-explorers/|title='Birdgirl' Mya-Rose joins National Geographic's Young Explorers|work=Bristol 247|first=Mia|last=Vines Booth|date=3 May 2023|accessdate=14 March 2025}} She attended Chew Valley School.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-20 |title=The One Show's Mike Dilger and Birdgirl join forces – Agri-hub |url=https://agri-hub.co.uk/2018/12/the-one-shows-mike-dilger-and-birdgirl-join-forces/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |language=en-GB}}
Birding
Her birdwatching was cultivated in childhood after her parents took family trips throughout her youth. She went on her first birdwatching trip at just nine days old.{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Tim |date=2022-06-19 |title=Birdwatcher Mya-Rose Craig: ‘The nature sector is decades behind in terms of diversity’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jun/19/birdgirl-mya-rose-craig-interview-billie-eilish-climate |access-date=2024-07-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} In 2012, when Craig was 10, her parents decided to take her out of school for six months and homeschool her themselves, to take her on an extensive trip. The family traveled for six weeks in Colombia, followed by six weeks in Bolivia, and concluded with nine weeks in Peru, returning home for two weeks between each trip to allow her to reconnect with friends.{{Cite web |date=2019-02-24 |title=Somerset teenager becomes youngest birdwatcher in world to spot 5,000 different species |url=https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17453408.somerset-teenager-becomes-youngest-birdwatcher-world-spot-5-000-different-species/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Somerset County Gazette |language=en}} In 2009, at the age of seven, she undertook a "big year," aiming to observe the maximum number of bird species within a specific geographical area over a calendar year. She successfully identified 325 bird species in the UK, making her the youngest individual worldwide to accomplish this challenge.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-03 |title=Mya-Rose Craig aka ‘Birdgirl’ on breaking down barriers, mental health & ... birds |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/birdgirl-mya-rose-craig-book-b2113958.html |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The Independent |language=en}}
Craig has followed her father's hobby, birdwatching, since childhood. Craig appeared on the 2010 BBC Four documentary "Twitchers: A Very British Obsession." Afterwards she appeared on Springwatch, Countryfile, and The One Show.{{Cite web |title=Mya-Rose Craig {{!}} 'If you care and want to change the world, you can go out and do it' |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/author-interviews/mya-rose-craig-if-you-care-and-want-change-world-you-can-go-out-and-do-it-1261715 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}} Her first newspaper column "Birding Tales" was published in the Chew Valley Gazette when she was 12.{{Cite news |last=Bearn |first=Emily |date=2023-06-14 |title=A beautiful book about birds that will make children's imaginations soar |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/childrens-books/flight-mya-rose-craig-lynn-scurfield-review-birds/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}
At age 11, she started her blog Birdgirl to share her passion for birds. The following year, she campaigned to raise $35,000 for a Bangladeshi charity to deal with the 2014 Sundarbans oil spill.{{Cite web |last=Specter |first=Francesca |date=2023-09-14 |title=Mya-Rose Craig (AKA Birdgirl) on getting trolled and campaigning alongside Greta Thunberg: 'Posting on social media is not activism' |url=https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/mya-rose-craig-birdgirl-interview |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Glamour UK |language=en-GB}}
In 2015, after reaching Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula, Craig achieved a Guinness World Record for being the youngest female to birdwatch on all continents. She is dedicated to observing every bird species in their natural habitats and, by age 17, had recorded sightings of 5,000 species, approximately half of all known species,{{Cite web |title=Youngest person to birdwatch on all continents (female) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/621936-youngest-person-to-birdwatch-on-all-continents |website=Guinness World Records}} earning recognition as the youngest individual to reach this milestone.{{Cite web |last=O'Reilly |first=Luke |date=2020-02-20 |title=Teenage birdwatcher youngest ever Brit to receive honourary doctorate |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/teenage-birdawtcher-doctorate-myarose-craig-a4367381.html |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}} She achieved her 5,000th sighting, a rock bunting, at Castle of Loarre in northern Spain. By 2019, her global birding expeditions had taken her to 38 countries across all seven continents, including Australia, Egypt, and multiple trips to the Amazon.
In June 2018, Craig obtained her C-permit from the British Trust for Ornithology, allowing her to independently record birds without parental supervision. She is a bird ringer.{{Cite web |title=Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig: nature defender {{!}} Friends of the Earth |url=https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/birdgirl-myarose-craig-nature-defender |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=friendsoftheearth.uk |language=en}}
Activism
Craig is an advocate for increased equality in naturalism and environmentalism and has campaigned to improve diversity in conservation work.{{Cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Emma |date=2020-07-07 |title=Mya-Rose Craig: ‘Young people need to see someone like them who is into nature’ |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/07/mya-rose-craig-young-people-need-to-see-someone-like-them-who-is-into-nature |access-date=2024-07-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Reflecting on her childhood experiences with birdwatching, Craig recalls the predominantly white and male demographic of the community. Initially feeling comfortable due to her long-standing involvement, around the age of 13 or 14, she began to perceive the lack of diversity within the birdwatching community as unusual. People questioned her interest in the hobby, prompting her to ponder why certain demographics were more prevalent in such pursuits. This realization sparked her curiosity about inclusivity and diversity in nature-related activities prompting her to advocate for inclusivity in outdoor activities.
Craig created her first nature conference, attended by naturalists including Bill Oddie, at the age of 13.{{Cite news |date=2020-01-16 |title=Mya-Rose Craig: Twitter's BirdGirlUK to receive honorary doctorate |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-51131975 |access-date=2024-07-11 |work=BBC |language=en-GB}} Her older sister's reduced birding time after having a baby spurred Craig to seek out other young naturalists. Discovering the American Birding Association's teen summer camps online, her parents proposed organizing similar camps herself. Identifying a lack of diversity in birding communities, particularly among British Bangladeshi backgrounds, she founded Black2Nature in 2015 at 14 to run nature camps for minority ethnic children.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-21 |title=Mya-Rose Craig, aka Birdgirl, founded Black2Nature to inspire a new generation of birders |url=https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/a34617082/mya-rose-craig-black2nature/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Country Living |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |date=2020-09-30 |title='Birdgirl' joins RSPB committee as youngest member |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-54363795 |access-date=2024-07-11 |work=BBC |language=en-GB}} The initiative addresses the underrepresentation of these communities in environmental fields by offering urban youth opportunities to explore and engage with nature, aiming to prompt change and promote equity within the environmental sector.{{Cite news |date=2022-07-22 |title=Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig pleads for climate action after heatwave |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-62252564 |access-date=2024-07-11 |work=BBC |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |date=2019-07-08 |title=BirdGirlUK creates nature camps for BAME children |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-48802576 |access-date=2024-07-11 |work=BBC |language=en-GB}}
Craig was a "Bristol 2015 Ambassador" during the city's year as European Green Capital.{{Cite web |date=2015-11-14 |title=Bristol 2015 Ambassadors {{!}} Bristol 2015 - European Green Capital |url=https://www.bristol2015.co.uk/about/bristol-2015-ambassadors/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114130715/https://www.bristol2015.co.uk/about/bristol-2015-ambassadors/ |archive-date=14 November 2015 |access-date=2024-07-11}} In 2018, she contributed to Chris Packham's A People’s Manifesto for Wildlife and was enlisted as the manifesto’s "minister of diversity".{{Cite web |last=Bourke |first=India |date=2018-09-26 |title=Springwatch host Chris Packham's radical quest to end "the war on wildlife" |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/environment/2018/09/springwatch-host-chris-packham-s-radical-quest-end-war-wildlife |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}} Craig campaigned with Greta Thunberg at the Youth Strike 4 Climate event in Bristol in February 2020.{{Cite web |last=Creamer |first=Nora |date=2020-02-28 |title=Greta Thunberg tells Bristol climate rally she 'will not be silent while world is on fire' |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/greta-thunberg-bristol-climate-rally-5026790-Feb2020/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=TheJournal.ie |language=en}} She has organized conferences featuring celebrity nature enthusiasts such as Bill Oddie, Chris Packham, and RSPB chief executive Beccy Speight.
In September 2020, Craig staged the most northerly climate strike, by protesting on an Arctic ice floe north of Svalbard, at 82.2° N, highlighting the urgency of climate action ahead of the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity.{{Cite web |last=Kolirin |first=Lianne |date=2020-09-25 |title=British teenager stages most northerly climate protest in the Arctic |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/25/europe/teenage-protester-arctic-scn-scli-intl-climate |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=CNN |language=en}}
In August 2022, she was announced as an Oxfam Ambassador and spoke on their stage at Glastonbury Festival.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-25 |title=Oxfam GB {{!}} Dr Mya-Rose Craig joins Oxfam as a new ambassador to help raise awareness about climate change |url=https://www.oxfam.org.uk/media/press-releases/dr-mya-rose-craig-joins-oxfam-as-a-new-ambassador-to-help-raise-awareness-about-climate-change/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Oxfam GB |language=en-GB}} Craig is also an ambassador for Greenpeace and The Wildlife Trusts.{{Cite web |title=Mya-Rose Shanti Craig |url=https://explorers.nationalgeographic.org/directory/mya-rose-shanti-craig |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=National Geographic |language=en}}
Awards and recognitions
In 2018, Craig won the National Biodiversity Network's Gilbert White Youth Award for recording terrestrial and freshwater wildlife.{{Cite web |date=2018-11-23 |title=Winners of the 2018 UK Awards for Biological Recording and Information Sharing Announced! |url=https://nbn.org.uk/news/winners-of-the-2018-uk-awards-for-biological-recording-and-information-sharing-announced/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=National Biodiversity Network |language=en-GB}}
In February 2020, Craig received an honorary doctorate in science (DSc hc) from the University of Bristol.{{Cite news |date=2020-02-20 |title='Birdgirl' Mya-Rose Craig receives Bristol University honorary doctorate |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-51561747 |access-date=2024-07-11 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
In June 2023, Craig was awarded The Muslim News's Malcolm X Young Person’s Award for Excellence.{{Cite web |title=The Muslim News Awards for Excellence: 2023 winners |url=https://muslimnews.co.uk/newspaper/awards/the-muslim-news-awards-for-excellence-2023-winners/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=The Muslim News}} That year, she was also selected as a National Geographic Society Young Explorer.{{Cite web |title=Introducing the National Geographic Society's 2023 Young Explorers |url=https://news.nationalgeographic.org/introducing-the-national-geographic-societys-2023-young-explorers/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=news.nationalgeographic.org |language=en}}
Craig's first book, We Have a Dream, was nominated for Discover Book of the Year at the British Book Awards 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-25 |title=Sally Rooney and Julia Donaldson among nominees for British Book Awards 2022 |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/20020068.british-book-awards-2022---full-list-nominees/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The Argus |language=en}} In March 2023, she was longlisted for the 2023 Jhalak Prize for her memoir, Birdgirl,{{Cite web |title=2023 |url=https://www.jhalakprize.com/2023 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Jhalak Prize |language=en}} which was also longlisted for the 2023 James Cropper Wainwright Prize.{{Cite web |title=Women dominate James Cropper Wainwright Prize longlist as prize pot increased |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/women-dominate-james-cropper-wainwright-prize-longlist-as-prize-pot-increased |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}} The book was a winner of the 2023 Somerset Maugham Award. Her third book, Flight, won the 2024 Edward Stanford Children’s Travel Book of the Year.{{Cite web |title=Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2024 presented by Viking |url=https://www.stanfords.co.uk/edward-stanford-travel-writing-awards |website=Stanford's}}
Bibliography
- Craig, Mya-Rose (January 2021). We Have a Dream. Magic Cat Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1-913520-20-5}}
- Craig, Mya-Rose (June 2022). Birdgirl: Looking to the Skies in Search of a Better Future. Penguin Random House. {{ISBN|978-1-78733-320-8}}
- Craig, Mya-Rose (June 2023). Flight. Puffin Books. {{ISBN|978-0-241-59792-7}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.birdgirluk.com/ Official website]
- [https://www.birdwatching.co.uk/myarose-craig/2019/4/30/qampa-mya-rose-craig-aka-birdgirl/ 2019 interview] from Bird Watching magazine
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Category:21st-century English memoirists
Category:Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge
Category:British Asian writers
Category:British climate activists
Category:British women environmentalists
Category:British women memoirists
Category:English conservationists
Category:English people of Bangladeshi descent
Category:English women bloggers
Category:English women children's writers
Category:English women columnists
Category:English women non-fiction writers