Mya-Rose Craig

Mya-Rose Craig, born in Bristol in 2002 to Chris and Helena Ahmed, developed an early passion for birdwatching, embarking on her first birdwatching trip at just nine days old. Her childhood was marked by extensive family travels focused on observing birds in their natural habitats. In 2009, at the age of seven, she successfully identified 325 bird species in the UK, becoming the youngest individual globally to complete this challenge. At age 10, she was homeschooled for six months to undertake a significant birding expedition across Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru. In 2010, Craig appeared on the BBC Four documentary “Twitchers: A Very British Obsession,” followed by appearances on “Springwatch,” “Countryfile,” and “The One Show,” introducing her to a wider audience. In 2013, at age 11, she launched her popular blog, “Birdgirl,” to document her experiences and share her passion for birds and the environment.

Craig achieved a Guinness World Record in 2015 for being the youngest female to birdwatch on all continents after reaching Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula. By age 17, she had recorded sightings of 5,000 bird species, approximately half of all known species, marking another significant milestone. Her global expeditions took her to 38 countries across all seven continents, including Australia, Egypt, and multiple trips to the Amazon. In June 2018, she obtained her C-permit from the British Trust for Ornithology, allowing her to independently ring birds without parental supervision. A key turning point in her career was the realization of the lack of diversity within the birdwatching community, primarily composed of white males. This insight led her to establish Black2Nature in 2015, at the age of 14, an initiative designed to provide nature camps for minority ethnic children and promote inclusivity in environmental fields.

Demonstrating her commitment to activism, Craig served as a “Bristol 2015 Ambassador” during the city’s year as European Green Capital. In 2018, she contributed to Chris Packham’s A People’s Manifesto for Wildlife and was appointed its “minister of diversity.” She participated in the Youth Strike 4 Climate event alongside Greta Thunberg in Bristol in February 2020. In September 2020, Craig conducted the most northerly climate strike, protesting on an Arctic ice floe at 82.2° N to advocate for urgent climate action. Her advocacy efforts have earned her several accolades, including an honorary doctorate in science (DSc hc) from the University of Bristol in February 2020. Craig is an ambassador for Oxfam, Greenpeace, the National Trust, and The Wildlife Trusts, further cementing her role as a prominent voice in environmental and diversity movements. She is also a recognized author, with her memoir “Birdgirl” being longlisted for the Jhalak Prize and the James Cropper Wainwright Prize in 2023.