Pere Ustrell i Plata is 12 years old, lives in Sabadell, and is passionate about birds and birdwatching. He is largely self-taught, learning from field guides and books, and uses his binoculars whenever he gets the chance. At school, he and several classmates help maintain nest boxes and improve habitats for birds by looking after feeders and bird baths. Every morning, they also take part in counting the birds in the school grounds as part of the ICO’s “Ocells dels Jardins” (“Garden Birds”) project.
Following a course at the ICO and a visit to the Hide 9 Pins, he came up with the idea of creating a bird hide on the outskirts of Sabadell. Having a hide close to home would be an exciting opportunity that has not existed until now, and one that he hopes to share with other bird enthusiasts, especially young people who are passionate about nature and friends from his school.
Taking advantage of the fact that his aunt owns an equestrian centre with land bordering woodland and farmland, they began exploring the best location for the hide, which bird species could be expected there, and how to create an attractive space for wildlife. At the same time, they researched environmentally friendly construction methods and the practical and logistical aspects needed to make the project a reality.
In his Junior Talk, he will share the process and experience of building the bird hide over the summer, explaining the project step by step, from the initial idea and planning to its construction and the lessons learned along the way.
