Magnus takes on Cheltenham
4th June 2015
In April 2015 we launched our fifth title Undiscovered owls, a Sound Approach guide to the owls of the Western Palearctic. The book had already caused quite a stir with the discovery and re-discovery of several new owls as well as introducing the concept of splitting some well-known and familiar owl species.
During the launch our book was brought to the attention of the team at the Cheltenham science festival, the youngest of the festivals that make up the Cheltenham festival program. The science festival began in 2002 and is now already one of the most significant festivals of its kind in the UK, so for us to be apart of this was a real hoot.
The format consisted of Magnus being interviewed on stage, in a relaxed, informal manner but in front of a keen and eager audience of 160+ people…..were you relaxed Magnus?
The interviewer was Julia Wheeler, a journalist and ex BBC Gulf correspondent who quizzed Magnus on a whole manner of Sound Approach topics, but mostly about his new book. This was a unique opportunity for us as we rarely get to introduce and promote our work outside the ‘birding world’ so to have 160 members of the public who all had a general science interest see Magnus talk was a real eye opener. The interview was accompanied by some of Håkan Delin’s beautiful artwork up on the big screen and of course, a handful of carefully selected sound recordings from the book which were played to the audience over the sound system which complemented Magnus’s answers. Magnus even put his owl cap on a few times, and performed some impeccable owl imitations including Tawny Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl and Snowy Owl, much to the delight of the crowd. His Tawny impression even prompted an encore from someone in the crowd during the Q&A which followed the talk.
What this talk seemed to do really well was open up people’s minds and ears to the world of owls, and took them on a journey of understanding, perhaps to a place they never thought they’d have the opportunity to visit. This was reflected in the questions that were asked when the floor was opened up to the public for them to put forward their owl conundrums to Magnus.
The event on the whole was a huge success, and we’d most definitely be keen to get involved again next year if asked, perhaps with some sort of 10 year Sound Approach anniversary exhibition?
We were also joined by ‘Talking Naturally’ podcast creator, Charlie Moores, who has been keen to grab an interview with the Sound Approach team for quite some time now, so after the main event Charlie and Magnus found a quiet spot and conducted a one to one interview which will be available for you to download soon.
