BOTB welcomes the Backyard Aviary team Nigel and Kayleigh Cheetham

Birds on the Brink would like to introduce Nigel and Kayleigh Cheetham, who are known for their Backyard Aviary Adventures on Youtube. The couple are kindly sponsoring the charity for 2026 and for that we thank them.

When asked about their charity goals, Nigel and Kayleigh said ‘For the past two years, we’ve taken on personal Big Year challenges, setting ourselves birding targets. But 2026 is different and, this year, it’s all about giving back.’

They continued ‘This is Our Charity Big Year. We’ll still be trying to see as many bird species as possible across the UK (and beyond), but this time every single bird we record will raise money for conservation. For each species we see, we will make a donation to Birds on the Brink and we will also be creating ways for our viewers and community to get involved and contribute.’

Nigel and Kayleigh’s Backyard Aviary Adventures had its origins in Lockdown. Once restrictions lifted, the couple began exploring again and started filming their birding trips too… from there, things just grew and grew.

What started as day trips soon turned into car camping so they could travel further to see birds. That eventually led to them buying a van. Now Nigel and Kayleigh travel all around the UK (and sometimes abroad), often with Kayleigh’s daughters (Nigel’s step-daughters), chasing rare, scarce, and unusual birds.

When asked about their exploits the couple said ‘We search for amazing birds, documenting it all in a down-to-earth, honest way. But our journey isn’t just about rare birds. One of the biggest unexpected joys has been discovering the incredible variety of landscapes across the country, the wildlife we encounter along the way, our beautiful common birds, and the welcoming birding community as a whole.’

When asked how they each got into birding they said: ‘Nigel loved birds as a child and rediscovered the hobby in his late twenties. Kayleigh’s very first birding trip was in 2020 to see a Bearded Vulture, and that was quickly followed by a honeymoon trip to The Gambia. Seeing such incredible species cemented her passion, and now she’s completely hooked — describing the chase for rare birds as a giant game of Where’s Wally?’

Nigel and Kayleigh ended by saying: ‘In summary: the more birds we see, the more money we raise. Together with our audience, we hope to turn our passion into something that makes a real difference for the birds we love.’