The six Critically Endangered species highlighted by this year's Birdfair are Sociable Lapwing, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Tuamotu Kingfisher, Azores Bullfinch, Araripe Manakin and Dwarf Olive Ibis (Robert Gillmor).

The 2008 Birdfair, held at Rutland Water between 15th and 17th August, as well as being the 20th, was the biggest and most successful to date with record attendance and fundraising likely to be the eventual outcome of the event.

Delighted with the exceptional number of visitors this year, Birdfair Co-organiser Tim Appleton told Birdwatch that every day proved to be a record day, saying "Friday was an amazing day, with extra car parking swiftly being made available in areas not even contemplated before." Tim went on to express his confidence in a likely record amount of more than £250,000 being raised by the event. "Almost £20,000 was raised by the Sir David Attenborough lecture alone," he said. "This is a long way from the £3000 raised by the first Birdfair twenty years ago."

Birdfair is now the world's number one ecotourism fair with over 40 countries represented. "The importance of this unique event is underlined by the fact that people are willing to travel from as far a field as Christmas Island, Rwanda and Papua New Guinea to attend," said Tim, who would like to express his sincere thanks to not only the sponsors and exhibitors who took part but also especially to all the volunteers, who gave their time freely to make the event such an overwhelming success.

From a Birdwatch perspective, Birdfair was highly successful in further raising the profile of the magazine, including our spearheading the fund-raising for the conservation initiative for the Azores Bullfinch, one of the six species chosen by this year's Birdfair to highlight the plight of the world's 190 Critically Endangered birds.