Happy 100th birthday, Sir David Attenborough!

Friday 8 May 2026 marks a special day in the calendar, as we'll be wishing RSPB Vice President Sir David Attenborough a wonderful 100th birthday. From trainee producer to celebrated broadcaster and international treasure, Sir David’s enthusiasm, compassion and knowledge of the natural world have brought millions of us closer to nature.

That’s true of many RSPB members, staff and supporters, for whom Sir David has been an ever-present and formative figure in nurturing our love for the natural world. So, we want to celebrate Sir David’s life, career and influence and say a big RSPB thank you to the world’s most renowned naturalist.

Sir David first joined the BBC as a trainee producer in 1952 and gained his first TV credit working off camera on a short film about the rediscovery of Coelacanth, a fish species previously declared extinct. Shortly after, in 1954, Sir David travelled to Sierra Leone to capture vulnerable White-necked Picathartes on film for his series, Zoo Quest.

The series was his first step in front of the lens. Yet, thanks to the awareness that the production raised, and the ongoing work of the RSPB and Gola Rainforest Company Limited by Guarantee (GRC-LG), numbers of these bizarre-looking birds have remained stable according to nearly 20 years of surveys (2006 – 2025).

This is a fantastic achievement and shows that our work to protect this sensitive species in the Gola Rainforest is having an impact.

Zoo Quest and the White-necked Picathartes signalled the beginning of Sir David’s stellar career on camera. Since then, he has hosted or lent his incomparable narration to a huge library of awe-inspiring work.

Trademark series include his Life collection, the Planet Earth trilogy and more recently, Wild Isles, which was co-produced by the RSPB, WWF, National Trust and Open University. From snow-capped mountains to hunting Orcas, the series explores some of the UK’s most stunning wildlife and places, while highlighting just how fragile they’ve become.

In recent years, Sir David has also spoken at length about the climate and biodiversity crises. Documentaries including 2019’s ‘Climate Change – The Facts’ brought environmental issues and resolutions to households around the world, while his proficiency as a public speaker saw him address delegates at COP26 in 2021.

Safe to say, Sir David’s reach and influence cannot be overstated.

The RSPB’s connection to Sir David Attenborough extends beyond the silver screen, and we are incredibly honoured to have him as one of our Vice Presidents. In 2000, we also awarded him the RSPB Medal, our most prestigious award, in recognition of his services to wildlife conservation.

As well as wishing Sir David a happy birthday, RSPB Chief Executive Beccy Speight said:

"As many of us revisit our favourite Attenborough moments for his 100^th birthday, it’s a time to celebrate his immense legacy and impact and indulge in the wonders of the natural world yet again.

Sir David’s influence and longevity have also led to over 40 new species being named after him. These include the Polioptila attenboroughi, or Inambari Gnatcatcher, a small songbird native to Brazil, and the South American fossil species, Agapornis attenboroughi, a lovebird that dates back to the Pliocene period.

Each and every honour bestowed upon Sir David Attenborough is tribute to his extraordinary life, career, impact and the joy he has instilled in millions around the world. We wish him a fabulous 100^th birthday, many happy returns and look forward to losing ourselves in his next natural history series.

Congratulations, Sir David!

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