HISTORY
The Buckinghamshire Bird Club was formed in 1981 and
was granted charity status in 1989. It was formed with the objective of bringing together
under one organisation all those interested in birds in the county. Previously, no
single natural history organisation effectively covered the whole of Buckinghamshire.
Now, all birdwatchers from the complete novice to the skilled ornithologist are
able to enrich their interest and encourage nature conservation by joining the
Buckinghamshire Bird Club.
AIMS
The main aims of the club are:
1. To advance the education of the public in the knowledge and understanding of ornithology in Buckinghamshire.
2. To collect data on birds and their habitats within Buckinghamshire, which is of value to conservation authorities, e.g. English Nature, BBONT, RSPB and other relevant bodies.
3. To promote a responsible attitude in bird watchers.
MEETINGS
Indoor:- Each Autumn and
Winter, monthly indoor meetings feature illustrated talks by local and nationally known
speakers, and are a welcome get-together for club members.
Outdoor :- Field meetings ranging from half day to weekend trips are held during the year and are attended by both beginners and experienced birdwatchers. Field meetings are held at sites within the county as well as interesting sites within a reasonable travelling distance. An annual weekend to Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire takes place each autumn and even the occasional visit abroad has been arranged.
CONFERENCE
A one day conference is held every two years,
usually in conjunction with the British Trust for Ornithology. Topical subjects are
covered by key ornithological speakers and the event provides the opportunity for
discussion between local birdwatchers and the speakers. There is also the
opportunity to browse the stalls of vendors with bird related offerings such as books,
optical equipment and items of art.
SURVEYS
The Club has organised a most successful Garden Bird
Survey since 1986 and members assist in national surveys organised by the British Trust
for Ornithology and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Club members also support local
nature conservation by continuously surveying key sites in the county.
PUBLICATIONS
The Monthly Bulletin reports on club activities, topics
of ornithological interest and provides details of the previous month's bird sightings.
This is the key publication that keeps members informed of events within the
club, as well as matters of concern to the bird life of Buckinghamshire.
Click here for a
sample (warning 362 KBytes)
The Buckinghamshire Bird Report is published annually and incorporates the County Recorder's systematic list of reported sightings, the ringing report, detailed reports on rare sightings, and other articles. This publication is sent free to all members towards the end of the following year.
The Birds of Buckinghamshire was Published by the club in 1993, a 350 page hardback sets out the history of 270 species recorded in the county since the mention of William the Conqueror's hawks in the Doomsday Book. Based on the survey work of 140 members, the efforts of 16 members in writing the species accounts and edited by club members Peter Lack and David Ferguson, it has been received with acclaim. A milestone in the history of the club and a must for all interested in birds in Buckinghamshire. For more information click to go to The BBC Book Store
MEMBERSHIP
By joining the Buckinghamshire Bird Club, you can add
your voice to its conservation efforts whenever bird-rich habitats come under threat.
The more members we have and the more we learn about the birds of Bucks, the more
effective our efforts will be. For more information click to go to BBC Membership Page