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British Trust for Ornithology

By Rod Sturdy 02/11/2012 10:16:00

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Rod Sturdy suggests that if anglers who coincidentally love bird life are looking to join an appropriate organisation, they might like to consider the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

I contacted the BTO recently to ask if they welcomed anglers as members: yes, they most certainly do. I was told that the BTO in fact has a number of keen anglers on its staff.

Futhermore, and possibly more importantly, I was told that the BTO recognise the positive influence which angling - with its promotion of fish and aquatic life - has in conservation terms. Where conflicts of interest arise between bird interests and angling ones, the BTO is in favour of finding proper solutions which take account of both sides of the argument.

The BTO was founded in 1933, has around 15,000 members, and is a not-for-profit trust. Their website, which is well worth a look, contains detailed descriptions of the various bird species, with data from surveys of UK bird populations. The organisation aims to carry out ‘impartial research on bird populations in a changing environment’ as a means of achieving a better conservation effort. BTO data is made use of in both the scientific and the popular press.

Although there is clearly a scientific emphasis in the BTO’s work, there is still ample opportunity for an ordinary mortal to carry out a bit of ‘citizen science’ and work as one of the BTO’s 60,000 volunteers who collect data on birds and other wildlife in BTO surveys.

British Trust for Ornithology
The Nunnery
THETFORD
Norfolk
IP24 2PU

Tel: 01842 750050

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Comments (4 posted):

Cliff Hatton 2 on 02/11/2012 11:56:34

Thanks, Rod, for bringing this organization to our attention...I'd never heard of them.

Jeff Woodhouse on 02/11/2012 12:18:29

I think it was 2005 when the EA's Recreation Department wanted the ideas of many sporting and recreational organisations' views on how they could develope sports and so forth on the newly opened Jubilee River (Thames bypass of Windsor and Maidenhead). We had an hour or so talking at the International Rowing Centre and then went for a walk down a section of the river, the bit that is reserved as a wildlife area. In this part the EA built hides for people to watch the birds so the hides have slits cut into them. Jokingly I said this was so that people could poke through their 12-bores to shoot the cormorants and this was overheard by a representative of the BTO. Expecting a tirade from him I was quite surprised when he said that he agreed, to some extent at least. If I was to join a birding organisation it would be the BTO. I must look into it as I do appreciate our feathered friends (even cormorants in their rightful place).

Peter Jacobs on 02/11/2012 12:28:12

"Individual Fellow membership costs £52" Individual membership of the Angling trust £25.00 Hhhhhnmmmmn!

Jeff Woodhouse on 02/11/2012 12:33:23

Yes but - Individual Ordinary £32.00 Concession* £26.00 As I am considered a 'Concession' 'tain't too bad. Also worth ATr critics thinking about, BTO has 15,000 members from millions that must watch birds. Shows that the ATr with a similar amount from just over a million anglers isn't doing too badly after all. Perhaps there's something to be said for them working together...

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