Latest News
AOS AGM
The AOS AGM is taking place at Warcop 23 - 25 May 08. If you haven't heard from the Secretary with details of the weekend, please text him soonest
on 07720 172814.
Expeditions
Tim Hallchurch has completed Newletter 2 for Ex Mongolian Finch to Kazakhstan 14 - 29th May 2009 plus extension to 2nd June (to be included on
the Events page in the next 2 days). Although some way ahead it is worth booking as early as possible.
Bird Atlas 2007-11 Update
The Atlas is really taking off and the winter survey results have exceeded expectation. But don't leave it any later if you haven't selected a patch yet.
The current period started on 1 April with 2 months available to conduct your early Timed Tetrad visit during the breeding period. This should be followed
by a second visit in June or July. Contact
www.birdatlas.net/ for further details.
MOD Bird Count 2008 is the Bird Atlas 2007 - 2011
Well it was meant to be! However, at the last minute, DE EST decided that there was not a firm enough guarantee that they would be able to recover
data on the Estate and so distributed a 2008 MOD Bird Count Form. This will involve double counts or at least double data entries in some areas and
the advice is to continue supporting the Atlas. In the meantime, work is going on behind the scenes to increase the relationship between BTO and DE
and the Survey Member is shortly to visit both camps. More news later.
In the meantime for you - speak to your BTO regional organiser about the tetrads that fall in your area of the Defence Estate.
Conduct your winter and breeding surveys (over the next 4 years) and log the data with BTO as part of the Atlas work. If you
need more information, please contact the BTO through their web site at
www.birdatlas.net/
Data to date? DE EST are still intending to contract out analysis of all data collected between 2002 and 2007.
Events in 2008
Check the Expeditions and Events page for details of a very busy programme in 2008. Contact numbers for
expedition organisers are included here or drop an e-mail to
The Secretary through the
Contacts link for details of other activities within the Society.
Ringing Opportunities
Tony Crease has asked me to extend an invitation to any ringers or potential ringers
within driving distance of Catterick who may wish to ring at weekends, to get in touch with him. He developed and now coordinates activity
at
Foxglove Covert,
a reknown conservation area and very much worth a visit if you are in the area.
Web Site
Increased use of the web-site has been particularly encouraging over the last year but the number of registered users of the Message Board
has been disappointing. You don't have to say anything but registration helps us to monitor the number of members using the site. Once
registration is approved (we don't allow non Service Society members to register) you have endless use the facility. The Links at the end
of the web site pages allows quick transition to other useful birding sites. Of course if you know that you can do better, I am always
after a volunteer to take over for a while!
