About the Shropshire Ornithological Society

Aims

The SOS was formed in 1955 with the following aims

1. to encourage the study and protection of birds in Shropshire and elsewhere.

2. to organise a wide range of activities and produce publications to this end.

3. to co-operate with other bodies with similar aims.

National Role

The Society plays an important part in the national network of Bird Clubs. This includes the production of an Annual County Bird Report which contains the systematic list of all sightings reported to the County Bird recorder together with articles and reports on all aspects of bird study within the county. For information about the latest Bird Report click here

The Society covers the County for national surveys and makes past records available for current research. It actively joins in the partnership between the British Trust for Ornithology and County Bird Clubs. For more information about research projects in the County click here.

Local Reserves

The Society is involved in the management of several sites in the County, to ensure they remain excellent bird habitats. Venus Pool, an important wetland, is owned and managed by the Society. For more information on reserves click here

Activities

As a member of the S.O.S. you will be welcome to 

• Join us on field trips to the best bird watching places in Shropshire and elsewhere in the country. Day visits, coach trips and weekends away are all part of the varied programme. For details of the current outdoor programme click here 
• Come to the indoor meetings - occasionally films but usually illustrated lectures by speakers who are nationally recognised experts with well presented slides. You will meet other people with similar interests and learn more about birds and associated subjects. The main Society meetings are held during the winter months at the Shire Hall, Abbey Foregate in Shrewsbury. For details of the current indoor meetings programme click here. There are branches of the Society in Church Stretton and Ludlow and each has its own programme of indoor meetings and field trips. For more information on the branches and their programmes click here.
• Get permits for several of the best bird watching places in the County. Access to these sites is restricted but permits are available to Society members.
• Help with fieldwork for local and national surveys. These mainly involve locating and sometimes counting particular species, so you do not need to be an expert to make a contribution to bird research. A major example is the Society's own "Shropshire Breeding Bird Atlas"
• Send in records of the birds you see to the County Bird Recorder for inclusion in the County Bird Report.
• Help with other activities undertaken by the Society and have your say in what you think the Society needs to be doing.
• Receive a copy of the quarterly Bulletin which gives full details of all current activities and includes "Bird Notes" - a summary of recent records sent in by members.
• Receive a free copy of the Annual Bird Report.

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page updated 13/01/2004