Shropshire Ornithological Society
Registered Charity No.: 514487
Welcome to the website of the Shropshire Ornithological Society (SOS). In these pages you will find information about the objectives, activities and work of the SOS. Just select the links on the menu above or in the listing below.
If you find any errors or have material for inclusion on the site, please contact the web manager.
BREAKING NEWS
Venus Pool Tree Work. We will be taking down the dangerous tree in the feeding station at Venus Pool at some point in the near future but cannot say exactly when because of a number of factors including the weather. This will inevitably cause some disturbance because the tree will be felled towards the pool itself. We can only apologise in advance for not being able to give an exact day on which the work will take place. If the work is ongoing, please keep well clear. Note that the path to the feeder hide will be closed off while work is being conducted.
Field Trip Change. The December 11th field trip to WWT Martinmere has been cancelled owing to concern about avian ‘flu at the site. It has been decided by Sue Brealey to move the Martinmere trip to next year and arrange an alternative coach-trip to WWT Slimbridge. If you are signed up to the Martinmere trip, pleae confirm that you are happy to go to Slimbridge instead. Once Sue has the number confirmed, she will get in contact to provide further details. Sorry about this adjustment, but I am sure you will understand the reasons.
Youth Engagement and SOS. For more on this important topic, follow this link for an introduction from Ellie Micklewright.
Field Trips Organiser/Leader & Raffle Organiser. I wish to let the Society members know of my decision to resign from the above roles, which I have been doing for a great deal of time. The reason is that I have had recent health issues, but also feel that these roles need to be passed on to fresh hands.
I have been doing the Fields Trips Organiser role since 2008, and counting next year’s programme, this is a period of 15 years. This role requires making up a programme of monthly visits to various reserves or birding areas, indicating a leader for this visit, who hopefully would write up a short report of the visit for publication in the Buzzard and on the website. The types of visits would be up to the organiser which could include coach trips and weekends away to areas further afield. There is a deadline of the programme being ready for publication by November 1st annually.
I have been doing the Raffle at Indoor Meetings for over 20 years. This role helps with the financing of the Indoor Meetings, and can either be a Raffle with prizes or any other method which can be devised, such as the Bird Game. This is open to anyone, who would be happy to help with the Indoor Meetings during the season from October to April each year.
I would be grateful if anyone who can decide to take on these roles, would please get in contact with me at publicity@shropshirebirds.co.uk or phone/text at 01939 262450 or 07713 164463.
Sue Brealey
Indoor Meeting Co-Ordinator. It is with regret that Steve Dawes, who has been the Co-ordinator for the last few years, has given notice that due to a change to his future commitments. He has done a really good job in booking the indoor speakers for our meetings, especially having to deal with matters over the pandemic, and this has been greatly appreciated by the Society.
Steve is in the process of booking speakers for 2023, but we now need to ask for a volunteer to take over this position, which is so important to the Society’s role. This involves the booking of a variety of speakers for 7 months during the winter and autumn, co-ordinating with the Treasurer for the payments involved, and helping out with the meetings at Bayston Hill Memorial Hall. I am sure that Steve would be able to inform his successor about the role in more detail.
Please could anyone who would like to take this important role on, get in contact with me at publicity@shropshirebirds.co.uk or phone at 01939 262450.
A County-Wide Project on Kestrels – Appeal for Volunteers. For more on this project and information on taking part, follow this link.
SOS Save our Curlews Campaign
The website for this project has just been updated. This includes results of 2022 Project work, and monitoring across the County by Community Wildlife Groups (summary here)
It is vitally important to continue the project work in 2022, and we need to raise more money to be able to do it all. We also hope to start work in the north-west of the county, around Oswestry, subject to having the funds. We are therefore re-launching the appeal. Please donate if you feel able to. See the following links for an Appeal Leaflet and to download a donation form. Please also complete the Gift Aid certificate if you are a UK taxpayer, as SOS can claim 25% in addition to your donation from HMRC.
Report Available. Swallows & House Martins in Hopesay Parish 2021 (John Tucker): [page 1] [page 2]
SAVE YOUR SOCIETY PRINTING COSTS, VOLUNTEER TIME AND POSTAGE & PACKAGING – GET YOUR COPY OF ‘THE BUZZARD’ ONLINE. Further information on this option is available HERE.
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Shropshire Birds & Birding
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