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Birding Organisations

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Every self-respecting birder should be a member of at least two organisations ensuring that her or his contribution is doing something to promote birding, and, more importantly, the welfare of birds.

Firstly we must all support our national bird conservation organisation such as, in the UK, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The RSPB is the largest conservation organisation in Europe and not only preserves rich or scare bird habitats the length and breadth of the UK but it also keeps the welfare of birds on the political agenda and in the public eye. Latterly, it promotes conservation on a geographical and international scale. Love it or loathe it there is no doubt that we all owe the RSPB a great debt.

Secondly we should belong to our local county bird club or state chapter. Your local club can help keep you informed about what is happening in your own backyard and it is a great place to meet neighbours with the same interests as your self. Moreover, it is likely to have reserves of its own, and to organise outings and meetings. As for the birds you can usually help them through your local club whether it be offering your free time to help maintain reserves or just by recording what you see in the county. Local clubs are the bedrock of conservation and patch-work.

Those of you with a slightly deeper interest will find that there is a huge amount of information available and joining an ornithological union will give you access to many thousands of scientific papers over many years of study.

In the UK the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) works with 35,000 volunteer birders to monitor how our wild birds are doing. You can contribute to their work by participating in one of their surveys or by supporting them through membership. BTO surveys inform policy makers and conservation organisations by providing unbiased scientific research into bird populations. Most of the surveys are free to participate in and every birder can and should contribute their records to these surveys to ensure we have a clear picture of the state of our wild bird populations.

A few pounds, Euros or dollars thus spent by every birder would ensure the future of wild birds throughout the world.

Organisations

  • IOC World Bird List

    Website
    The IOC World Bird List is an open access resource of the international community of ornithologists. Our primary goal is to facilitate worldwide communication in ornithology and conservation based on an up-to-date evolutionary classification of world birds and a set of English names that follow explicit guidelines for spelling and construction.

  • ARocha

    Website
    A Rocha is an international conservation organisation working to show God`s love for all creation.

  • African Bird Club

    Website
    Working for birds and conservation in Africa.

  • American Birding Association (ABA) (US)

    Website
    The ABA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides leadership to birders by increasing their knowledge, skills, and enjoyment of birding. We are the only organization in North America that specifically caters to recreational birders. We also contribute to bird and bird habitat conservation through our varied programs.

  • American Ornithologists' Union (US)

    Website
    Welcome to the American Ornithological Society (AOS) Advancing Scientific Knowledge and Conservation of Birds

  • Army Ornithological Society (UK)

    Website
    The Army Ornithological Society (AOS) is, first and foremost, a bird club with a difference, while providing a focal point within the Army for ornithological issues.

  • Association of Field Ornithologists (AFO) (US)

    Website
    The Association of Field Ornithologists (AFO) is a membership organization dedicated to the study and conservation of birds and their natural habitats. The AFO prides itself as serving as a bridge between the professional and the amateur ornithologist.

  • Barn Owl Trust (UK)

    Website
    Founded in 1988, the Barn Owl Trust is a small national charity working very hard to conserve one of the most beautiful birds on Earth. Anyone who has ever watched a wild Barn Owl hunting at dusk has surely been touched by the experience.

  • BirdLife Australia

    Website
    BirdLife Australia is a relatively recent name change for our organisation. It is the result of the merger of Birds Australia and Bird Observation & Conservation Australia (BOCA).

  • BirdLife International

    Website
    The BirdLife Partnership wishes to see a world where nature and people live in greater harmony, more equitably and sustainably.

  • Birding For All

    Website
    The charity was set up in April 2000 as the Disabled Birders Association by Bo Beolens, an ordinary birder with a minor disability. Since then it has grown into an international organisation with over 1200 members.

  • British Ornithologists Union (BOU) (UK)

    Website
    The British Ornithologists` Union aims to encourage the study of birds in Britain, Europe and throughout the world, in order to understand their biology and to aid their conservation.

  • British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) (UK)

    Website
    We harness the skills and passion of birdwatchers to advance our understanding of ornithology and produce impartial science - communicated clearly for the benefit of birds and people.

  • Canal & River Trust (UK)

    Website
    We're the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways, because we believe that life is better by water.

  • European Ornithologists' Union

    Website
    The objectives of the EOU are the advancement of ornithology and the promotion of the scientific study of birds within Europe.

  • Friends of the Earth

    Website
    Campaigning organisation that has already achieved much.

  • Game & Wildlife (GWCT ) (UK) Conservation Trust

    Website
    We are a leading UK charity conducting conservation science to enhance the British countryside for public benefit.

  • Gay Birders Club (UK)

    Website
    The Gay Birders’ Club has been organising events and providing facilities for the LGBT community since 1994. We are based in the United Kingdom but have contacts throughout the world.

  • Greenpeace

    Website
    We have the knowledge, skills and technologies to stop climate change. All over the world people have woken up to the threat, and are working to reduce the use of fossil fuels, stop rainforest destruction and get power from clean energy. Still much more needs to be done.

  • Hawk & Owl Trust (UK)

    Website
    For 50 years the Hawk and Owl Trust has been dedicated to conserving owls and birds of prey in the wild, conserving and managing their habitats and increasing knowledge and the understanding of them.

  • Hawk Conservancy (US)

    Website
    Our mission at The Hawk Conservancy Trust is the conservation of birds of prey. As a registered charity, we couldn’t do our work without you and we aim to make your day at the Trust as memorable and as enjoyable as possible.

  • Hawkwatch International (US)

    Website
    The mission of HawkWatch International is to conserve our environment through education, long-term monitoring, and scientific research on raptors as indicators of ecosystem health.

  • International Osprey Foundation

    Website
    Dedicated to the preservation of the Osprey

  • National Audubon Society (US)

    Website
    The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation.

  • Neotropical Bird Club

    Website
    The Neotropical Bird Club is an international organisation for birders and ornithologists interested in the birds of the Neotropics (Middle & South America and the Caribbean). The NBC has been helping to conserve the birds of the Neotropics since 1994.

  • Neotropical Ornithological Society (NOS)

    The Neotropical Ornithological Society (NOS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the scientific study of birds and their habitats in the Neotropical Region.

  • Oriental Bird Club

    Website
    Oriental Bird Club, UK registered charity 297242, is for birders and ornithologists around the world who are interested in birds of the Oriental region and their conservation

  • Ornithological Society of the Middle East

    Website
    The Ornithological Society of the Middle East was formed in April 1978 as a successor to the Ornithological Society of Turkey and was expanded in 2001 to cover the Caucasus and Central Asia.

  • Pacific Seabird Group

    Website
    The Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) is a society of professional seabird researchers and managers dedicated to the study and conservation of seabirds and their environment.

  • Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology (South Africa)

    Website
    The FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology (affectionately known as the Fitztitute) is located at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where it is housed within the Department of Biological Sciences.

  • Raptor Rescue (UK)

    Website
    Raptor Rescue was founded in 1978 by a group of falconers in the North West of England concerned that there was no recognised specialist organisation able to treat the large number of sick or injured Birds of Prey that came into care

  • Raptor Research Foundation

    Website
    An international scientific society whose primary goal is the accumulation and dissemination of scientific information about raptors. Celebrating 50 years of Raptor Research and Conservation 1966 – 2016.

  • Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP) (UK)

    Website
    RBBP - the secure information archive on the UK's rare breeding birds

  • Royal Air Force Ornithological Society (UK)

    Website
    Sharing an appreciation of birds in particular and of wildlife in general

  • Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) (UK)

    Website
    Nature is in big trouble, but we've got big plans to save it.

  • SCO-SOC (Canada)

    Website
    SCO-SOC members are often called upon to apply their scientific expertise to broader issues.

  • Scottish Ornithologists Club (UK)

    Website
    The Scottish Ornithologists' Club (SOC) was established by a group of Scottish ornithologists who met together in the rooms of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in Edinburgh on 24th March 1936.

  • Waterbird Society

    Website
    The Waterbird Society is composed of biologists, researchers, conservationists, students, and others interested in the behavior, ecology, and conservation of waterbirds.

  • Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) (UK)

    Website
    Here at WWT we conserve, restore and create wetlands, save wetland wildlife, and inspire everyone to value the amazing things healthy wetlands achieve for people and nature.

  • Wilson Ornithological Society

    Website
    Founded in 1888, the Wilson Ornithological Society is a world-wide organization of more than 1300 people who share a curiosity about birds.

  • Woodland Trust (UK)

    Website
    Stand up for trees! We want to see a UK rich in native woods and trees, for people and wildlife. But we can't achieve our vision without you.

  • Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research (WIWO)

    Website
    The Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research (WIWO) was established in 1983, in order to create a well-defined and accessible intermediary between financing organisations and governmental bodies on the one hand, and volunteer ornithologists interested in studying waterbirds in countries with little own potential for such studies on the other.

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