Wednesday 1^st November 2017

Wallacea, named after the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, consists of a large group of mainly Indonesian islands lying between the Asian and Australasian continents. Positioned as they are on the interface between the two landmasses, the islands are home to many endemic birds some with their origins in Asia and some in Australasia. The talk will cover visits to some of the islands including Sulawesi, Halmahera and the Lesser Sundas.

 image: Lesser Sulawesi Honeyeater – a member of a large, mainly Australasian, bird family.

Heath Fritillary – one of Britain’s rarest species of butterfly (Chris Foster)

21st March 2018

In late summer, when birds are moulting and hard to find, many birders turn to insects like butterflies or dragonflies for entertainment. But beyond these showy creatures there’s a whole world of less-obvious insects that are equally fascinating and often represent key food sources for the birds we love. Chris’s talk will introduce insects group by group through the eyes of the birds which depend on them. Using tips and tricks familiar to birders – from ‘jizz’ to recognising songs – he’ll also show that birders already have the skills to start identifying insects out of what can seem a bewildering multitude of species. 

Compare a Mistle Thrush with a Song Thrush…

Wednesday 11th April 2018

This evening is designed to refresh the skills needed to identify many of the garden, woodland, heathland and downland birds to be found in our region.

N.B. This will take place at Earley St Peter’s Hall, Church Rd., Earley

The 2017 overall winner: Fighting Pheasants by Michael Miller

Wednesday 7th March 2018

Whether a photographer or not, there is always something to learn about birds and there are many photographs of high quality to enjoy. A team of two experienced practitioners will evaluate photographs of birds in three categories:

Portrait,  Action and Behaviour, Flight.

The overall winner of the Gordon Langsbury Cup is chosen by the audience from the three category winners.

(Rules and details are on the dedicated page of this web-site.)

NB NEW DATE 

Postponed to Wednesday 28th February 2018 

In recent seasons we have heard about several aspects of bird biology, but this time we consider their brains. Birds know far more than you might think: some species exhibit forms of intelligence that are superior to young humans. They make quite complex decisions and can even select and use tools. This talk will focus on laboratory work on intelligent problem-solving and tool use in crows and cockatoos and will be supported by video films, etc. It promises to be fascinating.

Red Kites are now a familiar sight over Berkshire and neighbouring counties

Wednesday 7th February 2018

Over the past few years, Mark has led a series of studies into urban birds and the effects of human interaction with them. One of the most obvious and iconic actions has been the reintroduction of Red Kites, which many of us now consider to be visitors to our local gardens. But what about our individual actions? When we decide to feed birds, put up nest boxes, keep cats, or garden in a certain way, our actions inevitably have a bearing on the birds. Are our best intentions always valid?  Mark will be discussing the results of his department’s research into the interaction between birds and humans. There is food for thought here.

Wednesday 24th January 2018

Graham Lenton returns to BOC to remind us that the craft of the professional wildlife photographer comes at a price, but that the colours are worth the effort if the birds in the lens are assorted Black Grouse, Snowy and Grey Owls and Golden Eagles, among others. He says that the place to photograph birds is on the Finnish-Russian border, but warns that we need to don plenty of thermals to do so, even in April. Fortunately, Graham has also worked in  warmer places  to study wildlife and has spent many years lecturing on the topic.

image: Northern Hawk Owl (Graham Lenton)

Wednesday 10th January 2018

By 2002, bird ringing was about 100 years old and the BTO had enough data to publish a weighty 884-page volume on the migratory behaviour of British birds, based on its ringing data. For many birdwatchers, ringing is something of enigma, a sub-set of amateur and professional ornithology which brings ringers (banders in America!) into intimate contact with delicate or feisty birds. A lot of birds get netted, bagged, weighed and measured and the data gets recorded. But then what? Rob will discuss why this activity has been so useful in understanding our birds. 

image: Starling wearing a lightweight ring

Wednesday 6th December 2017

Hummingbirds; Aztecs called them rays of the sun and in Brazil they are known as flower kissers. There are more than 300 living species, from the tiny bee hummingbird (the weight of a paperclip) to the giant Patagonian. Everything about hummers is extreme; their astonishing colours, 1000 beat-a-minute heart-rate, fearless aggression and, above all, breathtaking flying abilities. They are the only bird that can fly backwards. This talk looks one of the world’s most iconic birds.

image: Copper-rumped Hummingbird (Mike Leach)