Shearwaters are amongst the most elusive creatures on earth, spending most of their lives far out to sea and coming on land only to breed.  From navigating trans-global migrations to understanding the threats to their future existence, Professor Tim Guilford will introduce us into the shearwater’s world, unravelling the mechanisms by which they map the environments through which they travel. What cues do these birds use to navigate home across familiar areas? What do their maps look like? How versatile is the spatial knowledge they store?

It will be a fascinating talk!

Ashley developed an interest in nature – and birds in particular – while growing up in the Warwickshire countryside, before setting up as a wildlife photographer in 2005. He now lectures widely and leads regular photographic and birding tours to The Gambia – his favourite destination – as well as the Shetland Islands, Isle of Scilly, Trinidad & Tobago, the Spanish Pyrenees and elsewhere. He is particularly keen on birds of prey and hummingbirds, and regularly delivers workshops and seminars throughout the UK.

We welcome him back this evening to hear about his visits to The Gambia. With close to 600 species of birds, most of which are colourful and approachable. We begin at the coast, then up the river and back again,  seeing  Kingfishers, Bee-eaters & Rollers amongst many others  with a magnificent supporting cast of multicoloured extras!

Many bird species migrate largely, or exclusively at night, while others engage in nocturnal activities such as display flights and movements to nocturnal foraging grounds. These activities, which probably go on every night over your garden while you sleep, are poorly understood. Simon will explore how audio recording and radar are starting to shed light on these behaviours.

Ian will tell us how Greenham Common, once a military base, was decommisioned and returned to heathland.

It is now a popular birdwatching destination and boasts an extensive heathland bird list from Dartford Warbler to Greenland Wheatear!

There are also one or two surprise species !

Please note that this meeting will be held at St Peter’s Church Hall, Church Road, Earley.

Kevin’s lifelong interest in wildlife has led to a deep involvement in nature conservation and land management in the UK and overseas. A member of the World Land Trust Council, in 2008, he helped Birdlife Bolivia set up a protected area for the critically-endangered Blue-throated Macaw and he remains a Friend of the Barba Azul Reserve. Since 2011, he has served on the Council of Devon Birds, most recently as Chair. Kevin lives on Dartmoor where he takes a keen interest in the conservation of the moor, especially for upland and woodland birds. He is currently Chairman of the RSPB Council at a key time in its fight against raptor persecution and its work to improve the lot a farmland birds. Listen to an in depth interview with Kevin.

He will talk about the birds of Dartmoor, especially those of the open moor and western oak woods and reveal some of the secret spots where they can be found. Following that he will talk about some key RSPB projects, highlighting the species recovery work for birds like Curlew, Turtle Dove and Cirl Bunting and some of the national and international issues that the conservation movement faces.

All are invited – there will be no charge for BOC and RSPB group members.

The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be followed by a presentation of the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). The British Trust for Ornithology’s Neil Calbrade will tell us about some of the changes that we are seeing in the UK’s internationally important wintering populations of wetland birds.

Three thousand WeBS surveyors monitor the UK’s internationally important non-breeding waterbirds at 2,800 sites. Following a tradition begun in 1947, wetland sites are counted once per month, providing data for population and trends in abundance and distribution. Climate change, habitat loss and habitat creation are driving important changes to our wintering ducks, geese and swans and to wintering waders. WeBS provides key scientific underpinning for wetland conservation and a growing network of protected sites.

We are pleased to welcome Dr Dadam to hear about her interest in avian diseases.

Infectious diseases pose a threat to wildlife conservation and several parasites have been demonstrated as having impacts on birds at population level across the world

This talk covers the main diseases such as Trichomonosis and the resulting impact on our birdlife.

Eastern Europe is an exciting place for wildlife photography. Birds are more numerous there than in the U.K. and the land is more accessible. Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Poland all feature in this talk which covers White-tailed Sea-eagles, Golden eagles, European jackals and a Wallcreeper site accessed from a cherry picker.

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and the rainforest is one of the oldest in the world with an immense diversity of flora and fauna.

This wonderful talk will include insects, animals and amphibians as well as the many different bird species that the nature enthusiast could expect to see.

The talk is sychronised with birdsong/calls and wildlife sound recordings actually made on location.

Paul moved to Yorkshire several years ago after growing up in Berkshire. He was a member of the ROC as was and visited us a few years ago to give us a wonderful talk on Bird Strikes at airports and their attempted prevention. Now he works for APHA – the Animal and Plant Health Agency.  He will talk this evening on the fascinating subject of studying flight movements with radar. He hopes to show some moving images of actual screens!