News - Society News

We are delighted to announce the launch of our new website.
Its features include:

• News from around the county and beyond;
• Events, which can be sorted by organiser or type;
• Information on the Society's publications (including The Bittern);
• Ringing information (including news and recoveries);
• A detailed section on recording birds, including, a facility for sending records direct to the Recorder and an updated county list;
• An expanded section on County birding sites, which is still a work in progress (so keep visiting for additions);
• A photo gallery; and
• A Forum section that covers not only bird sightings but also ringing news and general discussion. A post in the Forum Guidelines gives information on Forum registration and use.

We will be able to update the site easily and quickly and are confident it will become an excellent source of information for birding in Somerset. The website is responsive and will adapt according to whether it is read on a PC, laptop, tablet or phone.
We welcome any contributions to the website, whether information or photos.
We must thank our web designers, Make Hay, who have produced a website which, in technology terms, moves the Society into the 21st century.

The Somerset Atlas of Breeding and Wintering Birds 2007-2012 was published at the end of November 2014. It has been well received by birding press reviewers and sales have now exceeded the 400 mark. It can now be obtained online through the NHBS at www.nhbs.com.

After 2 years of meetings, a Memorandum of Understanding is being drawn up between SERC and the SOS to ensure that there is an exchange of bird data and information between the two organisations.

This is principally to ensure that bird data previously from outside the Society is included in our annual report and that environmental planning takes into account the diversity and distribution of bird life in Somerset. Rarities and confidentiality are a key consideration in the agreement.

We have already mentioned elsewhere the loss of Bruce Taylor from the Committee. In his place we are delighted to welcome Dave Dawe. Dave is Somerset born and lives in Milverton. While Exmoor is his favourite area, his main passion is seawatching, mainly at Hurlstone Point in the company of another avid seawatcher, Brian Gibbs. Dave confesses that he now eats, sleeps and talks birds, but occasionally stops for a glass of cider. We are sure Dave's enthusiasm will be an asset to the Committee.

The lifeblood of birding and other wildlife organisations is sustained by a regular supply of young people with an interest in nature. Both Avalon and Carymoor are leading organisations in helping to awaken and nurture that interest and it is a concern that both establishments have had to revisit their ideas for redevelopment funding with Viridor Credits. Viridor have, in the past, been champions of green issues such as these and so we will be watching closely how the respective ‘second rounds’ progress.