I contacted the BTO recently to ask if they welcomed anglers as members: yes, they most certainly do. I was told that the BTO in fact has a number of keen anglers on its staff.
Futhermore, and possibly more importantly, I was told that the BTO recognise the positive influence which angling – with its promotion of fish and aquatic life – has in conservation terms. Where conflicts of interest arise between bird interests and angling ones, the BTO is in favour of finding proper solutions which take account of both sides of the argument.
The BTO was founded in 1933, has around 15,000 members, and is a not-for-profit trust. Their website, which is well worth a look, contains detailed descriptions of the various bird species, with data from surveys of UK bird populations. The organisation aims to carry out ‘impartial research on bird populations in a changing environment’ as a means of achieving a better conservation effort. BTO data is made use of in both the scientific and the popular press.
Although there is clearly a scientific emphasis in the BTO’s work, there is still ample opportunity for an ordinary mortal to carry out a bit of ‘citizen science’ and work as one of the BTO’s 60,000 volunteers who collect data on birds and other wildlife in BTO surveys.
British Trust for Ornithology
The Nunnery
THETFORD
Norfolk
IP24 2PU
Tel: 01842 750050
