Club Clothing

We now have Club Clothing! Using the TeeMill platform, WMBC now have clothing with the WMBC logo for members to purchase. The clothes are printed to order and dispatched in plastic free packaging of behalf of the WMBC.

Each sale gives West Midlands Bird Club a small donation, which varies dependant on the item. For example, the Men and Women’s T-Shirts give a donation of £2.08 for each sale. Check out the website and purchase your T-shirts, Sweatshirts and Hoodies with our logo: www.westmidlandbirdclub.teemill.com

We have intentionally picked a mix of items and colours that we hope that are appealing to a wide range of members, whilst being practical for outdoor activities. There are possibilities for different products in future, keep an eye on the website for updates.

RINGING AND RARITIES POLICY

Part 3: Birds trapped for ringing

1. The welfare of trapped birds is paramount; therefore a trapped bird should be processed as quickly as possible and not held simply in order to allow birders to come to the site to see it.
2. Photographing birds in the hand may, at the absolute discretion of the ringer, be done for a maximum of 5 minutes after processing and only for the purpose of identification and education.
3. To ensure compliance with the preceding two paragraphs, if a rare bird is trapped the ringer will record the time the bird is removed from the net, the time it was processed and the time it was released.
4. Photos of birds in the hand should only be published on social media and in Club publications where the photograph depicts specific identification features to highlight traits for wider understanding and learning.
5. The Club reserves the right to take disciplinary action, including forfeiture of membership, against a member who does not observe these requirements or abuses ringers for adhering to them.

Part 4: Other rarities

1. Each WMBC reserve which has a reserve management team should have one or more designated members who will act as coordinator in the event of a rarity being identified as present on site.
2. If that person is notified of the presence of a rarity, they should inform either the Club Chairperson, Conservation officer or Secretary, that a rare or scarce bird has been found.
3. Access to the reserve is to be restricted to members only until the Reserve Management Team and the Club have agreed that non-members may be invited to enter the Reserve.
4. If the reserve management team thinks it appropriate for non-members to be admitted, they will carry out a risk assessment to ensure that the reserve can manage the expected influx of visitors including the provision of volunteer wardens to assist with
5. parking etc, and that there are no adverse welfare implications for the bird. They will then advise the Club Chairperson, Conservation Office or Secretary who will make the final decision.
6. Where the reserve is one where the Club only has a licence to bird watch, arrangements for coping with rarities are to be agreed locally having regard to the Club’s rarities policy so far as possible.

The Appointment of WMBC County Representatives

The Management Committee have decided that in order to improve

its County wide effectiveness to appoint county representatives

for, Warwickshire ,West Midlands and Staffordshire.*

Anyone interested in helping to develop a more effective regional presence within their specific county and who has a sound knowledge of the birds and specific birding sites within one of the named counties named are advised to contact the Club Secretary by emailing secretary@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk for further information.

It is envisaged that role may involve any of the following:

 - Working and collaborating with especially the WMBC Membership, Conservation and Education Officers and other members of the Management Committee.

 - Establishing volunteers’ groups to assist with work parties and events where the Club can display and promote the work of the Club.

*Please note that the post for Worcestershire is already filled by Brian Rickett.

A Club Photographic and Arts Group

Development of digital photography has had a substantial influence on how many of us watch birds when in the field. Presently the Club offers little advice, help or support to the growing number of members, except our WMBC Guide to Ethical Bird Photography on our website as a footnote to the Club’s rules. We must not forget that there are opportunities to members to submit their photographs to the editors of WMBC News and the Annual Bird Report.

For those who are fortunate enough to find a rare or scarce bird the chances of acceptance are always greater if photographic evidence is provided.

A Photographic and Arts Group could offer via its meetings, perhaps on zoom advice on how to take better photographs, equipment, photographic courses, and competitions as well as perhaps the chance to exhibit photos. Perhaps Club calendars and greetings cards could follow.

We do, however, have amongst our ranks talented artists working with various media who could benefit with similar advice support and opportunities that the Club could offer similar those that you see above.

Anyone interested in the formation of a WMBC Photographic and Arts Group are asked to contact me, the Chairperson of the Management Committee by email by using the email below.

Roger Broadbent

chair@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk

Green Light to Rebuild Bird Observatory Destroyed by Fire

WMBC Takes Fair Isle Bird Observatory Appeal to Funding Target

It has emerged that funds made available by the West Midland Bird Club have been important in securing a future for the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, the southernmost island of the Shetland archipelago.

The Observatory was totally destroyed by fire in 2019. A public appeal was established with a target of £650k to help restore the Observatory.

The appeal seemingly stalled some £15k short of its target. If the Scottish Government was to release a further £2.35m then it was conditional that the public fund reached its target. A donation by the WMBC took the appeal over the line and the rebuild will commence in October 2022 with the Bird Observatory set to fully reopen in 2023.

Roger Broadbent, Chairperson of the West Midland Bird Club Management Committee stated: 

“There is no doubt that the Club’s involvement was pivotal in allowing the rebuild to go forward”.

Douglas Barr Chair of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory said:

“We are acutely aware of the volatility that exists in the building sector and how that may impact upon us. All the funding we raise in our public appeal is even more crucial for going forward.”

For media queries please contact:

Roger Broadbent chair@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk

 secretary@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk

Douglas Barr douglas.barr@btinternet.com