British Trust for Ornithology

The British Trust for Ornithology T"has existed since 1933 as an independent, scientific research trust, investigating the populations, movements and ecology of wild birds in the British Isles."

"In 1931 Max Nicholson wrote about the potential of co-operative birdwatching to inform the conservation debate in his book The Art of Bird-Watching (E.M.Nicholson, Witherby). He added: “In the United States, Hungary, Holland and elsewhere a clearing-house for research is provided by the state: in this country such a solution would be uncongenial, and we must look for some alternative centre of national scope not imposed from above but built up from below. An experiment on these lines has been undertaken at Oxford since the founding of the Oxford Bird Census in 1927 […]. The scheme now has a full-time director, Mr W.B.Alexander […]. It is intended to put this undertaking on a permanent footing and to build it up as a clearing-house for bird-watching results in this country.”

"Bernard Tucker (1901-1950) BTO's first SecretaryA meeting of prominent ornithologists held at the British Museum (Natural History) in February 1932 inaugurated a new national organisation to support the Oxford scheme. In May 1933 the name ‘British Trust for Ornithology’ was chosen and an appeal was launched in The Times on July 1st of that year with Max Nicholson as treasurer and Bernard Tucker as secretary."

Management
Accessed April 2009:


 * Andy Clements - Director (replaced Jeremy Greenwood in 2007)
 * Graham Appleton - Director of Communications
 * Stephen Baillie - Director of Science - Modelling and Demography
 * Rob Fuller - Director of Science - Ecological Change
 * Mark Rehfisch - Director of Development

Council
Accessed April 2009:


 * Patron - HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
 * President - Baroness Young of Old Scone 2006-2009
 * Chairman of Council - Dr Stephen Hunter 2005-2008
 * Honorary Treasurer - N G Campbell 2006-2011
 * Honorary Secretary - E M Tigwell 2006-2009
 * Chairman of Regional Network Committee - J V Lloyd 2005-2008
 * Chairman of Ringing Committee - D G Coker 2007-2010

Other Council Members
 * A Brenchley 2005-2008
 * R Hamilton 2008-2011
 * I R Hartley 2008-2011
 * R J Harris 2007-2010
 * P Monaghan 2007-2010
 * I Newton 2008-2011
 * J O’Halloran 2005-2008
 * T J Osmond 2006-2009
 * D T Parkin 2008-2011
 * J M Reid 2007-2010

Vice Presidents
 * Sir Frederick Holliday 2002-2009
 * P Jones 2006-2013
 * H P Sitters 2007-2014

Past Chairmen and Presidents
Accessed April 2009:

Former Chairman
 * 1935-39 The Right Hon. Earl of Mansfield
 * 1940-41 The Right Hon. Malcolm MacDonald MP
 * 1942-47 Dr A Landsborough Thomson CB OBE DSc
 * 1948 Dr E M Nicholson CB CVO
 * 1949 A W Boyd MC
 * 1950 Sir Norman Kinnear
 * 1951-56 Major-General H P W Houston
 * 1957 R C Homes
 * 1988-91 G H Green
 * 1992-96 I C Castle
 * 1996-2000 Dr H P Sitters
 * 2001-2004 A J Martin BTO Annual

Former Presidents
 * 1958-60, 65-68 R C Homes
 * 1961-64 C A Norris
 * 1969-72 I J Ferguson-Lees
 * 1973-76 R A O Hickling
 * 1977-80 J M McMeeking MBE
 * 1981-84 S M Taylor
 * 1985-89 J A Hancock OBE
 * 1990-93 R P Howard
 * 1994-96 Sir William Wilkinson
 * 1997-2001 Sir Frederick Holliday
 * 2002-2005 Lord Blakenham

Contact

 * Web: http://www.bto.org

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Alan Martin - former chair