SHOREHAM DISTRICT ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
The friendly local birdwatching society's web site
THE SOCIETY'S AIM
The aim of the society is to promote birds and their wellbeing within a friendly atmosphere for all our members.
WHO WE ARE
The society is a local ornithological group based in Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex, ENGLAND.
The society has a membership of about 150 and is the oldest established ornithological society in Sussex (we started in 1953).
INDOOR MEETINGS
Indoor meetings are held from October to April, with social events and slide shows on ornithological and natural history themes.
OUTINGS
Regular outings are arranged "in the field" led by expert bird watchers to the best local bird watching sites.
LOCAL SURVEYS
The society organize our own local surveys and participate in those organised on a county or national basis.
RECORDING
The society collects records of all birds occurring within the recording area of the Society and would be pleased to receive all records, whether you are a member or not. Our recording area includes from Ferring Rife in the west to the Brighton Marina in the East and from the coast runs as far inland as Henfield Levels in the north.
In detail the western boundary of the Shoreham District Ornithological Society recording area is Ordnance Survey Easting 08 thus including Ferring Rife, part of Harrow Hill and Chantry Hill. The eastern boundary is Easting 35 thus including the entire Sheepcote Valley, part of East Brighton golf course and Bevendean Down. The northern boundary is Northing 15.
Newsletters are produced to keep members in touch with forthcoming events, conservation news and items of interest.
CONSERVATION
The society actively supports local conservation issues and use the information held by the society to defend development threats that may affect important local habitats.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Every indoor meeting has a local birding round up when members have a chance to report on what has been seen in the local area during the month.
We have a very extensive outdoor programme and every month a field trip to an interesting area in East or West Sussex. Occasionally trips further afield are organised.
INTERNET USER GROUP
(Free to members)
Since 2002 the Society has through the Internet provided an information link whereby members who have an E-mail address can receive and send messages relating to the latest bird sightings.
THE ANNUAL REPORT
(Free to members)
Since the Society's inauguration we have published an annual report with a full systematic list of the birds seen within our area. These records are assessed by the recorder and a records committee to ensure that each report portrays the real status of the birds within the area.
The annual report contains :
Arrival and departure date of summer migrants,
A sea watch report,
A ringing report,
Details of birds seen in our recording area.
A report of both the outdoor and indoor meetings from the previous year.
THE ANNUAL REPORT BACK COPIES
Back copies of reports are available upon application
Cost of reports are £3.50 plus + P&P (£3.00 UK) (£5.00 Europe) (£8.00 Outside Europe)
Cheques are to be in sterling, drawn on a UK bank and made payable to :
SDOS
To apply just write identifying the year required to:
Mrs. Shena Maskell,
SDOS Reports Administrator
41 St. Lawrence
Avenue,
Worthing,
West Sussex,
BN14 7JJ
HOW CAN I JOIN ?
Annual membership is £12.00 single or £18.00 for a couple / family
Cheques are to be in sterling, drawn on a UK bank and made payable to : SDOS
To apply just write to the:
Mrs. Shena
Maskell,
SDOS Membership Administrator
41 St. Lawrence Avenue,
Worthing,
West Sussex,
BN14 7JJ
Please include the following information :
Status Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms
Surname, Initials, Address and Postcode
Why you wish to join the Shoreham and District Ornithological Society.
How you found out about the society.
50th ANNIVERSARY BOOK OFFER
In 1953 at Shoreham-by Sea in West Sussex a small group of people led by a local doctor, decided to start a society to watch and record birds. Now fifty years later the Shoreham District Ornithological Society has published an anthology of its member’s reminiscences and work.
The book covers the early days when the equipment to watch birds was extraordinarily primitive. There are also humorous stories of outings, special sightings and rarities. With precise records, including up-to-date information from the three ringing sites in the area. Several of those who have written for the book are well-known in the birding world today as leaders of bird tours, writers and photographers, recognized nationally in the field of ornithology. In all there are over fifty contributors, original members have been traced and tell of the influence ornithology has had on their lives as a result of the encouragement and leadership of members in the 1950s and 1960s. The book has 123 illustrations which include drawings and records from early notebooks, photographs in colour and black and white, as well as some specially commissioned paintings. The 200 pages are packed with many fascinating anecdotes which tell the story of the Society using archive material.
This book will be enjoyed by everyone with an interest in birds. It is a real pleasure to read, and is not confined to Shoreham, but that was where it all started fifty years ago.
Please note this superbly illustrated released book is a very limited edition, only 150 copies are left (out of 500 in total). Order soon to avoid disappointment.
The Book is obtainable for £10.00 + P&P (£5.00 UK) (£7.50 Europe) (£12.00 Outside Europe)
Cheques are to be in sterling, drawn on a UK bank and made
payable to : SDOS
To apply just write to:
Mrs. Shena Maskell
SDOS Publications,
41 St. Lawrence
Avenue,
Worthing,
West Sussex,
BN14 7JJ
LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES
Hampshire Ornithological Society
With many thanks to DORIAN MASON for the use of his photographs.
© 2008 Shoreham and District Ornithological Society - All Rights Reserved - Last Updated Sept 2008