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This January’s Conference took place fifty years on, all bar a fortnight or so, from the inaugural meeting of the Society in February 1962, and therefore we could be forgiven for being rather self-indulgent, particularly in the mix of speakers!
Just a handful of members present at that first meeting were in the audience but 50% of the speakers were among that privileged few. And it was Barrie Watson, a stalwart of the Society since its inception and our current President, who welcomed the audience to Clair Hall. Adrian Thomas proved a lively and extrovert MC for the day.
Mike Russell of the Sussex Wildlife Trust kicked off proceedings with reminiscences of how his interest in birds first started, with an album of bird cards collected from packets of PG Tips in the late early 1960’s - now people download apps for their smartphones (whatever they may be)!
Richard Cowser then gave an update on the progress that has been made with the BTO and Sussex Atlas work, with examples of the maps being produced to show the distribution and abundance of our county’s birds.
Richard Porter was another founder member, though he has spent much of his life in the Middle East, where he founded BirdLife International’s regional office. He spoke of the amazing variety of bird species there, the threats they face, and his hopes for the future. Richard dedicated his talk to the late Mike Helps, a good friend of Sussex ornithology.
The buffet lunch was again expertly masterminded by Audrey Wende with a team of helpers and a group of local guides.
Barrie Watson presented the President’s Award to Dr Helen Crabtree for the enthusiasm and expertise she has brought to the BTO/Sussex Atlas fieldwork. Long-service Stonechat Awards were presented by Nick Paul, Chairman of Council to John Cooper and Alan Perry.
Barry Yates then took the stage to speak on changes at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, from its very early beginnings with just a single small hide near the beach, to today’s exciting developments which include the prospect of breeding Bitterns.
Finally another founder member, a former President and now one of our Vice Presidents, talked about his lifetime of birding. He started with a page from one of his early notebooks, which detailed his meticulous observations of garden birds seen from the bedroom window and finished with shots of Emperor Penguins on their breeding grounds in Antarctica.
Barrie Watson closed proceedings by thanking all those involved with the organisation and running of the Conference, and particularly Sue Walsh who is now stepping down as Conference Organiser.
The variety of stalls provided interest during the breaks, and the raffle raised £550 for conservation funds.
A full report on the Conference and the Awards will appear in the Spring Newsletter
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