Local bird watching/nature groups
Local bird watching/nature groups
The 'Sheffield Bird Study Group' (SBSG) was formed in December 1972 as a forum for birdwatchers in and around the city with an active interest in ornithology. The group's recording area, covering twelve 10km squares with the city roughly in the middle, is hugely diverse, stretching north to the outskirts of Barnsley, south to Chesterfield, east to the lowlands beyond Rotherham and Bolsover, and west to the highest tops of the Peak District National Park.
They aim to promote an interest in birds in the community, provide something of interest to all levels of birder, co-ordinate fieldwork and recording in the area, and work with and complement the work of like-minded local and national organisations for the benefit of birds. SBSG is registered charity No 510857.
This is the are they cover:
Membership costs:
- A copy of our award-winning Annual Report: The information in the Report comes from members getting out in the field and submitting thousands of records. They are all valuable, as they help build up the big picture, as well as providing crucial data to support, for example, habitat protection campaigns. The report is free to all members (£8 incl. P&P to non-members).
- Bi-monthly issues of the SBSG e-Newsletter: this newsletter provides news and articles packed with information about birds in our area and the Group's activities.
- Website access to many thousands of records gathered during the past year, searchable PDFs of past Annual reports and Bulletins, access to all your own submitted records and much more.
- The chance to get involved in field-work and improve your skills: For example the recently published local Breeding Atlas came from the involvement of dozens of members surveying 2km squares. This provides comprehensive detail of the change in bird populations since the first local atlas produced by the pioneer SBSG members over 25 years ago. Make your records count, and you may find new areas for birding and new birds, such as the Dartford Warbler found in 2005!
- Free attendance at indoor meetings: Our ten indoor meetings offer a varied programme of speakers, from travelogues, through scientific studies from nationally-known ornithologists, to local birders on their local patch. There are also occasional features on identification, local birding, and a 'What's About' slot from the Recording Team.
- A programme of outdoor meetings:these comprise mainly free local fieldtrips to introduce members, and potential members, to local sites and their birds.
- You will meet fellow enthusiasts in a friendly environment: the SBSG will give you the opportunity to exchange knowledge on local birding and build your own skills and perhaps those of others.
Meetings start at 7:15pm prompt (unless stated otherwise) and finish by 9:30pm, and are free to members; non-members welcome, a £2 fee applies for temporary membership.
SBSG publications
Published material from SBSG falls into five categories
- Annual Report - the big one - 150+ page report of the year's birds plus articles
- The Bulletin - periodic newsletter for members, emailed version in full colour (now replaced by the e-Newsletter)
- Avifauna
- "Birds of the Sheffield Area, including the North East Peak District" published in 1985 based on data collected 1975-1980
- "Breeding Birds of the Sheffield Area including the North-east Peak District" published in January 2014 and based on data fron 2003 - 2008
- Ornithological Journal - 'The Magpie' was first published as a journal of local ornithology. Only five issues were produced and the function has been transferred to the Annual Report.
Derbyshire Ornithological Society
Sheffield Butterfly and Moth Mapping scheme
Sheffield Mammal Atlas (Sorby Mammal Group)
BIRDNET (US ornithology societies)
Fatbirder - worldwide
Butterfly Conservation: Yorkshire Branch
The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
Derbyshire Bat Conservation Group
Main sites
Blackburn Meadows
Carr Vale
Catcliffe Flash
Harthill Reservoir
Millhouses and Ecclesall
Orgreave
Padley Gorge walk
Redmires Reservoirs
Rother Valley Country Park
Thrybergh Country Park
Treeton Dyke
Ulley CP
The Upper Derwent Valley
Wharncliffe Area
Wye Valley
Barbrook Pools
Blacka Moor / Strawberry Lea
Bolehill Flash
Endcliffe Park and the Porter Valley
Langsett and Midhope
Linacre Reservoirs
Loxley Valley
Middleton Moor
Rivelin Dams / Wyming Brook
RSPB Sheffield local group
RSPB local groups are a great way to meet friendly, like-minded people in your area while discovering more about birds and wildlife.
They hold indoor meetings on the first Thursday of most months and run frequent midweek and weekend walks in and around Sheffield as well as coach trips to nature reserves further afield.
A key objective of our group is to raise money to support the RSPB’s work – on a local, national and even global scale.
Join them at one of their indoor meetings with their variety of talks or on one of our local walks or coach trips to places further afield.
Being a member will give you:
- Reduced price entry to their regular indoor meetings with their great range of topics and speakers
- Opportunities to take part in their local walks and to come on our coach trips to places further afield
- A local group newsletter twice a year plus regular email updates
- Opportunities to get involved in local activities including bird surveys and raising funds to support the RSPB’s vital conservation work
- A chance to meet like-minded people and learn more about birds and other wildlife
It costs £5 per person per year to become a member and you don’t have to be a national RSPB member in order to join them.
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