Several Northants Ringing Group members (and indeed Northants Bird Club members too) attended the British Trust for Ornithology 2026 Conference held at the Mercure Hotel in central Northampton.
Delegates were welcomed with coffee and pastries in the foyer in time for a 10am start to the day’s programme which proved both varied and interesting – something for everyone – from a report on the study of the disease that is causing the decline in Blackbirds to tracking and monitoring Seabirds in Scotland.
In the morning delegates heard from speakers on their work on Nightjars and wintering Gulls; and Katie Phillips from the BTO outlined the upcoming Bird Atlas 2027-31 work, for which we are all invited to sign up to undertake survey work when the time comes.
A delicious vegan hot buffet was served at lunch time during which there was plenty of time to meet friends old and new and share experiences and to visit the stands in the hall – from folk selling their beautiful art work to projects outlining their work and findings.
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Thanks to the amazing skills of John and Nick NRG had a new display-board on our stand – showcasing John Boland and the Storton team’s Water Rail Colour-ringing Project and the nest boxes (some with cameras in or near them) for birds of prey that Chris Payne makes.
After lunch the organisers trialled the ‘speed dating’ concept whereby 6 speakers each took to the stage for just 10 minutes on such subjects as Youth Engagement in the BTO, Heronries in Carmarthenshire, Birds in Green Spaces and the BTO’s various Regional Networks and Grant and Training schemes.
And then, after a short tea-break the afternoon closed with talks about the monitoring of bird populations across the Chilterns and the methods being trialled to boost threatened Curlew populations in the UK.
It was a great day for all concerned. The choice of a venue so close to home was much appreciated by NRG, but delegates from farther afield too found Northampton and its motorway and rail network nice and central to travel to.
