Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
Clyde Branch
Annual General Meeting 4th April 2016
Held at Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow
Chaired by Bernie Zonfrillo with 26 other members present
1. Apologies
None
2. Minutes of previous AGM
The minutes of the previous AGM had been available on the SOC web site for some time. There were no comments made regarding these.
3. Office Bearers’ Reports
3.1 Chairperson’s Report
In the absence of a Chairperson, Bernie Zonfrillo presented a Chairperson’s report. The report is attached as Appendix 1.
3.2 Treasurer’s Report
The Branch Treasurer, David Clugston, presented the accounts to the meeting. The accounts are attached as Appendix 2.
There was an increase in the branch funds of £1917.95 but this was mainly due to some of the funds for the Glasgow House Sparrow Project being not yet spent. The Treasurer invited comments from the floor there being none the report was accepted.
The Treasurer proposed the following changes to the authorised signatories for the two branch accounts, namely
- Signatories to the branch Nationwide account will be David Clugston (Hon.Treas.); Eliz.Parsons; Val Wilson; Ian Fulton (under proper name of John Fulton). This was approved by the meeting with no dissenters.
- Signatories to the branch RBS account will be David Clugston (Hon.Treas.); Eliz.Parsons; Iain P.Gibson. This was also approved by the meeting with no dissenters.
3.3 Secretary’s Report
The Branch Secretary, Ian Fulton, presented a very brief Secretary’s report.
There had been no correspondence worth sharing. Current branch membership remains at approximately 300. Of these, there are only 3 junior and 7 student members. It is of some concern that we have so few younger members in the student/junior category.
Thanks to all who have helped run the branch during the past season. These include our tea/coffee makers Liz Parsons and Hayley Douglas sometimes assisted by Sandra Hutchinson. And to the other Committee members who keep things going during the session.
Thanks also to Val Wilson and Iain Gibson for keeping the Grapevine running throughout the year, a service which is greatly appreciated by the branch members.
Finally, thanks to Bernie Zonfrillo for again enabling us to use the Graham Kerr building facilities for our meetings. This is a considerable cost saving compared with what we might have to pay at standard rates.
3.4 Local Atlas Working Group Report
Alan Wood was not present but has supplied the following statement.
“Progress with the atlas has been slow. The validation of records has been mostly completed. Attention is now turning to what format should be chosen for a publication and how the data might be presented and interpreted.”
3.5 Local Recorder’s Report
Iain Gibson gave the following report.
Difficulties a few years ago with the completion of the field work for the Local Atlas had resulted in delays to the Clyde Area Bird Reports. A major catch-up exercise is currently underway. The reports for 2007 and 2008 have been published and are available from the usual sources. The report for 2009 has been completed and is nearly ready to go to the printers. IG and Alan Wood are working on the 2010 and 2011 reports.
A stock of 100 copies of the 1989 report had been discovered and are available free to anyone who wishes a copy from IG.
Sighting reports via the Clyde Grapevine are coming in OK but records of common species, particularly common breeding species, are a bit short. Please continue to submit sighting reports via Birdtrack or as per instructions in the latest bird report.
Hopefully members are aware of the ongoing efforts to highlight the continued persecution of our raptor species, particularly the Hen Harrier. There will be another Hen Harrier day this year on Sunday 7th August 2016. Members might like to consider signing Mark Avery’s petition to ban driven grouse shooting, this can be found on the UK Government Petition web site. Another petition against Mountain Hare culling might also be something which members might wish to support. Useful information can be found on the internet blog published by RaptorPersecutionScotland which can be found by any internet search engine.
4. Election of Office Bearers and Committee members
A notice had been issued through the Grapevine email inviting nominations and volunteers for the office bearer positions and as ordinary committee members. There had been no response to this. All the current office bearers had offered themselves for re-election.
The following were proposed as Office Bearers by Liz Parsons and seconded by Hayley Douglas
Vice Chairperson – Bernie Zonfrillo
Treasurer – David Clugston
Secretary – Ian Fulton
Branch Representative on SOC Council – Iain Gibson
All these were unanimously accepted by the meeting.
The following were proposed as Committee Members by Bernie Zonfrillo seconded by Ian Fulton
Liz Parsons, Alan Wood, Toby Wilson, Sandra Hutchinson, Fiona Morton, David Palmar and Iain Gibson
All these were unanimously accepted by the meeting.
The position of Chairperson still remains vacant – volunteers and nominations would be most welcome at any time.
5. Clyde Area WeBS Counters
Ian Fulton read the following appeal prepared by John Clark, Clyde Area WeBS Co-ordinator
“For over 45 years we have been carrying out monthly WeBS counts on the Clyde Estuary and other water bodies in the Clyde Area. This covers Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire. This is one of the longest running nationwide citizen science projects. The SOC Clyde Branch organise the WeBS counts within our area on behalf of the BTO. The BTO use the information to monitor the population trends of the resident and migrant birds. We use the information as part of the data for the Clyde Bird Report.
This work is dependent upon a team of volunteers who are prepared to go out once a month & record the birds on their site. Because of bird movements the estuary count is coordinated to take place over high tide on the WeBS Core Count Date which is a Sunday. The timing of the other counts is not as critical we just ask it is done as close to the care date as possible.
We are currently appealing for new counters to enable this work to continue.
We have one vacancy for the Estuary count which is the sector from Kempock Point, Gourock to Wemyss Bay along with a rather large number of vacant freshwater sites throughout the area.
We would also welcome volunteers to act as reserve counters for the estuary sectors to cover when people are off ill or on holiday. We can also arrange for less experienced volunteers to accompany another counter to gain the confidence to take on their own sites.
If you are interested please contact me.
Email:
Telephone: 01436821178”
6. Any other business
There was nothing further discussed.
Bernie Zonfrillo thanked all for attending and closed the meeting.
Minutes prepared by Ian Fulton, Secretary
Appendix 1
Chairperson’s Report
Presented by Bernie Zonfrillo – Acting Chair Clyde Branch SOC
·
SOC
Clyde Branch AGM Report
September
Session 2015-16 Began in September 2015 with a talk by artist Chris Rose on his paintings of
birds for Field Guides, Handbook of World Birds, Commissions and his recent Guide to
Robins and Chats. It was a wonderful example of painting birds in their habitat to the highest
standards. Chris thankfully brought some of his prints to the meeting and many people went
home with one or more. SOC HQ at Aberlady usually has them in stock for anyone who
missed this talk.
October
Mark Newell gave a talk on the Isle of May’s seabirds, summarising 40 years of monitoring
work and the changes over the span. Puffin chick production in 2014-15 was slightly higher
than the long-term average. Other seabirds such as Herring Gull and Terns also fared well,
although populations are now lower than when results were first collected in 1986.
The 2014-15 results were encouraging. On the Isle of May, the Centre for Ecology and
Hydrology (CEH) has been researching seabirds since 1972, and found that 2015 was above
average for all study species, with Kittiwake and Shag having a particularly productive
breeding season. This was the second consecutive year of high breeding success for Kittiwake
after a number of poor years. Long may it continue.
November
Glen Chilton gave an intriguing talk titled “Return of the Flowerpecker Zombies”. Having
spent time in Glasgow this Canadian was looking out for the rarest of the rare worldwide, and
wondering which species were genuinely extinct and which were soon to be re-discovered.
One of his species and a title given to one of his books was the Curse of the Labrador Duck.
This quest to find out all he could about the extinct sea-duck caused him to extract DNA
samples from all known eggs. Basically there are none - since every egg proved to be a fake
or different species. Also some of the stuffed examples were also fakes – sewn together from
other species in no danger of extinction. Glen offered a $10,000 dollar reward to anyone who
could turn up a genuine Labrador Duck egg! Get searching. An interesting and very
entertaining talk.
December
Liz Parsons then gave our “local” midwinter talk combining Birdwatchers in Industry. Liz,
aided and abetted by Alan Wood talked over the surprising co-existence of birds, some rare, in
an industrial landscape. Liz and Alan highlighted the fact that while much industrial
development can be harmful to birds, a few such as the Little Ringed Plover wouldn’t breed
here without these industrial deserts! 6 pairs nesting in Renfrewshire at a single derelict site
was amazing. Even in seemingly poor areas an eye should be kept on even temporary
habitats.
January
Adam Samson gave an account of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park and
highlighted the Black Grouse -they are threatened by loss of habitat, climate change, and
injury through flying in to deer fences as well as being prey for a range of predators.
Restoration of their moorland and woodland habitat is a priority. New and replanted
woodlands are being designed to include open ground and native trees and shrubs to provide
more feeding opportunities for Black Grouse. Fences used to control deer are being made
more visible to prevent the birds from flying into them. Tracking with transmitters would be
ideal for these scarce grouse but are deemed too expensive.
· February
This meeting was cancelled due to extreme weather warnings being issued by police. The
Branch draws its members from a wide area – loch Lomondside to South Lanarkshire and
Renfrewshire. While speaker John Calladine was willing to travel, the worsening gales and
blown down trees were causing traffic chaos around the City, so the meeting was reluctantly
called off.
We hope John can fill that slot on the Uist Waders on a future date.
March
Innes Sim was the speaker and Ring Ousel was his chosen subject. In the handful of Glens he
monitors the results were mixed. Some did well others were rapidly dwindling regarding
breeding success. He demonstrated that proper habitat management was required and that the
over-grazing activities of sheep were largely responsible for the drop in some areas. Others
showed increases after fluctuations in numbers over a long period. Despite these local
increases the overall picture was not great and better conservation measures are clearly
required.
Overall the programme of talks was very good and well attended.
Bernie Zonfrillo
SOC Clyde Branch AGM Report
September
Session 2015-16 began in September 2015 with a talk by artist Chris Rose on his paintings of birds for Field Guides, Handbook of World Birds, Commissions and his recent Guide to Robins and Chats. It was a wonderful example of painting birds in their habitat to the highest standards. Chris thankfully brought some of his prints to the meeting and many people went home with one or more. SOC HQ at Aberlady usually has them in stock for anyone who missed this talk.
October
Mark Newell gave a talk on the Isle of May’s seabirds, summarising 40 years of monitoring work and the changes over the span. Puffin chick production in 2014-15 was slightly higher than the long-term average. Other seabirds such as Herring Gull and Terns also fared well, although populations are now lower than when results were first collected in 1986.
The 2014-15 results were encouraging. On the Isle of May, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) has been researching seabirds since 1972, and found that 2015 was above average for all study species, with Kittiwake and Shag having a particularly productive breeding season. This was the second consecutive year of high breeding success for Kittiwake after a number of poor years. Long may it continue.
November
Glen Chilton gave an intriguing talk titled “Return of the Flowerpecker Zombies”. Having spent time in Glasgow this Canadian was looking out for the rarest of the rare worldwide, and wondering which species were genuinely extinct and which were soon to be re-discovered. One of his species and a title given to one of his books was the Curse of the Labrador Duck. This quest to find out all he could about the extinct sea-duck caused him to extract DNA samples from all known eggs. Basically there are none - since every egg proved to be a fake or different species. Also some of the stuffed examples were also fakes – sewn together from other species in no danger of extinction. Glen offered a $10,000 dollar reward to anyone who could turn up a genuine Labrador Duck egg! Get searching. An interesting and very entertaining talk.