Conference 2025 brought another full house, with over 150 delegates enjoying a stimulating day of presentations, stalls and displays and the usual excellent Aberystwyth food (all vegetarian this time).

Our Chair, Anne Brenchley, set the scene, emphasising the importance of making sure that all records, however trivial they might seem, are logged in a recognised database, so that they can contribute to conserving birds in Wales. The first session showcased two former WOS Lifetime Achievement Award winners – Steph Tyler and Andy King – describing their birding journeys and how their long term studies had contributed to conservation, not just in Wales, but all over the UK and beyond.

The main sessions before and after lunch were given over to a series of short presentations on participation in a range of surveys and studies: Bob Edwards on BirdTrack, Susan Jones on Garden BirdWatch, Tara Okon from the Fledgemore group on nest recording, Roy Tapping on how the LERCs gather and use data, Naomi Davis on the BTO Regional Rep structure, Owain Gabb on ringing and training and Liliana Tarrant-Snedden on getting girls supportively into birding and the Cardiff Uni WeBS counts. Julian Hughes (RSPB) and Richard Facey rounded off the post-lunch session with a review of how RSPB and NRW use our data for planning and conservation. Finally, Rachel Taylor (BTO Cymru and editor of Milvus, presenting David Noble’s talk) looked in to the future and developments in recording techniques, not least the use of audio recording.

Our President, Iolo Williams, presented awards and prizes: much deserved Lifetime Achievement Awards to Heather Coats and Geoff Gibbs, several of the 2025 photography competition winners who could be present, and Fraser Masterson, who received the first Student Research Award for several years for his work on foraging strategies of Guillemots and Shags on Anglesey.

Another excellent day – and we’ll be back at Aberystwyth on Saturday 31st October for the 2026 conference – watch this space!