Many of the record 165 delegates said this was the best annual conference they’d attended and there was a real buzz throughout the day, with excellent presentations, more exhibitors than ever before and great opportunities to chat, exchange information and make contacts.
The Chair of WOS, Anne Brenchley, welcomed everyone and was then the first speaker, reporting on the all-Wales Rook survey of 2022/23.
She was followed by Anya Wicikowski, describing the current status of Black Grouse – not a happy picture, after the ending of the recovery project.
Following a break for coffee and a first scramble for raffle tickets, the Birds of Prey session started with Sophie-lee Williams talking about the well-researched plan to re-introduce White-tailed Eagles to south-east Wales and the Severn estuary.
The second presentation was from Charlotte Griffiths, the newly appointed BTO Cymru Raptor Monitoring Officer, outlining the long-term Cudyll Cymru project, designed to harness large numbers of volunteers in a citizen science programme to increase our knowledge of Wales’ five most widespread raptor species.
Following an all-female morning of presenters, Iolo presented the WOS Lifetime Achievement Award to Andy King – a well deserved recognition of many years of service to Brecknockshire birds and birders and national research.
This was followed by presentations to the 2024 photo competition winners who’d made it to Aberystwyth: George Rossini, Sid Simmons, Karen Burns, Claire Stott, Daniel Gorton and William Lambourne.
We went off for the usual excellent Aberystwyth lunch and re-assembled for round-ups from BTO Cymru (Gethin Jenkins-Jones) and RSPB Cymru (Neil Lambert).
The first afternoon session was devoted to wader studies: Daniel Jenkins-Jones community project on wintering Green Sandpipers in the Ely valley and Paddy Jenks on community reporting of colour-ringed waders on the Gann estuary, including the extraordinary sighting of a Curlew Sandpiper which had been ringed at the southernmost point of India.
After the afternoon tea and coffee break, we moved in to the final session of the day, with two more community projects: Ben Stammers (NWWT) on saving Swifts and Samantha Kenyon on her nature-friendly farm and her work as a Curlew Project Officer in the Clywdians. Without denigrating the earlier speakers, it was clear from the audience applause that Sam’s presentation was the highlight of the day.
Iolo reflected on the day, with his usual call to arms to take action: sign petitions, get involved in citizen science activities and annoucing that WOS has been asked by the BTO to be a partner in the planned 2027-31 national breeding bird atlas. Anne bade us farewell, thanking all the speakers and sponsors and looking forward to the 2025 conference.
(All Conference photos by Bob Haycock)
THE 2025 CONFERENCE WILL AGAIN BE HELD AT ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY ON THE EARLIER DATE OF SATURDAY 25TH OCTOBER – PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMING SOON.