BTO

[johnd83]

Good evening all,

Just wondered if anyone on here are members of the BTO and could anyone recommend.

[Jacksparrow]

I am a member of the BTO Garden Bird Watch(GBW) which does what the RSPB Winter Garden bird survey does but you supply results on a weekly basis. I have been doing this for about 5 years now and very rewarding. You are sent a quarterly magazine with the results from the previous quarter and other interesting articles. Here is the link http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw
There are several other sections of the BTO which appeal to serious birders but GBW is a good place to start.

[greenfinch]

I am a member aswell and do the surveys and bird track , I have just got my daughter to join it she has just got a new garden and an interest.

[Biker]

I did offer my time to the BTO (other than already doing all of above), but they tend to be specialised in many of their physical activities. For example, they asked me how good I was at identifying wetland birds, because I was ideally placed to help them locally. Honestly, I can write down 'duck', 'swan', 'goose' etc, but there is no way I could identify them all specifically. So, they recommended that I do volunteer work for the local wildlife trust and RSPB and come back to them when I've had a bit more experience, so this is what I am doing.

[johnd83]

I am already a member of the RSPB. This the BTO a similar thing?

[Jacksparrow]

I am already a member of the RSPB. This the BTO a similar thing?

While both organisations both have bird's welfare at heart they are coming at it from different directions. For instance the BTO owns no bird sanctuaries but the RSPB has dozens. Both look into the reasons why certain species are declining but the through the efforts of the BTO volunteers they can produce more scientific peer reviewed papers highlighting where the efforts to protect are best focussed . Neither organisation can be described as better than the other because of their different focus and approach to bird related problems. I like the BTO because it allows me to feel involved without leaving my home. I'm also a member or the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust because a)Slimbridge is close to where I live and b) to support the unique work they do bringing highly endangered water birds anywhere in the world back from the brink of extinction.
You pays your money and you takes your choice. It really depends how involved you want to be.

[Placido]

So today I receive a letter from the BTO (I'm not a member). The bold print reads: "Please help us today with an urgent gift of £100".
The accompanying flyer moderates this outrageous headline to a choice of £50/£100/£150/Choice.

I think the BTO should rethink.

[johnd83]

They need to understand that families are finding life hard enough as it is will living costs and day to day bills. A one off payment of £100 is something that some families do not have. I think it is ok to ask for help but there say £100 right off the bat is a bit much.

[nuthatch]

Who did they get to write that I think they mean donation not gift.

Gifts are not usually things people think of as being asked for - urgently and specifying the contents, which are nice to anticipate and discover as a surprise.

[Jacksparrow]

I'm a member and so far have not received that particular request. All charities from time to time send out letters requesting funds for special purposes and the BTO does when it wants to fund a particular investigation. The most high profile one they did was for the Cuckoo tracking and the most recent which I received a couple of days ago was to do a similar exercise for House Martins. My letter only asks for a £25 gift but the accompanying form makes it clear that the choice is yours.
Do what I do John, if you can afford to stick a few quid in the pot then do so. If the money available has already been targeted for other purposes then so be it. We all have priorities,I know what mine are and all the other demands on my money go to the back of that queue.