Croydon RSPB Members’ Group Environment Committee
The committee was formed in 1994 to look at various issues
relating to the environment in and around Croydon. Some of these are given
below.
The committee currently consists of five
members: John Birkett (Chair), Pat Webster, Anne Tansley, Terry Osborn
and Gordon McBeath.
Our main project is a survey of birds in Croydon. The garden bird survey began in 1995 and two years later the survey was extended to include open spaces in the borough. If anyone has any information about different sites or who is willing to help by visiting sites please contact a member of the committee. We are always looking for more people to participate. If you can help, reporting forms are available from here or in the group's newsletter. We would be particularly glad to talk with groups or individuals who have carried out their own studies of various woods, parks, etc.
As our survey progresses we hope to have much more detailed information about all the species which have occurred in Croydon. The complete picture of Croydon's avifauna could be useful if we are ever asked for help with future planning applications which may impinge on the environment.
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As well as the annual reports about the surveys, we have published a book "Two Centuries of Croydon's Birds". This publication, written and edited by John Birkett, covers all the species that have been recorded here in the past two centuries or more.
In addition to the survey reports, we have also produced a gazetteer that covers the sites visited by the group.
Another project undertaken by the committee was to put together a selection of slide presentations/talks that can be given to outside organisations. Thanks to a successful bid to the Big Lottery Fund, our talks are backed up by digitised images. For further details refer to page 20 of the Autumn 2011 newsletter, and for talk requests please contact Pat Webster (020) 8668 5073.
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Assistance with Conservation Projects
Although we do not get involved in practical conservation work, members of the committee have given advice on nest boxes to several groups and we hope to monitor the results. Once we have completed more survey work we would hope to be able to advise groups on any species of particular interest present, in or around their site. We may even be able to carry out some survey work to assess the species present at a site. Further information about the environment committee, or a copy of the survey form can be obtained at the monthly meetings or by writing to John Birkett (enclosing an s.a.e. please).
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