Welcome to the SBSG website
Sheffield Bird Study Group was formed in December 1972 as a forum for birdwatchers in and around the city with an active interest in ornithology. The group's recording area, covering twelve 10km squares with the city roughly in the middle, is hugely diverse, stretching north to the outskirts of Barnsley, south to Chesterfield, east to the lowlands beyond Rotherham and Bolsover, and west to the highest tops of the Peak District National Park.
We aim to promote an interest in birds in the community, provide something of interest to all levels of birder, co-ordinate fieldwork and recording in the area, and work with and complement the work of like-minded local and national organisations for the benefit of birds. SBSG is registered charity No 510857. Click here for more.
Diary Dates
Indoor Meeting - Wednesday 11th December
Lucy Mitchell
'GPS-ing our Goatsuckers: tracking Nightjars in South Yorkshire'
Lucy Mitchell successfully obtained her PhD in September this year, following four years of work at the Uni of York. Prior to this, she has worked in both the public and charity sectors, in a variety of environmental roles, aiming to improve habitat management for vulnerable species and people's engagement with the natural environment.
To provide appropriate habitat for species to improve their conservation, we need to collect information on where they move and where they go, especially species that have specific requirements. New technology is helping us to collect this information on species that are hard to follow because of camouflage or their nocturnal nature.
Lucy will talk about her PhD at the University of York during which she tagged a small but important population of Nightjars on the Humberhead peatlands NNR, South Yorkshire, in conjunction with Natural England and a small army of dedicated volunteers, to provide information on their movements and important areas of use to help manage the habitat for this valuable and vulnerable bird. Four years of tracking has provided vital information on their flexibility and the distances they can fly to foraging sites and the results are encouraging in terms of their ability to adapt to change.
"Please join us for a festive drink of wine and a mince pie following the meeting".
The SBSG 2020 Calendar will also be available at the meeting - It features some of the best images taken by members from the area in 2019 - A3 in size, it is available at a bargain price of £5. There are only 50 copies so first come first served.
Sheffield University - The Diamond - Lecture Theatre LT2 and the meeting will commence at 7.15pm
News
Birds of the Sheffield Area 2017
The 2017 edition of our annual report has now been published and has been distributed to everyone who was a paying member in 2018. Under 25 members will have received a PDF version. Non-members can obtain a copy by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Price £6 plus £2 p&p.
2019 Ring Ouzel survey report
The results of the 2019 Eastern Moors and Burbage Ring Ouzel survey season can be found here, with thanks to Kim Leyland.
Meet Richard Hill our new SBSG Chairman
Richard has identified key objectives that he hopes we can achieve -
- streamline the running of the Group;
- increase our membership, particularly among young people through education and engagement;
- form closer links with local & regional groups;
- expand our recording effort through new technology.
Read Richard's full chair's statement here
Cost-free fundraising for SBSG when you shop online
For details of how to raise money for SBSG, whenever you shop onlne, please see here for details.
Colour-ringed Willow Tits
During May 7 juvenile Willow Tits were ringed at Totley. Observers are asked to report all sightings of these colour-ringed birds. Each bird has a unique combination with a yellow ring over another coloured ring that is either blue, yellow, red, orange, black, light green or white, as shown in the example below.
Membership
Good news for younger members
Free membership is now available for persons under the age of 25. The age limit was previously 22. And it’s available regardless of whether you’re in full time education or not. Existing members should by now have received revised membership certificates from Martin Hodgson, the Membership Secretary. If you haven’t but you think you ought to have, or if you are a paying member who now qualifies for free membership, please contact him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Help Sheffield University and SBSG support the Sheffield Peregrines
With your help we can provide more opportunities for people to learn more about these amazing birds as well as carry out important research. You can support the Sheffield Peregrines Project by donating through the Virgin Money Giving page.
Click on this link to learn more about the plans for the project and to donate:
