The BOC (formerly Reading Ornithological Club) was founded in 1947 to promote education and study of wild birds, their habitats and conservation in the Reading area and county of Berkshire. Membership is open to anyone interested in birds and bird-watching, beginner or expert, local patch enthusiast or international twitcher. The club organises a full programme of events with indoor evening meetings and outdoor excursions. It publishes a quarterly newsletter and the annual Berkshire Bird Report.
Indoor meetings are held during the winter season at the University of Reading on Wednesday evenings. These are usually illustrated lectures by visiting speakers drawn from the UK's best-known ornithologists. The club also holds an annual photographic competition and occasional social evenings.
Field excursions, held throughout the year, range from short walks to weekend visits to many top birdwatching sites locally and further a field. All members are welcome - beginners or experts. Suggestions of places to visit and volunteers to arrange or lead walks are always welcome. Joining an BOC field excursion can be an excellent way to discover new sites, meet other birders and improve your bird-watching skills.
Conservation of important local habitats and species is important to us; the Reading area contains a growing number of excellent reserves and projects that enhance the diversity of the region. Many BOC members are involved in practical conservation work with groups such as FOLL, the TABCG and Moor Green Lakes.
The club runs the Birds of Berkshire Conservation Fund, which supports local bird conservation projects. The club is affiliated to the BTO and members are encouraged to participate in survey work for the BTO and other organisations to assist conservation nationally.
The annual Berkshire Bird Reports are published by the club and provided free to members. Members are encouraged to keep records of local observations and submit them, electronically or in writing, to the County Recorder for collation and analysis.
The Birds of Berkshire, published in 1996, the authoritative book on local avifauna, beautifully illustrated by Robert Gillmor, and the culmination of many years of work by club members, is available to members at the highly-discounted price of £5 while copies last. Please contact the Secretary to obtain a copy.