News

UK currently holds approximately a quarter of the global Curlew population, with estimates for England of about 30,000 pairs. National monitoring data show that this population has been in long-term decline since the 1970s and has almost halved in the UK over the last 20 years. In lowland southern England, the population has declined to about 500 pairs, with many colonies on the verge of local extinction. Read more ...

In March 2020 the BTO launched their Chaffinch Appeal to raise funds to help them research why the UK population of Chaffinch is undergoing a significant decline. Read more ...

The BOS conducted a survey of Yellowhammers in the first 2 weeks of July 2018 to determine their population abundance, distribution and breeding status. All members and the general public were invited to participate. Read more ...

Habitat Improvements at Bicester Wetland Reserve

In January 2019 the BOS received a grant from Thames Water and this enabled us to hire an 8 tonne excavator and driver for 3 full days of work on the reserve. Read more ...

This report by the BOS reviews the population trends of Farmland and Woodland species in south central England compared to the whole of England for the 40 year period 1977 to 2016.  Read more ...

Construction work on HS2 Phase One commenced in 2018 and completion is scheduled for 2026. HS2 crosses the BOS area from Brackley to Southam via Chipping Warden. Read more ...

Inspired by the national State of Nature initiative led by the RSPB, Oxfordshire's State of Nature report has been two years in development and includes a marvelous compendium of facts, figures and case studies, contributed by numerous individuals and organisations across Oxfordshire, including the BOS. Read more ...

We need your help to find Swifts and their traditional nest sites in Anglican churches.  50 years ago most of our local parish churches had nesting Swifts.  Chris Mason brings us up-to-date  . . . Read more ...

Many thanks to all who contributed to Oxfordshire County Council's consultation before the deadline on this important issue - Bicester Wetland Reserve has been saved from road development! Read more ...

The product of annual surveys since 1952, this new book documents remarkable changes in the distribution of many birds through the use of clear colour maps, species accounts and a variety of illustrations. Read more ...

Members of the BOS get involved in various activities outside of our chosen study area. One of our members, Andy Turner, frequently travels to the refuse tips in Essex to join up with the North Thames Gull Group (NTGG). Read more ...