Banbury Ornithological Society - Birds of the Banbury Area 1972-1981

Birds of the Banbury Area by T.G. Easterbrook is the third decennial (10 year) report by the BOS, covering the years 1972-1981. The report includes the full list of bird species seen in the BOS survey area up to 1981, along with a detailed listing of sightings within the report period. During this period records started to be recorded using 1km OS grid references via a record card system. This period also saw the introduction of the use of a micro-computer (PC) for information storage, something that was significantly ahead of its time and almost unheard of in the birding community.

The report can be viewed and downloaded by selecting this link: Birds of the Banbury Area 1972-1981.

The contents of the report include:

- Systematic List

- Fieldwork: Annual Breeding Season Survey; Ringing; Random Square Survey; Arrival and Departure Dates

- Maps of the BOS area including topography and woodland coverage

- List of the breeding and non-breeding birds

- Historical checklist of species, showing when each species has been recorded

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 ...

First we will hold the Banbury Ornithological Society's Annual General Meeting, quickly followed by the Annual Quiz - a great time to put formalities aside and enjoy a fun, convivial evening.

A survey where observers are each given a randomly selected 1km square and record all the species encountered and numbers of each for a minimum period of 2 hours between 9am and noon. Read more ...

Birds of the Banbury Area 1972-1981

The BOS Curlew Recovery Project

8 December 2025 - Indoor Meeting at 7.30pm

Winter Random Square Survey: 22 or 23 November 2025