Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Halifax birding - the way forward?
Following a well attended Calderdale Bird Conservation Group meeting last night the issue of the existence of both the CBCG and the Halifax Birdwatchers Club alongside each other was raised, it was suggested that with the advent of the proposed Calderdale birding website this would be a good time to consider merging the two groups together. As several birders who submit records to the Club were not present we need to seek their views on this idea, with this in mind Nick Dawtrey has offered to contact as many contributors to the report as possible. If anyone prefers to pass their views on by e mail please contact either myself on midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk or Nick D on halifaxbirders@connectfree.co.uk or alternatively leave a post.
7 comments:
Hi Nick
Not in Halifax now but:-)) I always assumed the conservation group was part of the Halifax Birdwatchers anyway. The only comment I would make is have the bird club as the "umberella" over both groups unless you wish to go down the charity road with the conservation group ? In which case it would be best to remain seperate organisations.
The CBCG was set up as a division of the HBWC when many of us wanted to be involved in conservation work but needed a formal structure before being able to access grant funding etc. The HBWC didn't want any formal structure at that time so the only way to achieve our aims was to set up a seperate entity with the required constitution, structure, accounts etc.
Hi Nick
Thanks for the explanation about how it all works. I am happy to donate to the Conservation group again as Pennine Books if you wish to contact me when you are ready.
As a newcomer to the blog I must say I was a little confused about the two different groups. I always assumed Halifax Birdwatchers would be involved in conservation anyway.
The Halifax Birdwatchers Club functions purely as a vehicle for the collection and publication of bird records in the form of the report and has done so very effectively since 1990.Over time some members wanted to do conservation based work, access grant funding to facilitate this etc. which is why the CBCG was set up (see my earlier comment). Of course the HBWC have made their info available for the CBCG to use in BAP work, planning issues etc. there is no conflict. With the possibility of a website for local birding it just seemed logical that the two should be "as one". There wouldn't be any real change as I see it, the "Club" continues to produce the report and the CBCG can continue with the conservation work. I don't really see what all the fuss is about. Having said that Nick D tells me he has asked 6contributors to the report for their opinions and 5 of them are against a merger, perhaps they can explain why?
I have now spoken to a lot of people from both sides and think its all got a bit blown out of proportion(its only a web site).I think the website should be called calderdale birds on the frount page there should be a Halifax Birdwatchers logo and a Calderdale Bird Conservation Group logo.all the info on the site will be to do with Birdwatching in our area with links to various other blogs etc The Birdwatchers club will do the report etc and the conservation group will do what it does best.No need for 2 websites telling you the same stuff....there you go clear as mud
Andy, the voice of common sense. This was really all that was intended in the first place I feel, any possibility of a new name or whatever is open for discussion but why should we lose the HBWC name, it has been this since 1990 and does what it says on the tin!
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