The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, RSPB, traces its roots back to 1889, when it was founded as a campaign against the use of feathers in the fashion industry. Since then, the organisation has gained a royal charter and continues to grow to this day. In 1993 it joined the global coalition: BirdLife International.

What does the RSPB do?

According to their website, the RSPB works across five areas: science, species, places, people and policy to “protect habitats, save species, and help end the climate emergency.” Their role continues to develop, as issues facing bird populations have become clearer. Their multi-faceted approach has enabled the organisation to operate across many aspects of public life – becoming synonymous with best practice in conservation.

Since acquiring its first site in 1930, the charity now has over 170 nature reserves, spread across the length and breadth of the UK. Although primarily bird sanctuaries, these sites also offer a place of refuge for other species, giving an overall uplift to the wider conservation of wildlife in the UK.

How ornithology helps their work

Advocating and supporting ornithology as an enjoyable pastime has also benefitted the RSPB’s long-term strategy. In 1965 they set up the Young Ornithologists' Club, specifically to promote bird watching to younger people. This has proven to be a very successful policy, with many of these youngsters taking their interest into adulthood with them. This has undoubtedly contributed to the 1.2 million plus members the society enjoys today.

Today

Due to their transient nature, estimating global bird populations is notoriously difficult. Current scientific estimates are that anywhere between 50 billion and 430 billion birds exist globally. Although superficially encouraging, this figure is tempered by the fact that the UK currently has seventy species on its endangered (red) list. The RSPB is rightly proud of its work in supporting endangered species – with many of them now enjoying a more optimistic future as a result of their work. (The white-tailed eagle, for example, has now moved onto the amber list.) However, as a bellwether indicator of wider environmental health, the RSPB’s position remains anything but complacent.

The future

With their eye on the future, the organisation is committed to stepping up its efforts to end the climate emergency. Only by doing this, they say, can the 10,000 plus bird species in the UK and around the world be protected in the long term.

Ducks flying. Photo by Pixabay.