WMBC Trustees and Executive Committee expect that all our members, field trip leaders, participants at our events and visitors shall follow this Code of Conduct in the interest of respectful, enjoyable, and considerate birding for all.

 

• Avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger.

• Stay away from active nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display sites and feeding sites.

  • Stay on reserve paths, or public rights of way.

  • Keep a respectful distance, and do not approach birds too closely, let them come to you.

  • No flash photography is allowed on Club reserves.

  • When taking photographs, comply with the WMBC Guide to Ethical Bird Photography.

  • Do not use playback of bird sound and other audio methods of attracting birds on our reserves.

  • No dogs are allowed on the Club’s Belvide, Harborne or Ladywalk reserves. Elsewhere, the club recommends that dogs are not taken on other reserves but where dogs are permitted, they should be kept on a lead at all times.

 

(Variations to some of the above points may apply in the case of official ringing or scientific survey activity authorised in writing by the Club.)

 

• Exercise caution before releasing sightings of rare, persecuted or locally scarce birds, particularly in the breeding season. Do not publicly report nest locations. Be mindful that such information may be useful to egg collectors or others who may disturb or wish to do harm to the birds. If in doubt, consult the County Bird Recorder. (Contact details are available online and in WMBC News).

 

• If a rare, persecuted or locally scarce bird is sighted at a reserve (Club or otherwise), advise reserve management Unless reserve management expressly agreed that you may advise others of the presence of the bird or its location, do not do so. Instead leave reserve management to publicise the bird’s presence, if they consider it appropriate to do so, once arrangements for protection of the bird, its habitat and access have been put in place..

 

• If in doubt about what is a rare, persecuted or locally scarce bird consult reserve management or, if not on a reserve, the County Bird Recorder.

 

• Do not climb banks, push through hedgerows or enter reserve areas off the paths when seeking to view or photograph birds on our reserves. Do not damage habitat.

 

• Never enter private property without the landowner’s permission and if permission is obtained, remain within what the landowner has agreed to.

 

• Park in designated reserve parking areas where available and be considerate to local residents and other visitors. Ensure that emergency vehicles can get through at all times. Do not park in front of farm gates. Private driveways and other entrances must not be blocked. Note, at Belvide, vehicular access is only permitted via Shutt Green Lane.

 

• Be aware of the Laws, rules, and regulations governing activities at birding locations and comply with the Countryside Code at all times.

 

• Carry your membership card on all our reserves and do not pass on access codes to non-members.

 

• Welcome fellow Club members and other participants at WMBC Reserves and events with respect, regardless of race, gender, gender identity, colour, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, level of birding knowledge or experience including as set out in the WMBC's Equality, Diversity and Harassment policy.

 

• Note that WMBC does not tolerate behaviour that disrespects or threatens the feelings, views, rights or safety of members and others, whether through verbal, physical, or other inappropriate behaviours, including any messaging or communications (electronic or otherwise) of any sort whatsoever.

 

Be considerate of and interact positively with other people you may encounter when on our Reserves or field trips with the Club. Be good ambassadors for birding and the Club.

 

Dealing with a Complaint

 

Anyone wishing to raise a breach of this Code of Conduct in good faith may do so. The Club will support anyone who brings a complaint and will not victimise or treat them less well because they have done so. All complaints will be treated seriously and investigated fairly, listening to all parties involved. (If the complaint is against a committee member, that member will not be involved with conducting the investigation). If the complaint is against a Club member, they will have the opportunity to express their point of view, accompanied by a friend. The person making the complaint will also have this opportunity.

 

Complaint Procedure

 

1. Unless the complaint is against the Honorary Secretary, in the first instance any complaint by a Club member of discrimination or harassment should be made in writing to the Hon. Secretary at secretary@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk. If the complaint is against the Hon. Secretary, the complaint should be sent to the Chair of Trustees at trustees-chair@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk. Where, in the view of the Hon. Secretary (or Chair of Trustees) a complaint is more appropriately dealt with under the Equality, Diversity and Harassment Policy, the procedure set out in that policy shall be followed.

 

1. If the Secretary (or Chair of Trustees) is satisfied that the complaint is validly made under the policy, he or she may either investigate the complaint; or delegate the investigation to one or more members of the Management Committee (MC).

 

1. The investigator shall prepare a report, which shall include a recommendation as to the appropriate sanction, for consideration by the MC.

2. The MC shall, after considering the report, decide whether to uphold the complaint and, if so, on the sanction to be imposed which may include either temporary or permanent loss of membership, loss of access to Club reserves, a warning as to future conduct, or words of advice. In an appropriate case, the MC may decide that no sanction be imposed.

 

1. Both the complainant and the person complained against have the right to appeal to the Independent Trustees whose decision shall be final.

 

Useful links

 

• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 1 (as amended).

• BirdTrack Rare Species Policy.

• Rare Breeding Birds Panel

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Social Media - The Risk of Disturbance to Rare-Breeding Birds

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In this age of high interest in Birds and Birding, the social aspect can be a pleasurable part of the scene, in respect to informing your fellow birders of your sightings and experiences.

 

One of the most ever more popular ways of doing this is through various Social Media outlets, including Twitter. Generally, this is favourably received and reciprocated. However, there are times when restraint should be shown, in regard to rare and locally rare Birds, especially during the breeding season.

 

With all good intentions meant, the news put out, could be visible & available to the ‘wrong hands’, be it an egg collector, bird persecutor, irresponsible photographer or…. an irresponsible twitcher! A careless tweet or other social media post could lead to undesirable attention or disturbance to breeding birds, a nesting area or site!

 

The West Midland Bird Club supports and encourages sensible use of Social Media by users, regarding the rare and locally rare birds that could be encountered in the Club’s region. Being a responsible Birder includes having a duty to protect the very birds we have pleasure in watching. Below is a list which includes ‘Schedule 1 Birds’ (Species fully protected by law and it’s a criminal offence to disturb during the breeding season) plus, other species of particular interest.

 

Be very cautious when considering Tweeting out, etc, sightings of these species during the breeding season, in fact, the best policy is, ‘íf in doubt -don’t put it out’.

 

What Steps can you take to Protect Breeding or Suspected of Breeding, Rare and locally Sensitive Species?

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• Consider that the breeding season runs from the beginning of March to late July.

• Singing birds on territory, in suitable habitats, displaying birds, birds seen in pairs etc should all be considered as potentially breeding

• Familiarize yourself with the lists of birds below.

• Try and curb the need to socially put out sightings of sensitive species, even if the site information is vague.

• If unsure, seek the advice of a more experienced birder friend.

• Don’t consider some sites as ‘save’ e.g.Managed Nature Reserves, to socially

• Report out rare birds, that might be breeding.

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Schedule 1 Species

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Schedule 1 species are protected by law and it is a criminal offence to disturb these birds during their breeding season.

 

Below is a list of Schedule 1 species, and a few additional species that due to their rarity should be treated the same as Schedule 1 birds.