The OBC Autumn Meeting, incorporating the 35th AGM, will be held on Saturday 21st September 2019 in Cley Village Hall, Norfolk, UK.

The address for the village hall is The Fairstead, Cley next the Sea, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7RJ. If coming by car, please try and share lifts. There is lots of parking at the village hall. By public transport, the nearest railway station is Sheringham from where the Coast Hopper bus will take you to Cley.

Programme
10.30 Doors open
We’ll be serving tea, coffee and homemade cakes

11.00 Welcome and opening remarks
John Gregory, Chair of OBC

11.15 An update on the political situation in China and what this means for conservation
Terry Townshend
Terry is ‘our man in Beijing’. He’ll give a current perspective on China. Many of you will have seen his amazing footage from the Valley of the Cats earlier this year

11.45 Annual General Meeting
This is where you get to tell us how we are doing as a Council for your Club. Please come prepared to ask questions. The 35th Annual General Meeting Agenda.

12.15 Lunch (featuring Dick Filby’s famous curry!)
For many years Dick and his curry were a key feature of the OBC AGM. By popular demand we’ve managed to lure him back to prepare a culinary sensation—please ensure that you diet for a few days beforehand!

During lunch there will be an opportunity to buy books from Wildsounds.

1.15 The Mongolia Cuckoo project – further science and engagement in East Asia
Chris Hewson
OBC is helping to fund a radio-tagging project for cuckoos in Mongolia. Many of you will remember the trials and tribulations of Flappy McFlapperton – he managed to get all the way to Africa. Chris will give us all a brief update on this follow up project. Chris is a BTO project officer.

1.45 Birding in little known Inner Mongolia
Terry Townshend
Terry likes to go off-track! He will take us to some areas where birders do not often go but where wildlife is flourishing.

2.15. OBC Prize Draw
We raise funds each year through our raffle—thanks to everyone for their support! We’ll be asking our speakers to draw the winning tickets

2.25 Afternoon tea break

2.45 What’s hot in SE Asia – an overview of conservation efforts
Ding Li Yong
Ding Li will be elected to the OBC Council at this meeting. We are proud to welcome him as our first ever Council Member from the region. Ding Li works for BirdLife International and is based in Singapore.

3.15 Asian Songbird Crisis – an overview of the issue and the conservation efforts to resolve it
Professor Stu Marsden
Based at Manchester Metropolitan University, Stu is a long-time member of the OBC, recipient of several small grants and is now driving work on the songbird crisis. He will update us on the latest situation and concerted efforts to improve the situation.

3.45 Extreme Birding – the Seram Thrush Trek
Ashley Banwell
Ashley is an intrepid world birder but what you might not know is that he is also a leading authority on Hawfinches and Willow Tits and is doing inspirational work locally in Norfolk. Ashley recently hoodwinked the OBC Chairman into accompanying him on a never to be forgotten trip to see the little known Seram Thrush and recently described Seram Masked Owl…

4.15 Closing remarks by the Chair and day raffle draw

4.30 Meeting closes

See you there!
Minutes of the 34th AGM, held in September 2018. 35th AGM agenda