A reminder that on Saturday 16th September 2023 the OBC and the British Ornithologists’ Club (BOC) are holding a joint meeting in collaboration with the Natural History Museum (NHM), London.

A stellar lineup of speakers includes a keynote speech on Avian Taxonomy in the Era of Citizen Science by Dr Pamela Rasmussen—the lead taxonomist for Birds of the World at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University. Pam’s long list of achievements include co-authoring Birds of South Asia: the Ripley Guide and 11 descriptions of new Asian bird species. In India, she was in the team that rediscovered the endangered Forest Owlet.

Other speakers include: Sayam Chowdhury on saving the critically endangered Masked Finfoot, James Eaton on the quest for new and lost birds, and Mike Edgecombe on birds and wildlife of Asia’s wild wilderness—Mongolia.

The meeting, which is free and open to all, takes place in the Flett Theatre of the NHM. Entrance is via the Exhibition Road entrance (what3words: ///limit.take.admits) which is a five minute walk from the nearest Tube station, South Kensington.

Doors open at 10.00am for a 10.30am start. Tea and coffee will be available mid-morning and mid-afternoon. The meeting will end at about 4.30pm.

PROGRAMME

10:00 Natural History Museum Opens

10:20 Welcome

10:30–11:10 Avian Taxonomy in the Era of Citizen Science
Dr Pamela Rasmussen, lead taxonomist for Birds of the World at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University

11:15–11:45 BREAK

11:45–12:25 Can we still save the Masked Finfoot?
Sayam Chowdhury, PhD Candidate at the Dept. of Zoology, Conservation Science Group, University of Cambridge.

12:25–14:00 LUNCH

14:00–14:45 Mongolia – Birds and more in Asia’s wild wilderness
Dr Mike Edgecombe

14:45–15:15 BREAK

1515–15:55 Successes and failures; the quest to find new and lost birds.
James Eaton, Birdtour Asia

15:55 Closing Messages