Birders who appreciate the culture, beauty and diversity of the Orient can't find a better birding organization to support than the Oriental Bird Club. Registered in the United Kingdom, this charity promotes bird research and conservation from Pakistan to Japan and from northeastern Russia to Indonesia, helping preserve the more than 2,600 resident and migrant bird species that call the Orient home.

Organization History

The Oriental Bird Club was formed in 1984 to promote the diversity of avifauna in the Orient through dedicated research and conservation, both of key bird species and the essential habitats many birds require. Though a low-key and geographically-specific organization, the Oriental Bird Club has remained pure to its mission and values for more than two decades and continues to encourage interest in regional conservation and birding opportunities in the Oriental region.

This interest is especially critical for the more than 300 species in the region that are considered internationally threatened or endangered. By supporting conservation projects and raising awareness of key issues that help or harm birds, the Oriental Bird Club helps expand bird preservation efforts not only for these threatened birds, but for all birds in the region that benefit from the same conservation tactics.

What the Oriental Bird Club Does Today

The Oriental Bird Club has ongoing work with more than 250 projects in the region, many of which are focused on birds endemic to the Orient that have been noted as threatened or endangered.

To help promote the area's conservation, the organization supports the following initiatives:

• Research: Proper research is key to effective bird conservation, and research projects to study specific bird species and critical habitats can help determine the best methods to protect the birds. The Oriental Bird Club funds various research studies in the area and makes the data from those studies available for scientific use to promote bird conservation.
• Grants: A variety of grants are available through the Oriental Bird Club to help fund both public and private studies, projects, awareness initiatives and other needs related to the regional avifauna and bird habitats. Grants are available for both short term (12-18 months) and long term (3-5 years) projects. Examples of projects include studies of specific birds or specific habitats, work in individual wildlife reserves or sanctuaries and short term financing for other projects in need of extra funding.
• Banding: The organization regularly funds bird banding projects and the associated research related to the banded birds. These types of long term projects provide vital data about bird migration, population shifts and other behaviors that would be difficult for small scale projects to research.
• Tours: Regular birding tours are organized by the Oriental Bird Club, giving birders the opportunity to explore the region and enjoy its amazing avian diversity with the help of expert guides. These tours serve as fundraising efforts for the organization while simultaneously generating greater interest in the area's birding opportunities. Multiple trips are planned annually.
• Image Database: The Oriental Bird Club maintains a high quality image database of bird species from the Oriental region, with photographs donated by photographers worldwide. The images are available for public browsing and for research purposes, and anyone wishing to use the photos can contact the individual photographers for specific permission. A wanted list of as yet unobtained photos is also available, and the database is continually updated as better photos of rare species are submitted. More than 58,000 photographs are included in the database, with new photos added frequently.

Joining the Oriental Bird Club

Today, the Oriental Bird Club has a worldwide membership of more than 2,000 birders, ornithologists, conservationists and wildlife supporters found in more than 50 countries. Anyone with an interest in the natural conservation of the region is welcome to join, and members receive a variety of benefits, including:

• The annual scientific journal Forktail with research updates and ornithological articles.
• Two annual issues of BirdingASIA (formerly the OBC Bulletin) with feature articles, news updates and regional reviews.
• Regular meetings and group events (schedules and locations vary).

Membership costs range from £15-45 ($25-71 USD) depending on the membership level – different rates include individual memberships, as well as discounts for families, academic institutions or businesses. For United States members, the annual fee is $25 for a basic individual membership. Memberships can be purchased or renewed online or through the mail. Only members in good standing with their fees fully paid will receive the Oriental Bird Club's publications.

Several items are also available for sale through the Oriental Bird Club, and proceeds from those sales help support the organization. Merchandise includes clothing and pins, and membership is not required for purchase.

For more information, visit www.OrientalBirdClub.org.

Photo – Forest Kingfisher © Lip Kee Yap