History & Strategic Aims
Founded in 1962 by a small group of passionate young birders, Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS) has grown into one of the largest county bird clubs in Great Britain, with around 2,000 members today.
We are run entirely by volunteers and registered as a charity and are dedicated to celebrating, studying, and protecting the birds of Sussex.
Our strategic aims guide everything we do today:
Recording and studying wild birds in Sussex:
We are the official recorder of birds in the county, maintaining a comprehensive and continually updated database of sightings. Each year, we publish the Sussex Bird Report and, periodically, detailed avifaunas charting changes in bird distribution and abundance across Sussex.Supporting bird conservation:
The Society plays an active role in protecting birds and their habitats. We share our data with the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre so that it is available to inform planning processes and conservation activities. We scrutinise draft local district plans and individual planning proposals, commenting or objecting where we see risks to important bird sites. In this we work in close partnership with the Sussex Wildlife Trust, RSPB, The Woodland Trust, the Council for the Preservation of Rural England and other conservation partners. We also manage Charleston Reedbed in the Cuckmere Valley.Inspiring and educating people about birds and their habitats:
Through guided field outings, conferences, newsletters, and outreach we encourage members and the wider public to deepen their understanding and enjoyment of Sussex’s rich birdlife. We also support ornithological research and citizen science, providing opportunities for everyone to get involved.
Entirely volunteer-led, we are proud of our long history of scientific integrity, community involvement and conservation leadership. As we look to the future, we remain committed to ensuring that the birds and habitats of Sussex are studied, understood, and protected for generations to come.
Read about the SOS strategy and structure HERE and find a list of current Officers and Council here.
