How you can help us
Volunteers are the backbone of our work. Our volunteers take part in a wide range of activities, from carrying out bird surveys and submitting sightings to helping with habitat management, nest-box projects, outreach events and practical conservation days. Every hour contributed adds to the knowledge we gather, the habitats we safeguard and the communities we inspire.
Join us, and become part of a community dedicated to ensuring that Sussex remains a thriving home for wildlife.
Current Vacancies
We often need species account writers. This work takes place once per year when we are compiling the latest bird report, and plenty of guidance is available. If you think you might be able to help, contact Assistant Editor Graham Hughes at grahamhughessos@gmail.com.
Volunteer Role: Web Manager for Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS)1st September 2026SOS is seeking a proactive and capable Web Manager to help maintain and develop our website, www.sos.org.uk — the Society’s main platform for sharing bird sightings, news, events, volunteering opportunities, membership information, grants, and committee updates.
The site is built on WordPress, and we’re looking for someone who enjoys keeping digital content organised, accurate, and engaging. You don’t need to be a developer or a bird expert, but you should be comfortable using WordPress or a similar content management system and confident reviewing and improving online content.
Key responsibilities include:
- Putting energy into getting fresh content from volunteers
- Keeping pages clear, consistent, and easy to navigate.
- Working with SOS volunteers to refresh content across news, events, policies, committees, grants, and the Young Birders Scheme.
- Supporting teams who manage MemberPress (our membership system) and Recent Sightings, when wording or layout updates are needed.
- Liaising with our external website service provider for technical support.
- Contributing to SOS’s Membership & Publicity Committee and Communications Committee (five online meetings per year each).
You will bring:
- Experience with WordPress or similar platforms.
- A proactive, organised approach and attention to detail.
- Confidence reaching out to volunteers for information or updates.
- An interest in clear communication and good user experience.
This is a flexible volunteer role that plays a vital part in SOS’s public engagement and digital presence. If you enjoy improving websites and working collaboratively, we’d love to hear from you.
Please find attached the role profile.
Any questions?
For more information about this role, please contact Jonathan Cook, Chair, Membership and Publicity Committee, Sussex Ornithological Society on 07854 060720 or email jonathancook44@hotmail.com.
Request for assistance with White Stork observations in Sussex – Lucian Delaney21st July 2026My name is Lucian and I am a Master’s by Research student at the University of East Anglia. I am contacting you to ask whether you, or members of the local birding community in Sussex, might be interested in helping with a research project on the movements and behaviour of white storks.
I am currently based at Knepp Estate, where I have been collecting data on white stork chicks during the nestling period. My research investigates how developmental plasticity during this early life stage influences later movement behaviour and migratory decision-making.
As the birds begin to fledge, my focus will shift to their pre-migratory movements across southern England and the Isle of Wight from August onwards. I am particularly interested in their behaviour during this period, including flock composition and social dynamics, habitat use, and other aspects of their behaviour in the field.
Because the birds will be moving across a large area, I am hoping to establish a network of local observers who may be able to assist with targeted observations. The birds are fitted with GPS trackers, allowing me to monitor their locations and provide alerts when they are approaching or within a particular area.
When a bird is nearby, I would ideally ask willing observers to collect, where possible:
– Short video footage of the birds and their behaviour;
– Photographs of the birds, particularly their ring numbers;
– The date, time and location of the observation;
– Approximate flock size and composition;
– Brief description of habitat and weather conditions;
– Any other notable behavioural observations
I will provide a simple observation form and platform to make recording this information straightforward. I appreciate that this would be entirely dependent on people’s availability and proximity to the birds, and I am not looking for a regular or substantial time commitment. Rather, I am hoping to identify people who may be willing to respond to occasional alerts when the birds are in their area.
I would be very grateful if you could let me know whether this is something you, your organisation, or members of the local birding community might be able to assist with. If you are not able to help directly, I would also greatly appreciate any suggestions of local birders, groups or other contacts who may be interested.
I would be very happy to provide further information about the project and discuss how the observation network might work.
Many thanks for your time and consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Kind regards,
Lucian Delaney
University of East Anglia
07554 002811
SOS is seeking a proactive and capable Web Manager to help maintain and develop our website, www.sos.org.uk — the Society’s main platform for sharing bird sightings, news, events, volunteering opportunities, membership information, grants, and committee updates.
The site is built on WordPress, and we’re looking for someone who enjoys keeping digital content organised, accurate, and engaging. You don’t need to be a developer or a bird expert, but you should be comfortable using WordPress or a similar content management system and confident reviewing and improving online content.
Key responsibilities include:
- Putting energy into getting fresh content from volunteers
- Keeping pages clear, consistent, and easy to navigate.
- Working with SOS volunteers to refresh content across news, events, policies, committees, grants, and the Young Birders Scheme.
- Supporting teams who manage MemberPress (our membership system) and Recent Sightings, when wording or layout updates are needed.
- Liaising with our external website service provider for technical support.
- Contributing to SOS’s Membership & Publicity Committee and Communications Committee (five online meetings per year each).
You will bring:
- Experience with WordPress or similar platforms.
- A proactive, organised approach and attention to detail.
- Confidence reaching out to volunteers for information or updates.
- An interest in clear communication and good user experience.
This is a flexible volunteer role that plays a vital part in SOS’s public engagement and digital presence. If you enjoy improving websites and working collaboratively, we’d love to hear from you.
Please find attached the role profile.
Any questions?
For more information about this role, please contact Jonathan Cook, Chair, Membership and Publicity Committee, Sussex Ornithological Society on 07854 060720 or email jonathancook44@hotmail.com.
My name is Lucian and I am a Master’s by Research student at the University of East Anglia. I am contacting you to ask whether you, or members of the local birding community in Sussex, might be interested in helping with a research project on the movements and behaviour of white storks.
I am currently based at Knepp Estate, where I have been collecting data on white stork chicks during the nestling period. My research investigates how developmental plasticity during this early life stage influences later movement behaviour and migratory decision-making.
As the birds begin to fledge, my focus will shift to their pre-migratory movements across southern England and the Isle of Wight from August onwards. I am particularly interested in their behaviour during this period, including flock composition and social dynamics, habitat use, and other aspects of their behaviour in the field.
Because the birds will be moving across a large area, I am hoping to establish a network of local observers who may be able to assist with targeted observations. The birds are fitted with GPS trackers, allowing me to monitor their locations and provide alerts when they are approaching or within a particular area.
When a bird is nearby, I would ideally ask willing observers to collect, where possible:
– Short video footage of the birds and their behaviour;
– Photographs of the birds, particularly their ring numbers;
– The date, time and location of the observation;
– Approximate flock size and composition;
– Brief description of habitat and weather conditions;
– Any other notable behavioural observations
I will provide a simple observation form and platform to make recording this information straightforward. I appreciate that this would be entirely dependent on people’s availability and proximity to the birds, and I am not looking for a regular or substantial time commitment. Rather, I am hoping to identify people who may be willing to respond to occasional alerts when the birds are in their area.
I would be very grateful if you could let me know whether this is something you, your organisation, or members of the local birding community might be able to assist with. If you are not able to help directly, I would also greatly appreciate any suggestions of local birders, groups or other contacts who may be interested.
I would be very happy to provide further information about the project and discuss how the observation network might work.
Many thanks for your time and consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Kind regards,
Lucian Delaney
University of East Anglia
07554 002811
