British Ornithologists Club Annual Meeting 2025

© Con Foley / Oriental Bird Club   

Frontline Stories from Global leaders in Bird Research and Conservation

Journey into the wonderful world of birds with leading conservationists and ornithologists with a full day of inspiring talks at the Natural History Museum.

An exciting collaboration between the NHM and several leading bird conservation charities and non-governmental organisations focused on researching and conserving birds and their habitats globally. This is a diverse day of talks focused on inspiring everyone with the wonder of birds, including experts from the Natural History Museum, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, BirdLife International, African Bird Club, British Trust for Ornithology, British Ornithologists’ Club, Neotropical Bird Club, Oriental Bird Club, and Ornithological Society of the Middle East.

Schedule

10:00 – 10:20 Doors open. 

10:30 – 10:50 Leadership and momentum for nature conservation in challenging times. In Person Presentation by Beccy Speight. CEO, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

11:00 – 11:20 Hope in a time of planetary emergency. In Person Presentation by Dr Alex Bond. Principle & Senior Curator in Charge, Bird Group, Natural History Museum (NHM).

11:30 – 11:50 Blackbirds, mosquitoes, and disease - the emergence and spread of Usutu virus in the UK. In Person Presentation by Dr Hugh Hanmer. Senior Research Ecologist, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

12:00 – 13:30 LUNCH

13:30 – 13:50 Citizen science to scale up long-term monitoring of birdlife in China. Virtual Presentation by Dr. Fangyuan Hua. Assistant Professor. Institute of Ecology, Peking University Oriental Bird Club (OBC)

14:00 – 14:20 Leading the fight to save Nigeria’s threatened Vultures. Virtual Presentation by Talatu Tende,  A. P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI), Nigeria, African Bird Club (ABC).

14:30 – 14:50 Batumi Raptor Count: migration counts and research and conservation in the East African-Eurasian flyway. In Person Presentation by Tohar Tal. Batumi Raptor Count. OSME.

15:00 – 15:20 SHORT BREAK

15:20 – 15:40 A gaze into the curious world of Manakins. In Person Presentation by Dr Lia Nahomi Kajiki.  Neotropical Birding and Conservation (NBC).

15:50 – 16:10 The state of the world’s birds: a positive perspective. In Person Presentation by Dr Stuart Butchart. Chief Scientist BirdLife International.

16:20 – 16:40 Birds and the Beeb – BBC NHU.

17:00 Meeting Close

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Event information

Saturday 20 September 2025

10:00 – 17:00

Location: The Flett Theatre at the Natural History Museum, London.

Ticket price

Adult: £10.00

Students/disabled adult/jobseeker: £7

Disabled person companion: Free

Online: £5

Additional information

Frequently asked questions

I am not affiliated with a bird organisation or research body. Can I still attend?

Yes. This conference is open to all, but we advise that the content will be best enjoyed by those aged 15 and over. Children aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

How much does it cost to attend?

  • Standard adult (aged 18+): £10
  • Concessions: £7 (children, students in full-time education, jobseekers, senior aged 60+, disabled adults).
  • Disabled companion: Free

Where is the conference?

The conference is being held at the Natural History Museum in the 200-seat Flett Theatre. The nearest entrance is via Exhibition Road.

How do I get into the Museum?

Exhibition Road: This entrance will be open, but it is not step-free. There is a lift from the entrance lobby to the galleries. what3words: ///limit.take.admits

Cromwell Road main entrance: This entrance is open and accessible via the gates at the front of the Museum. It has step-free access with a ramp. what3words: ///chose.wonderfully.star

Transportation

By Tube

The nearest Tube station is South Kensington, which is about a five-minute walk from the Museum's main entrance on Cromwell Road. Piccadilly, District and Circle line trains stop at South Kensington. This station is not step-free.

Gloucester Road station is about a 12-minute walk from the main entrance on Cromwell Road. It services the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines. This station has a lift but is not step-free.

Use the Transport for London Journey Planner to find the quickest route to the Museum.

By bus

Several bus routes stop near the Museum. Visit Transport for London's website for details.

By bicycle

Exhibition Road has cycle racks. The nearest Santander Cycles docking stations are on Exhibition Road and Thurloe Place, near South Kensington Tube station.

By coach

For groups travelling by coach, the drop-off point is outside the main entrance on Cromwell Road.

By car

We do not have parking facilities on-site, and parking around the Museum is limited.

Disabled parking

We have a very limited number of parking spaces on-site for Blue Badge holders. Availability cannot be guaranteed. Please book in advance by calling us on +44 (0)20 7942 5000. You can access these spaces via Queen's Gate, SW7 5HD, to the west of the Museum.

There are also twelve Blue Badge parking spaces on Exhibition Road. These spaces are managed by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and cannot be booked in advance. You can park there for four hours between 8.30 and 18.30. Find out more on the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's website.

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