Chris Merkord

Yamashina Institute for Ornithology consists of the Division of Natural History, Division of Avian Conservation (Bird Migration Research Center) and the Administration Bureau. The institute's collection now includes 69,000 specimens and 39,000 library collection. The institute, as a base for ornithology, conducts fundamental studies and research, as well as bird banding commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment. Furthermore, the institute promotes public awareness on ornithology by publishing academic journals featuring research articles and newsletters introducing research activities in an easy-to-understand format.

Miyakejima, Japan -- Akakokko Station, Akakokko-kan, is a nature center run by Miyakemura village, which was founded in 1993 for the purpose of getting many people to know about the nature of Miyakejima island. The nature center, where there are rangers of Wild Bird Society of Japan, provides information on nature, organizes nature tours, conducts surveys and research, and performs other activities.

East Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Portland Bill, Dorset, England, United Kingdom

Norfolk, England, United Kingdom -- This small seven acre site is part of the Holme Dunes complex and managed by the Norfolk Ornithologists Association. It is home to Norfolk's only accredited Bird Observatory. Recording takes place daily with ringing ongoing throughout the year. The site really comes into its own during spring and autumn, when, if conditions are favourable the site which consists of dunes, scrub and pines can be dripping with birds!

Filey, North Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Fair Isle, Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom

County Down, Ulster, Northern Ireland, Ireland, United Kingdom. The Observatory lies off the County Down coast of Northern Ireland at the southern side of the mouth of Belfast Lough. It is one of the British Bird Observatories and is directed and serviced by the British Trust for Ornithology. Its main aim is the collection of data on migratory and breeding birds, which may be used for their general conservation. It is operated on a part-time basis by local amateur ornithologists.

Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory was founded in 1953. A group of keen birders and naturalists from the West Midlands visited the island and saw that Bardsey would be an excellent site not only for studying birds, but also for studying the whole complex ecology of a small island. The Observatory was formed by a group comprising representatives of the Birmingham and West Midland Bird Club, the West Wales Field Society, inhabitants of the island, and interested people from Caernarfonshire. Subsequently the Bardsey Island Trust was formed when the island came up for sale in the mid-seventies. Members of the Observatory and some of the locals from Gwynedd initiated the purchase of the island and formed the Trust, whose main aim is to conserve the rich heritage and natural history of the island. Bardsey Bird Observatory is the only fully accredited observatory in Wales and is one of a growing network of around 20 bird observatories in the British Isles. It is a registered charity. The main objective of the Observatory is the study of natural history, in particular the monitoring of birds and migration. It also aims to help conserve the island’s flora and fauna, and to encourage an intelligent interest in nature, particularly among young people.

Launched in November 2006, the Partnership is an informal and voluntary initiative, aimed at protecting migratory waterbirds, their habitat and the livelihoods of people dependent upon them. There are currently 25 partners including 13 countries, 3 intergovernmental agencies and 9 international non-government organisations. The Partnership provides a framework for international cooperation, including: development of a Flyway Site Network (for sites of international importance to migratory waterbirds) collaborative activities to increase knowledge and raise awareness of migratory waterbirds along the flyway building capacity for the sustainable management and conservation of migratory waterbird habitat along the flyway.

Bird observatories of Britain and Ireland -- The Bird Observatories Council co-ordinates and promotes the work of the Bird Observatories at a national level. Individual Observatories are accredited to the Council when they meet specified criteria relating to activities and facilities. Click here to see what is required for accredited status.

Kent, England, United Kingdom -- SBBOT is an independent charity that has the aim of the advancement of the education of the public by: the study of birds, their distribution and migration in accordance with the rules of the British Trust for Ornithology, the study and conservation of flora and fauna in the area of Sandwich Bay, Kent and in other adjacent areas that may be considered reasonable and appropriate. This work is carried out by our Warden and a team of volunteers and is financed largely by our members by annual subscriptions and attendance at Club events. These events, the shop and the accommodation are also open to the public. At the centre of all of the activities is the Field Centre, officially opened in September 2002 by our President Bill Oddie, it also allows the Trust to give something back to the local community, by being: a home for the various clubs run by SBBOT by fulfilling the role of Visitor Centre for people coming to the Bay by providing a classroom for schools and universities by accommodating visitors in our self catering accommodation and continuing as the home of the Bird Observatory. SBBOT supports the work of the National Trust, the Kent Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the management of the Sandwich Bay Nature Reserve and plays a major role in documenting the bird-life of the estuary.

Dungeness, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Newhaven Station, five times larger than Gluepot Reserve, is 262,600ha (approximately 80 x 35 km) or 650,000 acres in size, and lies 363km or four and a half hours drive north-west of Alice Springs. Birds Australia purchased Newhaven in 2000 with assistance from the Commonwealth Governments National Reserve System grant scheme, with the intention of managing the property for biodiversity conservation. In 2006 the Australian Wildlife Conservancy became the leading partner in co-management of Newhaven with Birds Australia.

Information about Gluepot Reserve provided by Birds Australia.

Antikythira, Attica, Greece

Östergötland County, Sweden -- Vi informerar om fåglar och natur i Tåkernbygden. Föreningen Tåkerns Fältstation arbetar sedan 1963 med inventeringar och naturskydd i och kring Tåkern. Själva fältstationen, Kvarnstugan, ligger vid Renstad söder om Tåkern.

Hordalund, Norway -- Turøy ligger helt NV i Fjell kommune, på den ytterste kyststripen NV av Bergen. Reisetid fra Bergen sentrum er ca. 35 min. med bil. Ringmerkingen startet opp her i regi av Bergen RG i slutten av september 1993, og etter en halv prøvesesong det året startet vi opp igjen for fullt i 1995. Etter at vi har eksperimentert mye med nettoppsett i 1995-96, har vi nå kommet fram til det vi mener er et tilnærmet optimalt oppsett. Vi bruker ca. 30 enkeltnett, de fleste plassert i systemer eller i heisenett. Turøy har en ekstremt frodig vegetasjon i forhold til den eksponerte beliggenheten, og geologien i området er preget av tallrike forkastninger som danner dype skar som fungerer som naturlige ledelinjer. På Turøy er de klassiske fuglestasjonsartene som meiser ikke spesielt dominerende i ringmerkingstotalen, vi "satser" i steden på arter som havsvale, heipiplerke, troster og sylvia-sangere. Innkvarteringen er helt ypperlig, i et gammelt skolehus som fungerer som forsamlingshus på øya. Dette låner vi av Turøy Velforening, og vi skylder både grunneiere og folk ellers en stor takk for velvilje og godt samarbeid! -- Turoy Bird Observatory is located on the outer coastline NW of Bergen, half an hours drive from the city centre. We have ringed birds on this site in 1993 (end of September-October) and from the end of July in 1995-98. We use around 30 mist nets placed in different vegetation on the eastern part of this small island. On Turoy we do not trap large numbers of typical "ringing station species" such as goldcrest and tits, in stead our "target species" are storm petrel, meadow pipit, Sylvia-warblers and thrushes. We borrow an old school house from the local people, who have been very cooperative and given us their permission to erect mistnets almost wherever we like.

Information about the BBO provided by Birds Australia. -- Broome Bird Observatory ( BBO) is located on the north-west coast of Australia on the shores of the stunning Roebuck Bay. It is 25 km east of Broome, WA, and 2400 km north of Perth. The Broome region is regarded as the most significant viewing site for shorebirds in Australia, and among the top four in the world. It has the greatest diversity of shorebirds species of any site on the planet and more than 800,000 birds visiting the area annually. BBO was established by Birds Australia in 1988 as a centre for research and education with the aim of working for the conservation of migratory shorebirds which visit Roebuck Bay along with many endemic birds of Broome.

List of bird observatories run by Birds Australia. The tradition of bird observatories in Australia began when Birds Australia established its first observatory at Eyre, on the Nullarbor Plain, in an abandoned telegraph station in 1977. Since then, other observatories have sprung up around the country, all run by Birds Australia. Each is staffed by wardens who are well placed to welcome and assist visitors, provide valuable local knowledge about the area and its birds and other wildlife, and look after the needs of guests.

Barren Grounds Bird Observatory, no longer in operation, was located on the Illawarra Escarpment, south of Wollongong, in eastern New South Wales. Well known as a great spot to see Ground Parrots and Eastern Bristlebirds (both species were studied intensively here), it was opened in 1982, and ceased operation in 2004.

Rotamah Island Bird Observatory, no longer in operation, was located at the entrance to Lake Reeve in the Gippsland Lakes National Park in south-eastern Victoria. The Observatory was opened in 1980, and was famously visited by a Royal party, comprising Prince Charles and Princess Diana. It ceased operation at the end of 2001.

The Eyre Bird Observatory is a research station established to collect information about birds and associated wildlife. Located in the Nuytsland Nature Reserve within the state of Western Australia it is the most isolated research facility in Australia.

Gluepot Reserve is Birds Australia's first publicly funded Reserve. Located in the semi-arid South Australian mallee it is considered by many to be one of the crown jewels in the nation's reserve system. This 50,000 ha large area of virgin mallee scrub contains no less than 6 nationally endangered bird species and a unique flora and fauna adapted to the harsh conditions. Purchased in 1997, Gluepot is rapidly becoming a centre for scientific research. Its accessibility means it is one of the few areas in Australia where birdwatchers can relatively easily observe otherwise hard-to-find species.