About Us
On the face of it, a birdwatching club…
The SOC is Scotland’s bird club, with over 3000 members and 15 branches around the country. We bring together like-minded individuals with a passion for birds, nature and conservation through a programme of talks, outings, conferences and via our quarterly journal, Scottish Birds.
Our bread and butter, recording birds…
For more than 75 years we’ve been watching over Scotland’s birds, gathering vital impartial information about their populations, recording their numbers, presence or absence all over Scotland through the SOC’s network of Local Recorders and dedicated volunteers.
Promoting the study and systematic recording of birds was and has remained, central to our ethos.
Waterston House, the Headquarters of the SOC, overlooks Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve (prime birdwatching territory) and is a must for any birdwatcher to the area. As a resource centre for bird enthusiasts, it houses the country’s largest ornithological reference library and has a wide range of optical equipment and second-hand books for sale. A recent sightings board, tide tables and tea/coffee making facilities are all on hand. The centre also has a gallery providing a year-round programme of exhibitions by leading wildlife artists.
Press releases
Young Birders' Training Course: Investing in the future of wild bird...
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) has joined forces with the country’s oldest bird observatory, the Isle of May Bird Observatory (IoMBO), in... read more
04.04.2014 • By The Scottish Ornithologists' Club (SOC)
