Scottish Ornithologists' Club
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Ornithologists' Club (SOC) is a Scottish
ornithological
body, founded in March 1936 at the premises of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society
. As of 2008, the SOC has 2,200 members. The Club runs the Scottish Birds Records Committee, which maintains a list of birds recorded in Scotland. In 2007, the club was awarded the Silver Medal
by the Zoological Society of London
.
, East Lothian
. The building overlooks Aberlady Bay
and the Aberlady Local Nature Reserve
, the first LNR in the United Kingdom. The building is named after George Waterston
(1911–1980), an ornithologist and conservationist
who was Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB) in Scotland. It is said to house the most comprehensive ornithological library in Scotland, with over 3,500 volumes.
Waterston House's art gallery space is named after Donald Watson
(1918–2005), a wildlife
artist
, who was President of the SOC.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
ornithological
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
body, founded in March 1936 at the premises of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society
Royal Scottish Geographical Society
The Royal Scottish Geographical Society is a learned society founded in 1884 and based in Perth. The Society has a membership of 2500 and aims to advance the science of geography worldwide by supporting education, research, expeditions, through its journal , its newsletter and other publications...
. As of 2008, the SOC has 2,200 members. The Club runs the Scottish Birds Records Committee, which maintains a list of birds recorded in Scotland. In 2007, the club was awarded the Silver Medal
Silver Medal (Zoological Society of London)
The Silver Medal of the Zoological Society of London is "Awarded to a Fellow of the Society or any other person for contributions to the understanding and appreciation of zoology, including such activities as public education in natural history, and wildlife conservation."It was first awarded in...
by the Zoological Society of London
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
.
Waterston House
The SOC has its headquarters at Waterston House in AberladyAberlady
Aberlady is a coastal village in the Scottish council area of East Lothian. On Aberlady Bay, it is five miles northwest of Haddington and approximately 18 miles east of Edinburgh, to which it is linked by the A198 Dunbar - Edinburgh road.Aberlady Parish Church dates back to the 15th century. It...
, East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
. The building overlooks Aberlady Bay
Aberlady Bay
Aberlady Bay is a bay in East Lothian, Scotland between Aberlady and Gullane.In 1952, Aberlady Bay became the UK's first Local Nature Reserve and is served by the East Lothian Council Rangers....
and the Aberlady Local Nature Reserve
Local Nature Reserve
Local nature reserve or LNR is a designation for nature reserves in the United Kingdom. The designation has its origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite...
, the first LNR in the United Kingdom. The building is named after George Waterston
George Waterston
George Waterston was an ornithologist and conservationist in Scotland. He was Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Scotland. He lived at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh where he co-founded what was the Midlothian Ornithologists' Club and is now the Scottish Ornithologists'...
(1911–1980), an ornithologist and conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
who was Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Bird Notes and News was first published in April 1903.The title changed to 'Bird Notes' in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year . Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years...
(RSPB) in Scotland. It is said to house the most comprehensive ornithological library in Scotland, with over 3,500 volumes.
Waterston House's art gallery space is named after Donald Watson
Donald Watson (artist)
Donald Watson was a Scottish ornithologist and a wildlife artist.-Early years:Watson was born at Cranleigh, Surrey. He drew birds as a child and was encouraged in this by the wildlife artist Archibald Thorburn. The family relocated to Edinburgh, and Donald attended Edinburgh Academy...
(1918–2005), a wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, who was President of the SOC.