The Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP) is an
ornithological
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...
body which collects data on the breeding attempts and successes of the rarer species of
bird
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...
s breeding in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
.
It was created in 1968 as a subcommittee of the
RSPB
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a Charitable_organization#United_Kingdom, charitable organisation registered in Charity Commission for England and Wales, England and Wales and in Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, ...
,
with representation from the
Nature Conservancy Council
The Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) was a United Kingdom government agency responsible for designating and managing National Nature Reserves and other nature conservation areas in Great Britain between 1973 and 1991 (it did not cover Northern ...
(NCC) and
''British Birds'' magazine.
In December 1972 it became an autonomous body, financed jointly by the
BTO, RSPB, British Birds and, later, the NCC.
The formation of the RBBP as an independent body was announced in April 1973, and data on rare breeding birds was reported on for the years 1973 onwards. Its role was given as:
The aims of the Panel are to collect in one place all information on rare breeding birds so that changes in status—both increases and decreases—can be monitored, and so that essential information is not lost (as has happened in the past) through the deaths of those keeping rare breeding records secret.
The panel collects data on more than 160 species of rare and scarce breeding birds in the UK.
These are divided into four categories:
* Category A - Rare species
* Category B - Less scarce species
* Category C - Less scarce and widespread species
* Category D - Rare non-native species
The panel's logo is a
black-necked grebe
The black-necked grebe or eared grebe (''Podiceps nigricollis'') is a member of the grebe family of water birds. It was described in 1831 by Christian Ludwig Brehm. There are currently three accepted subspecies, including the nominate subspecie ...
.
Members
In order to maintain their neutrality, panel members are appointed in a personal capacity, and so do not formally represent their employing or sponsoring organisation.
Former
![ColinBibby](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/ColinBibby.jpg)
Former members have included:
*
Peter Conder
Peter Conder, OBE (20 March 1919 – 8 October 1993) was a British ornithologist and conservationist known predominantly for his contribution as Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Early life
Peter Conder was born in S ...
(founding member, 1968)
*
Colin Bibby
*
Malcolm Ogilvie
Dr Malcolm Alexander Ogilvie is a British ornithologist and freelance natural history author and consultant. One of his areas of expertise is wildfowl.
Ogilvie was a research scientist with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust from 1960 to 1986, als ...
(Secretary, 1993–2006)
See also
*
British Birds Rarities Committee
The British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC), established in 1959, is the national bird rarities committee for Britain. It assesses claimed sightings of bird species that are rarely seen in Britain, based on descriptions, photographs and video r ...
References
External links
*
*
Species List*
Ornithology in the United Kingdom
Bird rarities committees
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