SOC publications
Scottish Birds
In summer 2009 the SOC decided to bring together its magazine and journal, along with the independent Birding Scotland, into a single publication under the Scottish Birds cover. Click on the image to download a sample of the new Scottish Birds in PDF format (4MB).
Coordinating Editor: Ian Andrews
Editors: Stan da Prato, Jimmy Maxwell, Ian Francis, Harry Scott, Stuart Rivers
Assisted by: Dr J B Nelson, Dr I Bainbridge, Dr M Marquiss and R Swann
Scottish Birds, incorporating Scottish Bird News and Birding Scotland, acts a channel of communication for SOC members and to disseminate information relevant to birds in Scotland. It publishes original material relating to ornithology in Scotland, articles, notices, branch and club news, along with up to date information on birds in Scotland. Its different sections have been developed to meet the wide needs of the birdwatching community. Scottish Birds is published four times a year, in March, June, September and December.
Recent back issues are available from Waterston House; see the merchandise page for details.
Contributions
Material for publication should be sent to the SOC Office Manager at Waterston House. We prefer contributions by email or on disc, but will accept typed or hand-written material.
Scottish Birds online
Back issues of Scottish Birds can now be downloaded in PDF format. Click here for details.
The Birds of Scotland digital
In May 2012, the Scottish Birdfair hosted the official launch of the digital version of The Birds of Scotland, providing a new opportunity to purchase and enjoy the SOC's ground-breaking publication. The Birds of Scotland Digital contains the entire content of the original (long sold out) hardback volumes, captured on one disc in an easily accessible and searchable format*.
The third in a line of Scottish avifaunas, The Birds of Scotland follows in the footsteps of Misses Baxter and Rintoul's 1953 The Birds of Scotland and Valerie Thom's 1986 Birds in Scotland.
Containing one million words, 1600 pages, 900 first-class photographs, and 1500 charts and maps, this encyclopaedia of Scottish birds was written by 157 expert authors and poured over by 9 editors. It features all 509 species ever seen in Scotland, from the all-important breeding species and winter visitors to the regular migrants and one-off vagrants that combine to make the Scottish avifauna so varied. The significance of Scottish populations is placed in context, and threats and gaps in our knowledge are highlighted. Extinctions, colonisations and the ups and downs of many species illustrate the ever-changing nature of our avifauna stretching back through the 200 years of documented ornithology.
The Birds of Scotland was Birdwatch Magazine Bird Book of the Year 2007, and received the prestigious Zoological Society of London Silver Medal, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Neill Medal.
"Superb. A must-have resource for anyone interested in Scotland's birds" - Chris Packham.
RRP £15, GET IT FREE** WHEN YOU JOIN THE SOC TODAY
To take advantage of this monumental offer - or for more information about membership - please email Jane Cleaver or phone us at Waterston House. Alternatively, download a membership form, print, fill out, and post to SOC Membership at Waterston House. Remember to indicate your choice of free gift when paying by direct debit.
SOC MEMBERS GET 1/3 OFF THE RRP
As a small thank you for your continued support of the Club, exisiting SOC members can purchase the digital version for the reduced cost of £10 (one per membership). To purchase your reduced price copy please phone us at Waterston House.
RELATED INFORMATION
sample page - White-tailed Eagle (PDF)
sample page - Evening Grosbeak (PDF)
full reference list (PDF)
species reference lists (PDF)
corrections (PDF)
*The Birds of Scotland Digital is suitable for use on PC and Mac computers with Adobe Reader installed. **When you pay by direct debit.
Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme Report
The Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme Report is an annual publication of the SOC, produced on behalf of the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Group (SRMG), of which SOC is a partner. The report replaces the annual Raptor Round-up produced up to 2002. It provides a summary of the work of the SRMG and includes status summaries for each of the 14 species of birds of prey, four species of owls and the Common Raven. Details are given of the population monitoring and productivity of Scotland's raptors. The report is compiled and edited by Brian Etheridge (Scottish Raptor Monitoring Officer), Mark Holling, Des Thompson and Helen Riley.
The latest report, along with previous years', can be downloaded in PDF format from the Scottish Raptor Study Groups website. Paper copies of the 2005 and 2006 reports are available from Waterston House; see the merchandise page for details.
The Report is supported by grant aid from Scottish Natural Heritage.
Records of species and subspecies recorded in Scotland on up to 20 occasions
Authors: Ian Andrews and Keith Naylor (on behalf of SBRC)
Published in December 2002, this special 56-page issue of Scottish Birds contains a definitive list of records of species and subspecies recorded in Scotland on up to 20 occasions. Each record is listed with details of site, date, observers and references. Copies are available from Waterston House; see the merchandise page for details.
Birds of St Kilda
Author: Stuart Murray
Published in June 2002, this special 64-page supplement to Scottish Birds is a summary of the birds of this fascinating group of Scottish islands. The book includes sections on the development of ornithology on St Kilda, conclusions and the future together with a comprehensive systematic list of all the species ever recorded there. Published by the SOC with financial support from Scottish Natural Heritage, Birds of St Kilda is now sold out.
Scottish Bird News
Editors: Jimmy Maxwell and Ian Francis
The quarterly magazine of the SOC until March 2009, Scottish Bird News is now provided under the cover of Scottish Birds.
Back issues of SBN are now available online. Click on a link below to download a copy in PDF format. Note that the files are up to 1.5MB in size. To save space, low resolution images have been used.
The views expressed in articles in SBN are not necessarily the policy of the SOC.
Scottish Bird Report
Editor: Ray Murray
The Scottish Bird Report (SBR) is an annual summary of our knowledge of the birds in Scotland for a particular year. Publishing of this report ended with the issue covering 2001.
While detailed records from individual areas are published in local bird reports, the SBR is a review covering all 22 recording areas in the country. It draws together the diverse records presented in local reports and attempts to summarise numbers, arrival and departure dates, breeding numbers and success, well as records of rarities and sub-rarities across Scotland. Occasional summaries of species status appear in the SBR, usually where something significant has occurred in the year in question. These usually review the past status of the species and place the occurrences in context.
Copies are available from Waterston House; see the merchandise page for details.
Scottish Bird Report online
Following a long break since the last printed edition, the Scottish Bird Report is back in a new online format.
The facility is free, and easy to use: simply go to the SBR online page, choose a species, select the year(s) and region(s) you're interested in, and view accounts from around the country.
