SBS News

News and updates about SongBird Survival

01/09/22 - 100 Club Winner!

Congratulations to SBS member Mr E with winning ticket number 821 in the September draw!

Tickets for our 100-club are just £12 per year and enter you into our monthly draw with prizes starting from £140 each month, doubling to £280 in December

So far over £11,000 has been won by SBS supporters!

Our 100 club scheme has helped to raise over £50,000 for our research programme. Thank you!

01/08/22 - #FriendsNotFood Campaign

Introducing SongBird Survival’s newest campaign, #FriendsNotFood, where we challenge the narrative that cat owners don’t care about our wildlife!

We will showcase the great cat owners out there, and what they are doing to help suppress their cats hunting desire whilst not compromising on welfare, and how they are helping to save our songbird populations.
For the duration of this short campaign, we will be sharing fun facts, advice and research on domestic cats and birds.
If you want to get involved, please send us any pictures or videos, and share them under the hashtags #SongBirdSurvival #FriendsNotFood so we can find them and see what you and your furry friends are getting up to!

#cats #birds #science #research #songbird

01/04/22 - 10,000 Steps a Day in May Challenge launched

10K in May is a walking challenge for everyone. Simply walk a total of 310,000 steps during May to support British birds and help reverse the drastic decline in their numbers.

Why not take on the challenge as a family, with a friend or to simply get moving and enjoy the outdoors? Share your progress with our Facebook group community as your friends support you, donating to encourage your steps and save our songbirds!

How to do it

Complete your 310,000 steps throughout the month of May. This could be 10,000 steps each day, or a total of 70,000 by the end of each week, or in any way you like!

• When you raise £100 on your Facebook fundraiser you will receive a pin badge in one of 3 beautiful designs, either a Blackbird, Sparrow or Bullfinch.

(Badges can only be sent to UK addresses.)

• Make sure you follow countryside codes and keep to paths when on your walks.

What your fundraising will support

-You can help us discover essential life-saving solutions for our beloved songbirds through funding scientific research
-You can help us raise awareness of the catastrophic situation which nature and songbirds are facing
-You can help us educate people and share practical advice and resources to protect birds.

11/03/22 SBS supports #PeatFree Campaign

We have signed a Joint Statement with other NGOs to urge the Government to take fast, more effective action to ban the sale of peat for horticulture.

Peatlands are the UK’s largest stores of carbon and provide vital ecosystem services. When peat is extracted, the carbon stored inside the bog is released as carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. Peat extraction also degrades the state of the peat mass which threatens biodiversity.

Plans to ban the sale of peat products in England and Wales by 2024 were announced by the Government almost a year ago which is a positive step, but we need to protect our peatlands now.

A government consultation is underway and you can have your say if you respond by 18th March using the link at the bottom of this page.

Read the statement about the campaign:

'Continuing to extract, import, export, and sell peat as a product is indefensible. We are pleased to see that the UK and Welsh Governments recognise the importance of keeping peat in the ground and are finally proposing a ban of peat in the retail sector. However, this is an urgent issue, and further delay until 2024 is unnecessary. UK Governments must act decisively and bring about a speedy end to the retail sale of peat for horticulture – there is no time to waste.

In going peat-free, the UK would benefit from securing a thriving, sustainable horticultural industry, that leads the way in the development of sustainable, peat-free growing media.

Peatlands are a rare type of wetland habitat that are home to fascinating plants and other wildlife, some of which can only be found in these precious environments. Peatlands cover just 3% of Earth’s land-surface but these extraordinary habitats hold twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests. Every year, millions of cubic metres of peat are dug out of the ground to be sold in UK markets for horticulture; these destructive actions fly in the face of the nature and climate goals of UK Governments. Protecting peatlands is a vital step we must take to put nature into recovery and to bring about an end to needless and vast carbon dioxide emissions. Healthy peatlands have the power to reduce the impacts of flooding, help to filter our drinking water, and are important conservators of our cultural heritage. Peatlands are vital habitats that urgently need our protection'

17/01/22 - We are Hiring!

Job Title: Research & Engagement Manager
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours with flexible working (0.8 hours will be considered)
Location: Remote/home working with occasional travel and visits to SBS office in Diss Norfolk.
We are working in partnership with SongBird Survival (SBS), the only UK charity dedicated solely to the welfare of songbirds. Their aim is to improve, protect and preserve the population of song (and other small bird populations) in the UK, for the benefit of the public and for nature in its widest sense. They do this by commissioning targeted independent scientific research into the causes of the catastrophic decline in songbird numbers and to identify what steps are needed to preserve the dawn chorus for future generations. They also educate the public – individuals, educators, other NGO’s, policymakers, landowners, farmers and others, about the causes and issues, providing guidance and information to influence positive change.
They are now seeking a Research & Engagement Manager to ensure that SBS’s investment in scientific research results in the maximum impact towards achieving their mission, actively educates and encourage audiences to understand the reasons for the decline of songbird populations and to take action to make positive change for songbird conservation. The postholder will also lead on the development of a clear and compelling narrative for their research and engagement activity, which facilitates funding and demonstrates their ambitions and impact as a charity.
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:
• Degree level education in Ecology or an appropriate discipline or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge and understanding of how scientific research is commissioned and delivered.
• Comprehensive knowledge of songbird and other small bird ecology.
• Ability to assimilate and appraise relevant information from scientific literature.
• Ability to influence and communicate effectively with both scientific and general audiences and mobilise people to act, ideally in relation to nature and the environment.
• Experience of working with social media and PR functions to promote stories via the mass media, blogs, web articles, developing videos and a variety of promotional content, is desired.
We are seeking an individual that adopts a flexible and adaptable approach to work, with enthusiasm for learning and trying new approaches, as well as being able to work alone and as part of a team. A commitment to and enthusiasm for wildlife and environmental issues is essential.
For more information, please contact Katherine Anderson-Scott, Charisma Charity Recruitment, info@charismarecruitment.co.uk or 01962 813300.

Applications should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.
Closing date: 11 February 2022, however applications are being reviewed and interviews are being conducted on a rolling basis, so please apply without delay to avoid disappointment.