Appointment of BirdGuides News Manager
An exciting new collaboration between BirdGuides and the BTO formally began this week with the appointment of Mark Grantham as BirdGuides News Manager. This new staff position, jointly funded with the BTO, will soon enable BirdGuides to extend its news-gathering activities, generating an enhanced flow of bird sightings.
Fiona Barclay, Mark Grantham, Jeff Baker (Photo: Max Whitby)
Mark will focus on building the BirdGuides/BTO relationship and developing the scientific value of BirdGuides' news stream. The sharing of information between BirdGuides and BirdTrack will enhance both services, and will in due course streamline bird recording. The News Manager will also help to expand the range of articles and news reports on BirdGuides' popular BAFTA-winning webzine.
Mark is an excellent fit for both organisations. He has extensive knowledge of the Trust's work through his many years service in the BTO Ringing Unit. For a time he ran BirdTrack, the BTO's online bird recording scheme, and has contributed many records, reports and articles to BirdGuides. He is therefore ideally qualified to meet the needs of both organisations.
Dr Max Whitby, Chairman of BirdGuides, is delighted about the partnership. "We feel a strong sense of common purpose with the BTO. BirdGuides generates a constant stream of valuable sightings that in time will benefit the BTO's scientific activities. Furthermore, we can offer the BTO direct contact with the wider birding community through our website and news services."
Jeff Baker, Head of Marketing at the BTO, said "Mark's appointment as BirdGuides News Manager will be of great benefit to both organisations. Not only is he a very experienced and knowledgeable birder but he is also a well-respected scientist. This makes him the ideal candidate to investigate ways which will enhance the value of bird sightings and to look at systems best suited to the dissemination of this information to a wide audience."
The BTO Director, Dr Andy Clements, stated "This is an exciting partnership for the BTO, and BirdGuides. We each bring different strengths to the collaboration and we believe that this team approach will result in great benefits and improved services for our members and supporters."
