Bird watchers are looking beyond their binoculars. Chris Brayshay reports that they advise councils and take a keen interest in wider aspects of bio-diversity.

BIRD watchers in the region are celebrating a historic milestone.

Teesmouth Bird Club, which has more than 500 members, is 50 years old.

Formed in 1960, the club sits on a variety of bodies concerned with plans which impact on the local environment.

The club contributes to national and local bird surveys, undertakes conservation work and produces the annual Cleveland Bird Report survey.

In 2008, it published the nationallyacclaimed The Breeding Birds of Cleveland – the first breeding birds atlas for the area.

Club chairman Alistair McLee said: “The club changed from being a group of enthusiastic devotees, all pursuing their own interests, to an organisation which is much more publicly aware.

“The club has a website, liaises with industry and other interested parties and is a platform for bio-diversity action. It has a crucial part to play.’’ The club’s website – teesmouthbc.com – has received national recognition and was described by Birdwatch magazine as “a model of its kind, and one which other clubs would do well to follow”.

One of the largest nature conservation organisations in the north of England, the club records bird populations and movements across Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton, and Redcar and Cleveland, monitoring habitat from the North York Moors National Park, to the inter-tidal mudflats, salt marshes and sand dunes of the Tees Estuary, to the sea cliffs between Saltburn and Staithes, the wooded river valleys of east Cleveland and the Tees flood plain.

Hartlepool and Stockton borough councils consult with the club on planning issues, regularly sending its conservation sub-committee planning applications for sites in and around the Tees estuary and on green belt land, which could have an impact on birds and local wildlife.

The club works closely with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which now runs a reserve at Saltholme in the club’s heartland, and the Government-backed Natural England.

Past club chairman Ted Parker said: “I think the club has not just grown, it has changed beyond all recognition. We have become known as a voice for conservation in and around the Cleveland area and, while we are not a political group, we can oppose developments that may have harmful impacts on birds or their habitats quite vociferously.’’ He is one of the drivers behind plans to build a made-to-order sea-watching observatory on Hartlepool Headland.

Informal discussions have already been held between representatives of the club and Hartlepool council planning officials.

While the present depressed financial climate will make raising funds for the project tougher, it is hoped the observatory could become a reality within the next five years.

Mr Parker said: “As far as we are aware, this is a unique project in the UK, being the first bespoke, new-build sea-watching observatory, and it will attract a great deal of interest.’’ Once the funding is in place, a planning application will be submitted to Hartlepool council, for approval.

REFERRING to the popularity of TV natural history documentaries, club secretary Chris Sharp said: “Today you have a lot of armchair bird and wildlife watchers, who are always being encouraged to get out and about.

“I think the majority of our members choose to be active, rather than just sit at home. At a time when clubs and societies are struggling to get and keep members, we are particularly fortunate.’’ The club prides itself on being welcoming, and experienced bird-watching members give newcomers guided tours of the best sites the area has to offer, and help in identifying the birds they see.

Besides holding eight monthly meetings a year for members, the club distributes its own newsletter, organises field trips and even has its own bespoke range of clothing.

The club’s range of woolly hats, baseball caps, fleeces and sweatshirts all carry the club shelduck logo.

A computerised register of members is a future ambition.

The club recently held a 50th anniversary dinner at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough.

Guests included representatives from organisations that have had close associations with the club over the years and provided expertise, support and much-needed sponsorship.