Fancy sponsoring a species for the New National Bird Atlas?

Since September 2007, the BTO has been looking for sponsorship of individual species to support publication of the New Atlas - the biggest stock-take of British and Irish birds ever carried out. They have already found 121 species champions, and interest has been expressed in 47 more. That still leaves about fifty species, so, are these our least favourite birds?

To try and find support for these species the BTO is currently running a "Species Sponsorship Auction" which is running at the moment up until 12th February 2010.

They are calling for individuals and clubs, conservation groups, or companies to take part in this auction and show these birds that someone appreciates them, at the same time as giving their support to the work being done by thousands of volunteer birdwatchers involved in the Atlas.

Bids of a minimum of £300 will be taken during office hours Monday to Friday and can be placed by calling the BTO on 01842 750050 or by e-mailing fundraising@bto.org Bidding will close at 5pm on Friday 12 February.

The bidding can be tracked at www.bto.org/bird-atlas-bird-auction

Species available to sponsor at the BTO’s Bird Atlas 2007-11 Auction, in which no interest has been expressed so far are as follows:

Arctic Skua, Bar-tailed Godwit, Bean Goose, Brambling, Cetti’s Warbler, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Dunlin, Egyptian Goose, Gadwall, Garganey, Golden Oriole, Grasshopper Warbler, Great Grey Shrike, Greenshank, Greylag Goose, Knot, Lapland Bunting, Little Stint, Mallard, Mandarin Duck, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Pochard, Quail, Razorbill, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-legged Partridge, Red-necked Grebe, Ring-necked Parakeet, Ringed Plover, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Ruddy Duck, Ruff, Scaup, Shelduck, Spotted Redshank, Teal, Tree Pipit, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Velvet Scoter, Water Pipit, Whimbrel, Woodpigeon, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull