Slovak Ornithological Organization / BirdLife Slovakia

It is a non- governmental organization, civic association, which the main role is to protect and research the nature, especially the wild birds and its habitats. We are representing our country in international organizations: BirdLife International, Euring, and Association of European Rarities Committees.

SOS/BirdLife Slovakia deals with protection of species, habitats and areas, protectionist research, bird ringing, environmental policy, environmental education, working with children and youth and publishing activities. It organizes seminars and conferences. We publish a professional magazine Tichodroma and a popular science magazine Vtáky/Birds (to 2006 called Vtáčie správy).

Our projects are aimed to protection of species, habitats, areas and cooperation with people. Our members are people with different occupations and age. Their common interest is the love to nature and birds. Nature lovers and ornithology amateurs together with specialists and professional ornithologists support bird’s protection with financial help or activities in SOS/BirdLife Slovakia. You can also join to bird census and practical protection. Support the legislative changes required by SOS/ BirdLife Slovakia. Spread the ideas of bird protection. Let´s go with us to the nature and choose from our actions, which are regularly sent to all our members. With your help we can protect bird and the nature more effectively.
 

History

SOS/BirdLife Slovakia follows the activity and traditions of Czechoslovak Ornithological Organization (ČSO, founded on 5th April, 1926), Slovak Ornithological Organization (SOS, founded in 1985) and Organization for Bird Protection in Slovakia (SOVS, founded in 1993).

Ugrian ornithological institute operated in Slovakia till the formation of Czechoslovak republic in 1918. Many Slovak ornithologists cooperated with the institute. The first ornithology fans in Slovakia became the members of Czechoslovak ornithological company. Its role was to recognize and protect birds in Czechoslovak republic. The company published two magazines: the first was called Messages ČSO (it was published since 1928) and the second was called Sylvia (published since 1936). The first members of ČSO in Slovakia were: F. Matoušek (since 1930), Professor O. Ferianc, Z. Molnár, J. Brtek, J. Somogyi, A. Kocian, J. Darola. Some of them were the first Slovak ringers. With the other fans in ornithology, protection of birds and ringing in Slovakia they were registered in this company till its end in 1982. In 1982 the company ČSO was renamed to: Czech ornithological organization.

Slovak ornithological company (SOS) has been founded since 1985. The first chairman was Ing. Randík and the secretary was Dr. B. Matoušek. SOS has started to publish a magazine Tichodroma and it has been publishing it till nowadays. Ing. Randík and Dr. Stollmann represented SOS in the International Council Birds Protection (ICPB) until the year 1993. Bird ringing in Slovakia was done under the heading of Ringing station of National museum Prague, until 2001. Since 2002 they have been ringing under their own Ringing central SOS.

In 1993 the new subject- Organization for Bird Protection in Slovakia (SOVS) arose. It was aimed mainly to protection and popularization of birds. After separate activities of SOVS and SOS they were united into one organization in 2006. They were given a mutual name Slovak Ornithological Organization/ BirdLife Slovakia.
 

Brief History of SOVS

January 1993 – 13 founding members met in Liptovský Mikuláš
January 1994 – the first job position (Pavol Kaňuch)
December 1994 – the first number of magazine Vtáčie správy was published
August 1997 – the first camp in Slovakia realised in Senné
August 2000 - SOVS accepted as a partner of Birdlife International
December 2000 – number of members exceeded 1000
February 2001 – foundation of the fund for supporting of small members projects
March 2002 – the organization moved to Bratislava
July 2006 – SOS and SOVS united and SOS/BirdLife Slovakia arose

The Organizational structure