Patron – Tim Appleton MBE
I am delighted and honoured to become Patron of the Andalucía Bird Society.
I first visited Andalucía in 1984 and that first visit laid a foundation for some of the most memorable birding experiences in that region. Since those early days, I have made repeated visits and fallen in love with Andalucía, its birds, its culture, its people, it’s gastronomy and the amazing range of wildlife habitats.
So, to become the Society’s Patron is a dream come true!
I will ensure that, in my role as Patron, I will endeavour to help the Society grow and become an organisation recognised throughout the Country and beyond as a shining example of friendship, active in conservation and promoting the birds of Andalucía”.
President/ Magazine editor/Conservation – Peter Jones
Peter Jones, author, naturalist, co-founder of Spanish Nature, Worldwide Birding Tours and founder of the Andalucia Bird Society. Peter has been involved in a great many environmental projects and has had several works published over many years. Peter has a passion for birds, having also been involved in scientific research into birds for over 45 years, but his many interests also extend to flora and fauna. Peter has lived in Spain since 2003.
Vice President (Chairman) – John Brooks
I moved to Spain on retirement from international management business 16 years ago and took the opportunity to renew my interest in birding, living initially in Madrid before moving to Sabinillas on the Costa del Sol.
I have travelled extensively throughout Spain as well as worldwide birding and have organised tours for friends. I would describe myself as a social birder, definitely not a twitcher.
Treasurer – Janet Dixon
Janet Dixon has been Managing Director of a Consultancy firm in the UK for 30 years. Now semi-retired, with time to indulge my passion for the natural world and bird watching in particular.
Public Relations Officer – David A. Pope
Before moving to Spain in 1992, David resided in Walton-on-Thames, England. As an Engineer for BP Research, he was an effective manager, successful in the training, motivation and control of multi-disciplined teams. Widely experienced in all aspects of planning, his voluntary support for nominated conservation projects, where quality is of prime consideration, is second nature to him. Bilingual in Spanish; bird photography is his hobby, he is a regular contributor to our “Birds of Andalucia” magazine, but it is fundraising for the ABS that is his forte.
Field Trips – Frank Hair
Frank has been watching birds for most of his life, he started when he was 8 years old when he moved from London to south Devon. He has lived in Spain since 2006 and has found some of the best birding sites in his area. His passion for birds is a joy to others at any level of birding.
Webmaster/Secretary – Pieter Verheij
Pieter is a nature photographer and owner of a nature tour company. Although he enjoys general nature, his great passion is birds and bird photography. Pieter’s passion for birds frequently takes him to exotic places in the world, but he is always the first to admit that Andalucia still holds his interest more than anywhere else in the world. A native of Holland, Pieter is bi-lingual and a great organiser, his attention to detail is what makes him so successful a nature tour operator