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The Birdfair/RSPB Research Fund for Endangered Birds

Chinese crested terns
A small grant to the Xiamen Birdwatching Society led to the discovery of small numbers of the critically endangered Chinese crested tern (centre, between two crested terns) in an area where it was not previously known

In 2005, the British Birdwatching Fair and the RSPB joined forces to set up a fund to support researchers working on the world's most rare and threatened birds.

Some of these species are so poorly known that we do not even know whether they still exist or not. But it does not need to cost very much to pay someone to go and find out. 

For other species, we may know where some birds exist, but nothing about how many there are of them and whether that number is stable or declining. Again, it might be relatively easy to go and look for them and count them. 

Some species are relatively well known in terms of their numbers and distribution, but almost nothing is known about their threats or ecology. 

A small research project could do a lot to guide the protection of such species. Recognising how much a small piece of research or a survey could help these most threatened species, the British Birdfair and RSPB now offer grants of up to US $2,000 to researchers to undertake key research on birds listed by IUCN as 'Endangered' or 'Critically Endangered'. 

Priority is given to individuals working within their own country, and to those working with or for the local BirdLife Partner, although all are welcome to apply. A list of recently funded projects is available by clicking on the link to the right. 

To download further details and an application form, click on the link to the right. For any further information, please contact Paul Donald (see below). 

Contact

Paul Donald

Principal Conservation Scientist

Tel: 01767 680551

E-mail: paul.donald@rspb.org.uk

Last modified: 15 May 2007

Downloads

International small grants application form (73Kb)
Application form for the Birdfair/RSPB Research Fund for Endangered Birds (2009)