In 1962, expats who loved birdwatching organised the Bangkok Bird Club (BBC), of which Mr. Edward C. Dickenson was the honorary secretary. These were both amateur and professional birdwatchers, with Thai and foreign ornithologists meeting up to undertake serious study of birds in Thailand. They organised field trips, meetings and regularly exchanged information about birds and nature conservation.

In 1976 Dr. Boonsong Lekagul integrated birdwatching activities into his Association and named it, in Thai, for the first time as the Bangkok Birdwatching Group. He appointed Mr. Joe Pauly, an American birdwatcher, as the president. The Group’s first meeting was in February 1976 at the American University Alumni Association, Ratchadamri Road, Lumpini, Patumwan, Bangkok, under the patronage of His Majesty the King. English was the language used at the meetings and they started publishing monthly newsletters in English. They organised meetings and birdwatching trips on every second Thursday of each month.

In March 1978 Mr. Joe Pauly went back to the USA and from then on, Dr. Boonsong Lekagul then volunteered to continue the birdwatching group. He took up its presidency and gave it a new name, the “Bird group, Pro-wild Association”. The Oriental Magpie Robin was chosen as its logo to reflect a bird which is easy to spot, has a beautiful call and lives close to human habitation. In general the Bird group, Pro-wild Association would have meetings at Dr. Boonsong‘s place. Later, as they had more responsibilities, they left the Association and were re-named the “Bangkok Birdwatching Group“. Mr. Wirut Juntarasmi was appointed as the president and formed a committee comprised of Thais and expats. Later the group moved their monthly meeting place to the Faculty of Sciences, Mahidol University, Bangkok. By this point there were many more new members joining in the Group’s activities.

In May 1984 M.R Pratyakorn Worawan, Father of M.L. Parinyakorn Worawan (the number one wildlife photographer of Thailand), was Acting President. The monthly meetings moved venue to the Tab Neelanithi Building, Faculty of Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. Thai was used as the language for the meetings.

In March 1986 they published their magazine both in Thai and English for the first time. The original logo of a rather plump Oriental magpie robin was changed to the beautiful slender one which is still used today. M.L. Pratyakorn Worawan was magazine editor together with Dr. Phillip D. Round. Most of its members were Thais. A temporary committee was set up and the name changed to the Bangkok Birdwatching Club. Mr. Kamol Komolplin was appointed as the first president. They had committee meetings, published magazines and organised monthly birdwatching field trips. At this point the club had about 1,000 members participating in its several activities. Thus the committee put in place rules and regulations to use as guidelines for operating and administration in order to progress their work in the future. Dr. Boonsong Lekagul stayed involved in these activities all along.

Subsequently the Bangkok Birdwatching Club took on many more activities, including working at an official capacity with government parties. Having become seriously involved with nature conservation all over Thailand the members agreed to progress the club to become the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST). They registered BCST as a legal organisation on July 12, 1993 and had Mr. Suthee Supparatwikorn as the first Associate President. 

 

Suthee Supparatvikorn (right) receiving donations from Tippawan Tantithadapitak (left)

 

Group photo with Phra Thēpwisutthiwēthī

 

Nowadays BCST remains actively involved in nature conservation all over Thailand. BCST’s main vision is the sustainable promotion of the relationship between birds, nature, and humans. It is committed to enabling society to be aware of the importance of birds, habitats, and natural resources by many means, stimulating various parties to be involved in working to develop sustainably. The various activities it undertakes include birdwatching, education, and conservation plus co-operating with international organisations.

 

BCST with Soraida Salwala (center) from Friends of the Asian Elephant

 

Santana Pleumchusak (left) with Mongkol Wongkalasin (right)

 

Volunteers helping with the opening ceremony