There is a lot of discussion on Facebook and Twitter at the moment about RSPB research being published behind paywalls. Obviously, academics whose institutions have paid the subscriptions get free access. However, those of us with a scientific background, or a technical interest in the science of ornithology, are largely excluded from the research because we are not notified of the publication of such work and we don't have the relevant subscriptions and, to be honest, many are not in a position to afford it.
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust publish a journal every year called, appropriately, "Wildfowl" in which they publish all of their latest research and other related papers. It is provided FOC to members at the fellowship level and is available to purchase for other members who are interested. Why not do the same thing? It would be a boon to your members and would underline your conservation / scientific credentials when your critics are attacking you by claiming the exact opposite.
There are lots of various papers to read on the RSPB website. I will try and post the links.
Sadly I received a letter in the post from the Wildfowl Trust and sadly the Wildfowl Trust will not be sending that our at the end of 2021. The Wildfowl Trust have pulled out from this journal and another organisation is taken on that publication. Life Members can still buy that publication, but sadly because of cuts, the Wildfowl Trust won’t be part of the publication from this year 2021 and so won’t be sent out to Life Members at the end of 2021. I also know after registering for the Wildfowl Trusts AGM that there are going to be some redundancies possibly in 2021. Sadly every other Conservation charities at the present time are having to make cuts as well from the National conservation organisations to the local county wildlife trusts. My own county wildlife trust are having to make cuts as well. It’s not looking good at the present time from the large to the small conservation and wildlife charities.
www.rspb.org.uk/.../
https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/centre-for-conservation-science/publications/
The first link is the documents and the second link are papers on different subjects from the RSPB and in the second link all of the subjects have to be downloaded but no charge.
Yes sadly that’s the case. The journal that all life members will receive was the journal just before Christmas and the other special edition that I received last week will sadly be the the last time that life members will receive that journal. Although that journal will still be available to buy. As far as I know the RSPB’s Life Fellows Newsletter will continue to be posted to Life Members twice a year like I receive. But of course that could all change as well.
Press where it says download publication(PDF) and then you should be able to read any of the publications mentioned that you download. It works ok me.