Delegates from all over the country will be attending the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' annual members weekend at York University this weekend.

Several hundred delegates are expected to flock to the city for two days of talks about Britain's wild bird populations.

Among the topics they will be discussing will be success stories such as the return of the white-tailed eagle to Scotland.

But there will still be reports of species of other birds which are increasingly under threat.

RSPB regional information officer David Hirst said; "In the last 20 to 30 years, at least 24 species of birds associated with farmland have declined, including the skylark, corn bunting and swallow.

"We will be learning more about the good and the bad this weekend."

The RSPB has around one million members across the country - more than 18,000 of them from North Yorkshire.

The convention will discuss how to identify seabirds, look at the causes of declines in swallow populations, and report on how RSPB work in Northern Ireland is helping bring communities together.

On Saturday afternoon delegates will also be attending some of the area's top birdwatching sites - including Bempton Cliffs, Blacktoft Sands and Fairburn Ings.

Local youngsters are also being invited to a special family bird afternoon on Saturday - featuring keen birdwatcher and former Goody Bill Oddie.

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