NOA - Key Persons
Emma Buck grew up in Norfolk and has been interested in nature since she was a child. She went on to study Zoo Biology at Nottingham Trent University. After university Emma travelled and volunteered at many conservation charities gaining experience with a variety of species. She spent 5 years working for Bird Studies Canada, doing wetland bird surveys and wardening at Long Point Bird Observatory. Bird ringing has been a huge passion of Emma's since beginning training in 2013, but she is also a keen wildlife artist. Emma joined the NOA at the start of 2019 as Assistant Warden and can mainly be found at Walsey Hills or Hempton Marsh.
Gary Elton has had a life-long interest in birds, and spent time in the engineering industry before relocating to Norfolk in 2000. Gary's role at the observatory is part-time, his presence largely fitting in among his busy schedule of tour guiding and off-shore surveying work. Gary is a BTO ringing licence holder with a Trainer endorsement, and his ringing work is focussed on the Observatory but also the NOA's CES project at Pensthorpe.
Peter Clarke was the founder of both Holme Bird Observatory and the NOA, giving over 33 years' service to the Association. He was a pioneering ornithologist in Norfolk, who saw the potential of the site as early as the mid 1950's and realised it would be a wonderful place from which to study migration. Peter became the face of the NOA for its members and visitors, and during his career the Association grew, with Peter and his committee overseeing the purchase of other reserves including Walsey Hills and Redwell Marsh. He died in 2017 and is commemorated on the wall of the Observatory building at Holme.
Peter Clarke was the founder of both Holme Bird Observatory and the NOA, giving over 33 years' service to the Association. He was a pioneering ornithologist in Norfolk, who saw the potential of the site as early as the mid 1950's and realised it would be a wonderful place from which to study migration. Peter became the face of the NOA for its members and visitors, and during his career the Association grew, with Peter and his committee overseeing the purchase of other reserves including Walsey Hills and Redwell Marsh. He died in 2017 and is commemorated on the wall of the Observatory building at Holme.
Sophie Barker comes from a birdwatching family and visited Holme regularly from childhood. She studied at Hartpury College graduating with degree in Equine Science in 1997 and, following a back injury, trained as a ringer full time at HBO from the spring of 2001. She was assistant warden until 2011 when she was promoted to the role of warden. As well as bird surveys and ringing Sophie also specialises in moths and caterpillars and making tea and coffee!