Today is @_AndyClements’ last day as CEO of @_BTO. In this thread, we’ll look back at his 13 years at the helm of the organisation. Do share your memories of Andy in the comments!

. @_AndyClements joined BTO in 2007, taking over from Jeremy Greenwood. Andy had previously worked as a consultant, and had had a long spell at English Nature, now @NaturalEngland, and in academia

2007 was the year that data collection began for Bird Atlas 2007–11, a project that @_AndyClements still looks back on as a major achievement. From the incredible volunteer effort, to brilliant leadership by staff, to publishing it in-house: it was a huge project to complete.

2007 also saw the founding of @CCI_Cambridge, where @_AndyClements was part of the founding group. Since then, he’s been a consistent part of the organisation, including recently as Head of Council and a guest lecturer for the MPhil in Conservation Leadership.

In May 2011, @_AndyClements joined Twitter, where he started using the platform to talk about the work that BTO does, and to share his @BirdTrack lists. Now, it’s a mix of birds, BirdTrack, and rowing! His first Tweet features @PAStancliffe.

. @_AndyClements is an avid @BirdTrack user and has been a great ambassador for it. When he is out rowing early in the morning, he keeps a list running in his head. He then downloads the data from brain to app over breakfast.

As CEO, @_AndyClements often joined events to engage with our members, volunteers, and staff. There have been more events than we can summarise here over the years, but we’ll highlight a few. Share your memories of these events in the comments!

One of the biggest events on @_BTO’s annual calendar is our Annual Conference in Swanwick. @_AndyClements can be found mingling with the crowds, hosting the AGM and attending talks, but in the evening he’s usually found somewhere with staff and a bottle of Port Charlotte.

Another of the annual highlights for @_BTO and @_AndyClements is @TheBirdFair, where Andy often can be found giving talks and mingling with the crowds. Really, Andy says it all in this video!
#OnIt

Each year, @_BTO and @swlanaturaleye host an evening to celebrate the winners of the BTO @MarshAwards at the @mallgalleries. It’s an evening of beautiful art, fantastic ornithology, and with @_andyclements and @HarrietMead1 as hosts.

In 2018, @_BTO and @_AndyClements hosted an evening at the House of Lords to promote BTO’s Agenda for Change. It was a great evening with @youngb48 and @carolinelucas joining, among many others who support the work we do.

Migfest is another annual highlight, and in 2016 @_andyclements found a Kentish Plover with @tom_mckinney. He also mucks in with the less glamorous tasks, e.g. tent-wrestling…

In 2018, @_andyclements hosted a BTO Horizons event where we invited changemakers for a two-day workshop to help decide BTO’s future direction. This was a hugely inspirational event, held at @EmmaCambridge.

Working with young people was one of the areas for improvement pointed out in the BTO Horizons event, and @_AndyClements has been supportive of BTO’s work in this arena; from the Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder Award to our recent Youth Representatives initiative.

During his time as CEO, @_AndyClements has seen three @_BTO Presidents. First, there was @youngb48, a friend and mentor to Andy, followed by @ChrisGPackham who did a tremendous job, and our current President @FrankRGardner, an avid birder and wonderful President.

Under @_AndyClements’ leadership, @_BTO was one of the founding supporters of @BirdPOTY and has provided a wealth of knowledge and support to the competition, benefiting in turn from the additional exposure that the competition brings.

In 2019, @_AndyClements went to Nigeria to bring the collaboration between @_BTO and @aploriwit1 closer together. The trip was focused on lecturing, teaching, learning, sharing and sharing ornithological knowledge with students & Director Manu Shiiwa.

But at the end of the day, @_AndyClements is a birder first and foremost. From Titchwell to the Isles of Scilly, he can often be found with bins or scope in hand, looking for a rarity or something to add to @BirdTrack!

. @_AndyClements says if he could be any species of bird, it would be a Dotterel. However, for our wonderful book Red Sixty Seven he wrote about Ruff. If you’re still stuck for a Christmas present, buy your copy at http://bit.ly/bto-store . @Red67book

In our #BTOConf20 session with @juliet_vickery, @stonechat42 and @FinchleyBirder, we learned that @_AndyClements’ favourite birding snack is in fact a Snickers bar! For more fun facts about Andy and Juliet, watch the full stream below.

In the same #BTOConf20 session, we learned about @_AndyClements’ biggest birding fail: he once mistook a group of molehills for Greenland White-fronted Geese! What’s yours?

Apart from birding, @_AndyClements spends a lot of his free time with his family, and running and rowing, often raising money for charities like @Camfed and @RedHenCambridge.

We wish @_AndyClements all the best for the future, and we welcome @Juliet_vickery once again as our new CEO. To hear Andy and Juliet in conversation about their own futures, as well as that of @_BTO, listen to our podcast.
http://bit.ly/BTOPodcastCEO