Górnośląskie Koło Ornitologiczne

Górnośląskie Koło Ornitologiczne (GKO), or the Upper Silesian Ornithological Circle, is a Polish non-profit association focused on ornithological research and nature conservation. It was established in 1981 at the University of Silesia in Katowice, initially as the Katowice Circle of the Ornithological Section of the Polish Zoological Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Zoologiczne). The organisation grew out of informal ornithology classes for secondary school students in Upper Silesia, led by biologist Piotr Cempulik around 1979–1980. Several participants, including Jacek Betleja, Wiesław Chromik, and Gustaw Schneider, became active members. The formal founding was driven by Tadeusz Krotoski, with support from doc. dr hab. Kazimierz Czechowicz, who helped establish the Katowice branch of the Polish Zoological Society in April 1981. The first constitutive meeting took place on 28 September 1981 in Katowice. Over the decades, GKO has expanded its scope by creating local working groups in Rybnik, Gliwice, the main cities of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, the Pszczyna Forests, the Lubliniec Forests, and the Upper Vistula Valley. In 1994, it established the "Czaplon" Ornithological Working Group for the Upper Vistula Valley, covering approximately 1,400 km². The association's logo has changed over time: in 1989, a tufted duck (hełmiatka) was chosen as the emblem, and currently the logo features a night heron (ślepowron). GKO remains active in bird research and conservation, operating in the Upper Silesian region of Poland. Its website is hosted by the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, indicating a close institutional link.

The origins of Górnośląskie Koło Ornitologiczne (GKO) trace back to 1979/1980, when Piotr Cempulik, a biologist and employee of the Chorzów Zoo, began conducting ornithology classes for interested secondary school students from Upper Silesia. These classes led several participants—including Jacek Betleja, Wiesław Chromik, and Gustaw Schneider—to join the Katowice Circle of the Ornithological Section of the Polish Zoological Society, which was being established by Tadeusz Krotoski. In 1980, efforts began to create a circle based in Katowice. The process took about a year and succeeded thanks to Krotoski's determination, aided by parallel efforts by doc. dr hab. Kazimierz Czechowicz to establish a Katowice branch of the Polish Zoological Society. The Katowice Branch of PTZool was founded in April 1981, and Tadeusz Krotoski was elected to its board. This was important because the Ornithological Circle could then be subordinate to the local branch board. On 28 September 1981 at 4 p.m., in room 213 of the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection at Bankowa 9 in Katowice, the first constitutive meeting of the Katowice Circle of the Ornithological Section of the Polish Zoological Society took place. The circle later became known as Górnośląskie Koło Ornitologiczne. Its development was marked by the creation of local working groups in various periods: the Rybnik group, the Gliwice group, groups in the main cities of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, the Pszczyna Forests, the Lubliniec Forests, and the Upper Vistula Valley. From 30 September to 1 October 1989, the 50th jubilee meeting of the Circle was held in Szymocice, during which the association's logo was chosen: the tufted duck (hełmiatka). In 1994, the Ornithological Working Group of the Upper Vistula Valley "Czaplon" was established within GKO, focusing on bird research in the Upper Vistula Valley over an area of approximately 1,400 km². Currently, the association's logo is the night heron (ślepowron). The association continues to operate, with its website hosted by the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom.

• 1994

  Ornithological Working Group of the Upper Vistula Valley "Czaplon" established within GKO.

• 1989

  50th jubilee meeting in Szymocice; tufted duck chosen as the association's logo.

• 1981

  Katowice Branch of the Polish Zoological Society is founded in April; first constitutive meeting of the Katowice Circle of the Ornithological Section is held on 28 September.

• 1980

  Efforts begin to establish an ornithological circle based in Katowice.

• 1979

  Piotr Cempulik begins ornithology classes for secondary school students in Upper Silesia.

Non-profit ornithological research and conservation association

1. 1Odtwarzaczgko.muzeum.bytom.pl
2. 2Górnośląskie Koło Ornitologicznewikidata.org
3. 3Górnośląskie Koło Ornitologicznepl.wikipedia.org