The NOA is the leading birdwatching association in Norfolk and is one of the longest established. It was set up in 1970 to act as the parent body to the Holme Bird Observatory, today one of several NOA reserves stretching along the Norfolk coast. The NOA aims to further the study of ornithology, especially migration, to conserve valuable wildlife habitats and to disseminate environmental and natural history knowledge through its reserves, newsletters and reports. Activities include reserve management and fund raising through to bird ringing and census work.