Devon Birds

Devon Birds, known as the Devon Bird Watching & Preservation Society from its founding in 1928 until it as renamed in 2005,[1] is one of the UK's regional ornithological societies.

History and work

The society was formed for birdwatchers and ornithologists in Devon, England, in 1928, making it one of the oldest ornithological societies in the country. It organises lectures, field trips and research, and publishes newsletters bimonthly and reports three times a year. It is a registered charity, number 228966.[2] The society's logo is a Montagu's harrier. The differences between the hen harrier and the Montagu's were first described by George Montagu, a naturalist based in Kingsbridge.

It is responsible for, or is involved in, a number of reserves. These include South Milton Ley;[3] a site at Prawle Point;[4] a hide at Fernworthy Reservoir on Dartmoor; a site at Bradiford; and a ringing hut at Slapton Ley, data from which has been passed to the British Trust for Ornithology since 1960 for inclusion in national and international records and studies.[5]

The society is a member of the Devon Biodiversity Steering Group[6] and provides data to various environmental plans initiated by Devon County Council—for instance, in 2005 it contributed data to the Devon Biodiversity Action Plan.[7] In 1993 and 2003 the society was a major partner in the barn owl surveys undertaken in Devon by the Barn Owl Trust,[8][9] and in 2009 it is helping fund a project to boost the birds' numbers in West Devon.[10]

In 2002 it was reported in the national press that Gordon Vaughan, a chairman of the society, and one of Devon's most respected ornithologists,[11] had discovered that dormice, newly emerged from hibernation, were eating the eggs of pied flycatchers, a rare bird in Devon.[12]

Notable members

Past and present

Publications
  • Bi-monthly Bulletin
  • Devon Birds published three times a year and incorporating the Annual Report

See also
  • Lundy - Conservation work part funded by Devon Birds
  • South Milton Ley - SSSI part managed as a nature reserve by Devon Birds

References
  1. "The Society - Introduction - Devon Birds". www.devonbirds.org. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  2. "Devon Birds, registered charity no. 228966". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  3. "South Milton Ley SSIs" (PDF). English Nature. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  4. "Prawle Point reserve".
  5. "Devon Bird Watching & Preservation Society – Slapton Ley". The Field Studies Council. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  6. "Biodiversity Partnership". Devon County Council. Archived from the original on 12 March 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  7. See, for example, the maps on p.2 of the Fresh Water Reedbed Plan and the Curlew Plan
  8. Ramsden, David; Howells, John (2003). "2003 Devon Barn Owl Survey Report" (PDF). The Barn Owl Trust. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  9. "First barn owl census for decade". The BBC. 12 March 2003. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  10. "Trust hopes nesting box scheme will boost barn owl numbers". Western Morning News. Financial Times Information Limited. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2009. (Subscription required for online access)
  11. "Respected birdwatcher spotted new UK species". Western Daily Press, Bristol. Financial Times Information Limited. 23 November 2006. Retrieved 24 March 2009. (Subscription required for online access)
  12. Lean, Geoffrey (26 May 2002). "Hungry and merciless, Devon's killer dormice decimate rare bird colony". The Independent. London. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
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