# Devon Birds

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

## History and work

The society was formed for [birdwatchers](/source/Birdwatcher) and ornithologists in [Devon](/source/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](/source/Charitable_organization), number 228966.[2] The society's logo is a [Montagu's harrier](/source/Montagu's_harrier). The differences between the [hen harrier](/source/Hen_harrier) and the Montagu's were first described by [George Montagu](/source/George_Montagu_(naturalist)), a naturalist based in [Kingsbridge](/source/Kingsbridge).

It is responsible for, or is involved in, a number of reserves. These include [South Milton Ley](/source/South_Milton_Ley);[3] a site at [Prawle Point](/source/Prawle_Point);[4] a hide at [Fernworthy Reservoir on Dartmoor](/source/Dartmoor_reservoirs); a site at [Bradiford](/source/Bradiford); and a [ringing hut](/source/Bird_ringing) at [Slapton Ley](/source/Slapton_Ley), data from which has been passed to the [British Trust for Ornithology](/source/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](/source/Devon_County_Council)—for instance, in 2005 it contributed data to the Devon Biodiversity Action Plan.[\[1\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20120306004302/http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/biodiversity/devon_biodiversity_action_plan.htm)[7] In 1993 and 2003 the society was a major partner in the [barn owl](/source/Barn-owl) surveys undertaken in Devon by the [Barn Owl Trust](/source/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](/source/Dormouse), newly emerged from hibernation, were eating the eggs of [pied flycatchers](/source/European_pied_flycatcher), a rare bird in Devon.[12]

## Notable members

Past and present

- [Tony Soper](/source/Tony_Soper) – DBWPS President 1969–1970
- [Dr. Janet Kear OBE – DBWPS President 1995–2003](/source/Janet_Kear)

## Publications

- Bi-monthly *Bulletin* [\[2\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20090519201759/http://www.devonbirds.org/publishing)
- **Devon Birds** published three times a year and incorporating the *Annual Report* [\[3\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20090106064356/http://www.devonbirds.org/node/119)

## See also

- [Lundy](/source/Lundy) - Conservation work part funded by Devon Birds
- [South Milton Ley](/source/South_Milton_Ley) - SSSI part managed as a nature reserve by Devon Birds

## References

1. ["The Society - Introduction - Devon Birds"](https://www.devonbirds.org/about/the_society/introduction). *www.devonbirds.org*. Retrieved 2021-01-05.

1. ["South Milton Ley SSIs"](http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002854.pdf). *English Nature*. Retrieved 24 March 2009.

1. ["Prawle Point reserve"](http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/reserves/devon.asp)

1. ["Devon Bird Watching & Preservation Society – Slapton Ley"](http://www.slnnr.org.uk/birds/dbwps.html). The [Field Studies Council](/source/Field_Studies_Council). Retrieved 24 March 2009.

1. ["Biodiversity Partnership"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100312090251/http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/biodiversity/devon_biodiversity_action_plan/biodiversity_partnership.htm). Devon County Council. Archived from [the original](http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environmentplanning/natural_environment/biodiversity/devon_biodiversity_action_plan/biodiversity_partnership.htm) on 12 March 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2009.

1. See, for example, the maps on p.2 of the [Fresh Water Reedbed Plan](http://www.devon.gov.uk/dbap-freshwater-reedbed.pdf) and the [Curlew Plan](http://www.devon.gov.uk/dbap-birds-curlew.pdf)

1. Ramsden, David & Howells, John (2003). ["2003 Devon Barn Owl Survey Report"](http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/content_images/pdf/Devon_Barn_Owl_Survey_2003.pdf). The Barn Owl Trust. Retrieved 24 March 2009.

1. ["First barn owl census for decade"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/2843059.stm). The BBC. 12 March 2003. Retrieved 24 March 2009.

1. ["Trust hopes nesting box scheme will boost barn owl numbers"](http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:WMNB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=12634C65498082A8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0FE8B94B8C8CAAB1). *Western Morning News*. Financial Times Information Limited. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2009. (Subscription required for online access)

1. ["Respected birdwatcher spotted new UK species"](http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:WDPB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=115A366A8A642030&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0FE8B94B8C8CAAB1). *Western Daily Press, Bristol*. Financial Times Information Limited. 23 November 2006. Retrieved 24 March 2009. (Subscription required for online access)

1. Lean, Geoffrey (26 May 2002). ["Hungry and merciless, Devon's killer dormice decimate rare bird colony"](https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/hungry-and-merciless-devons-killer-dormice-decimate-rare-bird-colony-652312.html). *The Independent*. Retrieved 24 March 2009.[dead link]

## External links

- [Devon Birds website](http://www.devonbirds.org/)
- [Lundy Field society bibliography](http://www.lundy.org.uk/bibl/bibsection.php?topic=6)
- [Funding of Lundy Field Society work via Devon Birds publication](http://www.birdsoflundy.org.uk/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Devon Birds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon_Birds) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devon_Birds?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.