Formation of the Devon Bird Watching & Preservation Society

By Dave Jenks, Society Archivist - (Includes extracts from an article, which appeared in Devon Birds Vol.51 No 3 October 1998)

Arguably, the most important event in the history of Devonshire ornithology was the formation in 1928 of the DBWPS. To understand the reasons for this development, it is important to consider the historical background and progress in ‘scientific’ ornithology which was taking place elsewhere.

The present day benevolent attitude to birds is a comparatively recent phenomenon, because well into the 20th century the persecution of birds knew no bounds. This persecution, and the depredations of egg collectors, had continued unabated for a hundred and fifty years or more and had become a generally accepted social practice. Even the few individuals who brought a scientific approach to the study of birds thought nothing of using the gun to further their work in the early days of ornithology. Added to the collecting mania was the relentless pursuit and slaughter of certain birds for their plumage and those classed as ‘vermin’, that is to say, any bird perceived to be a threat to crops or to game-birds in particular. Vermin of course included all the birds of the crow family and all birds of prey, with many of our most beautiful and rare raptors ending their days rotting on a gamekeepers gibbet. It was against this background that the pioneers of conservation and preservation had to strive to bring home their call for change, but they also needed the backing of sound scientific data which only good countywide organising could provide.

After the First World War the science of field ornithology began to emerge, with men putting aside the gun for the binoculars and notebook, although the subject of egg collection was to remain a huge bone of contention for some time to come.

In 1921, the Oxford Ornithological Society (OOS) was formed, the first of its kind in the country. The membership included Bernard William Tucker (1901-1950) and his influence on organised ornithology in Great Britain cannot be over-stated. Tucker became the first Honorary Secretary of the OOS and his authority was such that it would lead eventually to the formation of the DBWPS.

In 1927 Tucker was instrumental in helping to set up the Oxford Bird Census, the first step in the founding of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology. Tucker became the first Honorary Secretary of the BTO, later serving as an ordinary member of Council and as Vice-Chairman. During this period, the groundswell of interest in field ornithology led to a need for a more systematic approach to field work on birds. Tucker set himself the task of organising this, and began approaching leading ornithologists in various counties, with a view to spreading his ideas.

His contact in Devon was Ernest Allen, who for some years had been a Fellow of the RSPB and a reputable speaker on bird matters. How Tucker originally became acquainted with Ernest Allen remains unknown but it is likely they met in Oxford.

In the hope of rounding up a nucleus of Devon ornithologists to further Tucker’s aims, Allen sought the help of Dr Ernest Ward, President of Teign Naturalists Field Club (TNFC). In April 1928, Allen had given a talk to members of the TNFC entitled, “Some rare birds seen on Dawlish Warren and the necessity for protection” which was adjudged to have been an ‘excellent and useful address’. In his talk, Allen referred to a variety of rare birds and narrated instances of their wanton destruction, including the injury done by egg collectors, who in some instances took whole clutches of eggs. Reference was also made to the failure of existing legislation to prevent this destruction.

In the discussion that followed, many of the audience of 82 members and guests including a number of RSPB members, spoke of their own experiences of bird destruction and suggested ways and means for protection and there is no doubt that the seeds for a protection body were sown at that meeting. Later that year the first steps towards bringing protection and science together were taken when Ernest Allen and Dr Ward gathered a group of interested ornithologists and naturalists for the inaugural meeting of the DBWPS.

The meeting, held over luncheon in Deller’s Café, Bedford Street, Exeter on Saturday 8th December 1928 was attended by ten men from various parts of Devon, and one from West Somerset. Deller’s Café incidentally, was the ‘in place’ for pre-war Exonians to meet, an elegant and very much ‘art-deco’ up-market restaurant, which was unfortunately destroyed in the blitz of 1942. The main aims of the inaugural meeting were for setting up a systematic recording method and for some means of protection, particularly for the rarer breeding birds. Thus, they set about laying the foundations for the Society as we know it today, and called themselves the ‘Devon Ornithological Committee’. Ernest Allen was elected Chairman for the inaugural meeting and undoubtedly would have become first President of the DBWPS had he lived, but within three short weeks he had died and his guiding hand was lost. The agreed provisional name ‘Devon Ornithological Committee’ was thought to be either too scientific or unduly serious and was subsequently changed to the Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society at the first general meeting held in February 1929. It was at this meeting of the Society that Dr Ernest Ward was elected its first President.

For the first time in Devon’s ornithological history, a means was now in place for organised collective recording within the county. Although this was the principal reason behind Bernard Tucker’s initiative, there was equal determination amongst the founders to bring some protection to Devon’s birds.

The following decades saw the development of the new Society, which was not without problems and controversies among its membership and in its relations with bodies outside Devon. The War came, but limited recording continued and Annual Bird Reports were published. By 1950, most of the Founder Members had died or left Devon, but a new generation was ready to take their places. And so it has been for over seventy-five years.