Pete Reay, 2006

To further the study of birds in the field – a DBWPS objective.

The stated objectives of the Society are ‘to further the study of birds in the field and to assist in their conservation’. Study and conservation are distinct areas of activity, but are closely linked because it is generally acknowledged that the most effective conservation is based on sound study. Nevertheless, it is perfectly acceptable to study birds purely out of interest and independent of any application in conservation; one example here might be recording the passage of seabirds from headlands.

Aren’t we all studying birds in the field anyway?

Studying birds in the field (fieldwork) is what everyone does as soon as they look out of their window. As long as the birds are in the field (i.e. outside), the observer doesn’t have to be! Sitting in a comfy armchair looking out the window at birds on a feeder, might be at one end of the spectrum of what constitutes fieldwork, but it’s no different from sitting in a hide, and might well be more productive (in terms of birds seen) than tramping over Dartmoor for hours. Most members of the Society, and birders everywhere, do step into the field to do their fieldwork, but however they do it, there is no doubt that basic fieldwork constitutes one level of study, and a very important level, that the Society is keen to encourage and develop. Enjoyment and appreciation are the main objectives, but if such activities are going to contribute to knowledge, then records should be kept and then communicated to the wider community. The process of observers sending records, the records being entered into the database and the database then being used to produce the Devon Bird Report, constitutes the main element of bird study in the Society and involves a very large number of people.

Research? Anyone can do it.

But there are other ways of studying birds. Certainly the work of professional ornithologists, perhaps working for the RSPB or BTO, seems to be different from the type of study described so far, even though county databases derived from the records sent in by amateur observers may be used as one of the sources of data. Characteristics of this type of work include: a) a specific aim, b) a ‘scientific’ approach to collecting, analysing and interpreting data and c) publishing the results. Although this might be more grandly called research rather than study, it is more important to realise that this approach to studying birds is not restricted to professional scientists – anyone can do it! And so another interpretation of ‘furthering the study of birds’ is to try to encourage members of the Society to up their game, and if possible enhance casual observations (which we all do) with something that can properly be called a study, or even research.

Getting involved in research.

Now some people need no encouragement to do this. For example, all those who volunteer to take part in surveys organised by the BTO and other organisations. They may not have originated the project they are participating in, and they are unlikely to be directly involved in analysing and publishing the results, but they are certainly carrying out research albeit under someone else’s direction. But many individuals in the Society are carrying out their own studies, three current examples being Dennis Elphick, John Avon and Rod Bone. Dennis is carrying out research on Pied/White Wagtails (which the Society is supporting with a grant – a very direct approach to ‘furthering study’) with a professional level of expertise, intensity and output (see, for example, Devon Birds 60(2): 7-12 and other articles in recent issues of DBR, DB and The Harrier). John launched the House Sparrow survey from his own research at Kingsteignton to involve members across the county (and the Society supported this study by discussing the questionnaire within the Fieldwork Planning Group and also helping to distribute the forms). And the indefatigable Rod Bone is forever surveying his home parish in winter and summer to find out more and more about the numbers and distribution of birds there (the Society helping mainly with the publication of the results in DBR), and from this detailed working of the area, the large number of Spotted Flycatcher territories found has led to detailed work in the area by RSPB scientists (see Devon Birds 60 (2): 13-15 & 30-34). The above are just examples. A lot more is going on, and a fuller list can be found elsewhere on this site and also in the review of Devon Fieldwork in DBR 2005 pp 200-203. But we would like to encourage more people to get involved and also to let the Society know what they are doing.

Is working a local patch research?

Perhaps the nearest most people will get to carrying out their own research is to work their local patch, whether it be their own garden or a local farm, parish, reserve or other geographical entity. If we accept all ‘patchwork’ we could end up with a very large and unwieldy number of studies. But if we ignore them, we may be missing out some very worthwhile activity. In compiling a list of ongoing bird research in Devon, we do need to know what’s going on so would rather have too many local patch studies than too few, but the following guidelines may help you decide whether your study qualifies as a fieldwork project, or they may help planning such a study or improving on one already started. A valid study should:

• Have an aim: this will most often be simply to record changes in the species and perhaps numbers of birds over time in an area, but it could be much more specific than this by focussing on just one species or one period of time, or both.
• Use a standard methodology: this will involve repeated observations or counts at regular intervals, usually covering at least one year, and recording the same things in the same way on each occasion.
• Maintain a written record of the results: perhaps it will be mainly for your own benefit, but from it a summary should be submitted with your other records to the Society, and eventually publication in one of the Society publications or on the web site should be considered.

What next?

If you already have a fieldwork project (=research project), make sure we know about it by providing the following details/species involved, site/area, organisation if any, contact/fieldworker’s name, starting date/study period, aim/scope and output. If you would like to get more involved with fieldwork, and need some advice on either launching your own study or working as a surveyor on an existing project, contact us.