The Birds of Lundy takes flight
Lundy Island, which lies some 10 miles off the North Devon coast, has long been famed for its breeding seabird colonies. But few people realise that over the years more than 300 different species of bird have been seen on the tiny island, which measures just over three miles long and half a mile wide.
A brand new book, to be launched at the end of this month, tells the story of all Lundy’s birds, which include an astonishing array of migrants stopping off to feed and rest, as well as those actually nesting of the island.
The Birds of Lundy is the result of eight years’ devoted work by North Devon ornithological experts and self-confessed Lundy addicts, Tim Davis and Tim Jones. It is the first book devoted to the island’s birds in more than a quarter of a century and has been illustrated by renowned Devon wildlife artist Mike Langman.
Tim and Tim, who live and work in Berrynarbor, hope that their book will appeal to anyone with an interest in Lundy and its wildlife, covering as it does, some 317 species, from the diminutive Goldcrest to the enormous White-tailed Eagle – not forgetting of course Lundy’s trademark Puffins.
“Lundy is a magnet for birds and birdwatchers alike,” says Tim Davis. “I’ve been going there for years but I never lose that sense of anticipation and excitement when I first step ashore. As we show in the book, Lundy is really an international crossroads for birds. It’s amazing to think that a bird we are looking at off the coast of North Devon one week, could be in Africa or the Arctic the next.”
The Birds of Lundy will be launched at RM Young (Bookseller), 17 Broad Street, South Molton at 11.00am on Saturday 29th September and anyone interested is warmly welcome to drop in. There will be a chance to meet the authors and to purchase copies of the book, and light refreshments will be served until 1.00pm.
All proceeds from The Birds of Lundy, which is being published by the authors on behalf of the Devon Bird Watching & Preservation Society and the Lundy Field Society, are going to support conservation projects on the island.
All the details of how to order the book can be found at www.birdsoflundy.org.uk/
This Press Release comes from Ian Farrell of the DBWPS Publishing Group. Email info@devonbirds.org
Editors’ Notes:
The Birds of Lundy will be published on Saturday 29 September 2007. There will be an official launch and book-signing event from 11.00am to 1.00pm at R.M. Young Bookseller, 17 Broad Street, South Molton. The launch is open to the public and light refreshments will be provided.
Birds of Lundy is being published in both softback and limited edition hardback versions, retailing at £18.95 and £35.00 respectively.
The book is illustrated with 20 colour photographs and over 100 black and white line-drawings.
The Birds of Lundy is published by the authors’ own imprint, Harpers Mill Publishing of Berrynarbor, on behalf of Devon Bird Watching & Preservation Society (also known as ‘Devon Birds’) and the Lundy Field Society. Both of these charitable organisations have supported the publication financially.
The Devon Bird Watching & Preservation Society (DBWPS) is the leading organisation devoted to the conservation of birds and their habitats across the county of Devon. It was founded in 1928 and has over 1200 members. For further details visit www.devonbirds.org
The Lundy Field Society (LFS): The LFS was founded in 1946 and is now a charity that has as its aims the study of Lundy, in particular its history, natural history and archaeology, and the conservation of its wildlife and antiquities. For more information visit http://www.lundy.org.uk/
Tim Davis and Tim Jones will be available for interview at the launch on 29 September. Alternatively, they can be contacted on info@birdsofdevon.org.uk