What do Algeria, Newfoundland, Russia and Senegal all have in common with Lundy Island?

The answer can be found in the pages of a brand new book The Birds of Lundy penned by North Devon ornithologists Tim Davis and Tim Jones and illustrated by renowned Devon artist Mike Langman. In fact, these are just a few of the countries that birds tagged on Lundy have reached on their incredible migratory journeys.

A Razorbill, one of Lundy’s famous nesting seabirds, was found spending the winter on the Mediterranean coast of Algeria, while a Kittiwake was found on the other side of the Atlantic in Newfoundland, Canada. A Woodcock ringed by researchers on Lundy was shot by hunters in Russia, while a Chiffchaff was ringed in its African winter quarters in Senegal and found on Lundy just a few weeks later, having covered thousands of miles flying over the Sahara Desert, the Mediterranean and a large part of continental Europe to get here!

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, all 317 bird species ever seen on the island, 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”.

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 http://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.

The 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 at info@birdsoflundy.org.uk