The changing fortunes of Lundy’s seabirds

Lundy Island, which lies 10 miles off the North Devon coast, has long been famed for its now strictly protected colonies of breeding seabirds, including its trademark Puffins. But few people realise that back in the nineteenth century Lundy’s seabirds were slaughtered in their thousands for their feathers, which were used in the fashion industry for ladies’ hats.

Fishing smacks from Clovelly used to set sail for Lundy on 1st August every year and hunt seabirds – including Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes (a kind of small gull) – over a two-week period. On one day alone 700 birds were sent back to Clovelly; an eye-witness account from 1885 related that: “It is well within the mark to say that at least 9,000 of these inoffensive birds were destroyed during the fortnight.”

Happily, we now live in more prosperous and enlightened times and Lundy’s seabirds now enjoy the full protection of the law, providing endless fascination for the island’s human visitors – which reached upwards of 20,000 last year.

The changing fortunes of Lundy’s seabirds are chronicled in a brand new book, to be launched at the end of this month. 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 of sea and land birds, from tiny migrating warblers and flycatchers to the now extinct White-tailed Eagle. “It’s amazing to think that White-tailed Eagles used to nest on Lundy,” says Tim Jones, “but with their numbers now increasing elsewhere in Britain it’s not out of the question that they could one day return to the island”. If they do, it’s unlikely they’ll be overlooked: “Their wing-span is the size of a barn door” adds Tim.

The Birds of Lundy will be launched at RM Young (Bookseller), 17 Broad Street, South Molton at 11.00 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 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

Press Release: 2007.09.18-005