Devon Birds

Dedicated to the study and conservation of wild birds in Devon since 1928

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Devon Bird Sightings

Want to know who has seen what recently, to help plan your own trip. Or do you want to tell us about a sighting you have made?

Places to Go

Just some of the places in Devon that are popular with birdwatchers

Events

Check what is happening at the various branches across Devon. We would love to meet you

Devon Bird Sightings

21 Aug

6:01 pm

Membership Benefits

Joining Devon Birds means that you get our quarterly updates and a copy of the Devon Bird Report free.

You also get the opportunity to meet like minded people at our branch meetings, but most importantly you help us to support important projects that aid the protection of Birds in Devon and provide funding for both research and the maintenance and upkeep of our reserves.

As everybody at Devon Birds is a volunteer, all of the money we receive goes towards these aims

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Cirl Bunting Mike Langman

Devon Birds Membership

Devon Birds relies on its members to fund its activities throughout the year. This includes paying for venues for indoor meetings, the accommodation for the AGM, Management costs for the Reserves and Funding the projects that we support.

Devon Birds Membership runs from 1st January and all members receive a range of benefits including access to Reserves, meetings, talks and walks, together with communication from us, such as the Newsletter and the Devon Bird Report.

To renew your membership simply log in to your account on the website, click on the renew membership button and follow the instructions thereafter.

If you pay for your membership via Direct Debit or Standing Order then you need not do anything as your membership will automatically renew.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support.

Devon Birds and Facebook

In addition to this website, we have a Facebook Page where we will communicate to members and the wider public about who we are and our activities, including branch events.

Those who wish to submit bird sightings and photographs can do so on this site using the sightings page, or by submitting photographs to the gallery. Please ensure to follow the posting rules and guidelines as this ensures the site runs smoothly and reduces the workload of our volunteer moderators.

Devon Birds Facebook

Planning Applications

Devon Birds is regularly asked to become involved in planning applications across the county. These are assessed by the Executive Committee as they arise.

Planning law is complex and challenging with the government rules undoubtedly favouring development.

We will, however, take a robust attitude to planning matters where we can provide evidence that a development would significantly impact protected species, wintering or breeding habitats, or roosting sites and we will respond as appropriate. We will work closely with other agencies, such as the Devon Wildlife Trust.

To maintain credibility, Devon Birds will only challenge plans which have a clear and substantial impact on the county’s bird populations. We will not be able to challenge every application which takes away another green field site – unfortunate though that may be for local birds and wildlife. We need to base our approach on our ability to sustain and support an objection through to an enquiry.

If you are aware of an application which you think may have a serious negative impact on Devon’s bird population, please get in touch with our Secretary.

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Planning thresholds for Devon Birds engagement:

1. SPA/SACs for birds (Exe, Tamar, Dartmoor)

2. SSSIs with key RDB species (Taw/Torridge)

3. 2% rule – would if affect more than 2% of the Devon RDB breeding, wintering or roosting population.

An example of the last might be Willow Tit – Devon population calculated from last Devon Birds Atlas could be 100-150 pairs so the threshold would be 2-3 pairs, to trigger our intervention.