BIC-1932.Pdf
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SECOND REPORT OF The Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society. 1932. Edited by B. H. RYVES and G. H. HARVEY. The Annual Meeting was held at Truro on 1st February, and about 26 members were present. The President took the chair. The President and Officers were re-elected en bloc, and Miss M. R. Moor and Dr. W. J. Stephens were elected members of the Executive Committee in place of Mrs. Bewes and the Rev. A. A. Woodward, who retired pursuant to Rule 6. A recommendation of the Committee that the Bird Competition, offered by the Western Morning News, be in connection with Rook's nests was approved. The rules for the conduct of the Competition, which had already been drafted, were explained and also approved. The meeting expressed its deep appreciation of the kindness and generosity of the Western Morning News in inaugurating such a competition, and for the keen interest it showed at all times in the bird life of the County. In moving the adoption of the Annual Report for 1931, the President said that the Society had banded together the many keen observers, who previously had been doing valuable work as individuals. This would ensure their work carrying far greater weight. When the members read the bird records which the Report contained, they would find that these alone justified the formation of the Society. It was decided that a survey be undertaken in 1932 of the distribution of Woodlark, CM Bunting and Corn Bunting, as their status in the County needed elucidation. 2 A resolution was moved and unanimously carried that the Society strongly disapproved of the exhibition of any caged wild British bird that had been taken in a state of nature and especially deprecated the exhibition of the Cornish Chough, a bird in grave danger of extinction and fully protected by law. It was resolved to send copies of the resolution to all Cornish Cage-bird Shows and the R.S.P.C.A. A vote of thanks to the Royal Institution of Cornwall for the use of a room at the Museum for its meetings was warmly accorded. The meeting was closed by the reading of a paper entitled " Notes on a family of Spotted Flycatchers" by Mr. C. Nicholson. The Second General Meeting was held at Truro on 3rd November. In referring to the recent Rook Competition, inaugurated by the Western Morning News, the President asked Lieut.-Col. Ryves, who had judged the Competition on behalf of Mr. J. L. Palmer, Editor-in-Chief, to give the meeting an account of it. Lieut.-Col. Ryves said that the Competition had proved a great success and aroused much interest. It had given valuable information, not only as regards the number of nests a single tree could hold, but also on the species of trees patronized by Rooks. A full account had appeared in the Western Morning News in its issue of 11th April. The Competition was for the greatest and second greatest number of occupied Rook's nests discovered in any four trees witnin any Cornish Rookery. All entries had to be submitted by the 1st April, and the number received was very satis factory, comprising Rookeries from Callington in the north to the Lizard Peninsula in the south. The first prize of 3 guineas was awarded to Mr. G. Sweet, a gardener of Penrice, St. Austell. His total of occupied nests in 4 trees of the Rookery was 79, comprised as follows: — 46 in an Insignis Pine, 19 in a Scotch Fir, 7 in a Cornish Elm and 7 in a Horse Chestnut. This entry was unique, in that the greatest number of nests were found to be in 4 different species of trees. # 3 The second prize of 2 guineas was won by Miss Sheila Ford of Pengreep, Redruth, who ran Mr. Sweet very close with a total of 74. Her nests were as follows:—23 and 18 in two old Scotch Firs, 18 in an Insignis Pine and 15 in a Beech. Miss Ford reported the interesting fact that the birds did very useful work in ridding the lawns of quantities of moss with which they lined their nests. The third largest number of nests was reported by Mr. A. Seymour Cooke, an Associate of the Society, in a rookery in the grounds of Canon Coulthard at Breage. In this rookery there were 46 nests in two Beeches, one Insignis, and one Ash, the latter holding 15 nests. Mr. P. Hambly of Westcott Farm, Callington, recorded 40 nests in 4 Beeches, stating that there were only 75 nests in the rookery as against 100 to 120 in previous years. This decrease he attributed to senseless persecution by allotment holders, who did not realize that they were destroying valuable allies. Taking the entries as a whole, evergreen trees proved to be the most favoured as well as the most crowded. Among deciduous trees, Elms appeared to be the most popular, closely followed by Beeches. In all, ten species of trees figured among the entries: —Insignis Pine, Scotch Fir, Ilex, Cornish Elm, Beech, Oak, Ash, Silver Birch, Horse Chestnut and Lime. The President again stressed the undoubted efficacy with village children of the " Bird and Tree " Competition organized by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. She thought that members should do what they could to forward the adoption of the scheme by the elementary schools in their neighbourhoods. Leaflets explaining the scheme could be had by any member by application to either of the Hon. Secretaries. The Secretaries announced that copies of the Society's first Annual Report for 1931 were available for issue to new members who were not in possession of it, at cost price of 2/- per copy. Attention was drawn to the lack of members in some parts of the County, such as the Tintagel, Boscastle, Bude, Camelford, Launceston, Fowey and Looe areas. Members who were in a position to do so, were earnestly asked to endeavour to enlist members from these districts. 4 It had been pointed out by Mr. T. J. Willcocks that there was still much regrettable ignorance, particularly among 10/- gun license holders, concerning the dates of " close time " and the protection accorded by the 1932 County Bird Order to certain rare birds and winter visitors, such as Wild Geese, Bittern, Godwits, etc. He had suggested that the Society might affix posters, briefly enumerating the important items of the Bird Order at conspicuous places on certain estuaries which were visited by Geese and the rarer Waders. The expenditure should be well within the Society's means. It was contended that such posters would save the lives of rare birds which might otherwise inadvertently be shot. Mr. Willcock's suggestion was unanimously approved and, after a good deal of discussion, it was decided to leave the arrangements of the necessary details in the hands of the Committee. The meeting was terminated by a very interesting address on " Bird life in Queensland" by Mr. Michael Rogers. The Executive Committee held four meetings during the year, namely, on 1st February, 29th April, 1st July and 9th December. The Committee desires again to place on record its gratitude for the courtesy of the Royal Institute of Cornwall and of the Curator, Mr. G. Penrose, in placing the Museum at the Society's disposal for all its meetings in 1932. MEMBERSHIP. We regret to announce the death during the year of Mr. W. Kendall King, Kevor, Cliff Road, Falmouth. The following resignations have been received since the publication of the " List of Members" in the Annual Report for 1931: — Mr. and Mrs. Leake, K-l, Albany, Piccadilly, W.l. Miss Panting, Tolcarne, Mawgan, St. Columb. Mrs. Wolseley, Tolcarne, Mawgan, St. Columb. The subscription for 1932 of one 1931 member has not been received nor has his resignation been notified. In arriving at the total membership at the close of 1932 this name is 5 omitted. The matter is being taken in hand with a view to denning the position. The following new members, have been elected during the year: — Adams, S. H. A., Trenance, Mawgan Porth, St. Columb Minor. Agnew, Comdr., M.P., Polstrong, Camborne. Anderson, B. W., Thatched Cottage, Whyteleafe, Farleigh, Surrey. Anderson, Mrs. I. M., Thatched Cottage, Whiteleafe, Farleigh, Surrey. Barker, Miss W. M., Tregye Cottage, Devoran, Truro. Bickford-Smith, Mrs. G., Trevarno, near Helston. Bickford-Smith, J. C, Trevarno, near Helston. Bickford-Smith, W. N., Trevarno, near Helston. Bolitho, Mrs. F., Trewidden, Buryas Bridge. Bullmore, T. K., Trebarne, Mawnan, Falmouth. Clarke, A. C, Ponsanooth, Perranwell Station. Coldrey, A. A., Trenowan, Camborne. Harvey, Miss E. 1^ Rose Hill, Padstow. Hendy, E. W., Holt Anstiss, Porlock, Somerset. Hepburn, Ian, Laxton House, Oundle, Northamptonshire. Jarvis, W. H., 1, Marcus Hill, Newquay. Macmillan, J., Melrose, Trehane Cottage, Polzeath, Wadebridge. Magor, E. J. P., Lamellen, St. Tudy. Moyse, Mrs. 0. R., Condurrow, St. Clement, Truro. Pratt, Miss M., County School for Girls, Camborne. Ryves, Miss S. C, Scarteen, Seaford, Sussex. Simms, G. W., Little Trefewha, Praze, Camborne. Skilbeck, Miss A. T., St. Petroc House, Little Petherick, St. Issey. Stokes, Miss S., Tregurrian, St. Columb Minor. Williams, Mrs. M. F., Greenway, Churston Ferrers, Devon. The name of Mr. C. Rice, of 1, Trelawney Road, Camborne, did not appear in the list of 1931 owing to the non-receipt of the prescribed declaration form. This has since been received and his name has now been added to the list of members for 1932. At the close of 1931, the number of fully subscribed members was 102. At the close of 1932, it stands at 122.