James Ferguson-Lees
Encyclopedia
I. James Ferguson-Lees is a British
ornithologist
. He spent his early years in Italy
and France
, but was educated in Bedford
, England
. He turned down the chance to study zoology
at Oxford University in order to get married, and became a teacher for seven years. As a boy, he was taught about birds by Bernard Tucker
.
He was also a twitcher, once driving through the night to see a Dusky Thrush
at Hartlepool
.
In 1952 Max Nicholson persuaded him to become Assistant Editor of British Birds
, then two years later, Executive Editor.
He was a member of the British Birds Rarities Committee
from (1959-1963) and was responsible, with John Nelder
and Nicholson, for debunking the Hastings Rarities
- a series of rare birds, preserved by a taxidermist
and provided with bogus histories.
He has made a particular study of Peregrines
and Dunnock
s.
He has at least two sons and two daughters.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
. He spent his early years in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, but was educated in Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He turned down the chance to study zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
at Oxford University in order to get married, and became a teacher for seven years. As a boy, he was taught about birds by Bernard Tucker
Bernard Tucker
Bernard William Tucker was an English ornithologist. He was lecturer in zoology at Oxford University, a long-time editor of British Birds and one of the authors of The Handbook of British Birds...
.
He was also a twitcher, once driving through the night to see a Dusky Thrush
Dusky Thrush
The Dusky Thrush, Turdus eunomus, is a member of the thrush family Turdidae which breeds eastwards from central Siberia. It is closely related to the more southerly breeding Naumann's Thrush T...
at Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
.
In 1952 Max Nicholson persuaded him to become Assistant Editor of British Birds
British Birds (magazine)
British Birds is a monthly ornithology magazine that was established in 1907. It is now published by BB 2000 Ltd, which is wholly owned by The British Birds Charitable Trust , established for the benefit of British ornithology...
, then two years later, Executive Editor.
He was a member of the British Birds Rarities Committee
British Birds Rarities Committee
The British Birds Rarities Committee , established in 1959, is the national bird rarities committee for Britain. It assesses claimed sightings of bird species that are rarely seen in Britain, based on descriptions, photographs and video recordings submitted by observers...
from (1959-1963) and was responsible, with John Nelder
John Nelder
John Ashworth Nelder FRS was a British statistician known for his contributions to experimental design, analysis of variance, computational statistics, and statistical theory.-Contributions:...
and Nicholson, for debunking the Hastings Rarities
Hastings Rarities
The Hastings Rarities affair is a case of putative ornithological fraud. Two articles in the August 1962 issue of the journal British Birds, one a statistical examination by John Nelder, the other an editorial by Max Nicholson and James Ferguson-Lees, made a case for several records of birds...
- a series of rare birds, preserved by a taxidermist
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
and provided with bogus histories.
He has made a particular study of Peregrines
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
and Dunnock
Dunnock
The Dunnock, Prunella modularis, is a small passerine bird found throughout temperate Europe and into Asia. It is by far the most widespread member of the accentor family, which otherwise consists of mountain species...
s.
He has at least two sons and two daughters.
Contributions
- A field guide to the birds of Britain and Europe by Roger PetersonRoger Tory PetersonRoger Tory Peterson , was an American naturalist, ornithologist, artist, and educator, and held to be one of the founding inspirations for the 20th century environmental movement.-Background:...
, Guy MountfortGuy MountfortGuy Mountfort OBE was an English advertising executive, amateur ornithologist and conservationist.-Biography:...
, P.A.D. Hollom. CollinsWilliam Collins (publisher)William Collins was a Scottish schoolmaster and publisher.Collins was born near Glasgow in 1789. In 1819 he set up a publishing business, initially selling religious books. He produced the first Collins dictionary in 1824, when he also obtained a licence to publish the Bible...
, 1965- new edition of 1954 work; revised and enlarged in collaboration with Ferguson-Lees and D.I.M. WallaceD. Ian M. WallaceD. Ian M. Wallace is a British birder, author and artist. He lives in Staffordshire.D.I.M...
. - 1971 impression: ISBN 978-0-00-212020-3
- 2004 edition: ISBN 978-0-00-719234-2
- new edition of 1954 work; revised and enlarged in collaboration with Ferguson-Lees and D.I.M. Wallace
Significant articles
- Nicholson, E.M.; & Ferguson-Lees, I.J. (1962). The Hastings Rarities. British Birds (August 1962) 55(8): 281.