James Ferguson-Lees

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I. James Ferguson-Lees was a British ornithologist.

He was 6'3" tall and claimed "60% Scottish ancestry". He spent his early years in Italy and France, but was educated in Bedford, England. He turned down the chance to study zooology at Oxford University in order to get married, and became a teacher.for seven years.^[1]. 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^[1].

In 1952, Max Nicholson persuaded him to become Assistant Editor of British Birds, then two years later, Executive Editor^[1].

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 - as series of rare birds, preserved by a taxidermist and provided with bogus histories^[2].

He made a particular study of Peregrines and Dunnocks^[1].

He had at least two sons and two daughters^[1].

Contents 1 Bibliography 1.1 Contributions 2 Significant articles 3 References

[edit] Bibliography

• Raptors of the World by James Ferguson-Lees and David Christie, illustrated by Kim Franklin, David Mead and Philip Burton (2001) ISBN 978-0-7136-8026-3

[edit] Contributions

• A field guide to the birds of Britain and Europe by Roger Peterson, Guy Mountfort, P.A.D. Hollom. Collins, 1965
  • new edition of 1954 work; revised and enlarged in collaboration with Ferguson-Lees and D.I.M. Wallace.
  • 1971 impression: ISBN 978-0-00-212020-3
  • 2004 edition: ISBN 978-0-00-719234-2

[edit] Significant articles

• Nicholson, E.M.; & Ferguson-Lees, I.J. (1962). The Hastings Rarities. British Birds (August 1962) 55(8): 281.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Personalities 40 SC, in Bird Notes Vol. 30 No. 2 p. 49, (RSPB) Spring 1962
2. ^ Nicholson & Ferguson-Lees, Op. Cit.