David Lack pioneered field ornithology. In the 1930s as a school teacher, his abiding interest in birds led to his famous study of robins and took him to the Galapagos to study the finches resulting in him being called the “father of evolutionary ecology”. Once appointed as director of the Edward Grey Institute in 1945 he initiated the study of swifts at Oxford University Museum and of great tits in Wytham wood both of which continue today. His work led to the publication of several influential books, especially the seminal The Natural Regulation of Animal Numbers (1954) and Ecological Adaptations for Breeding in Birds (1968). He hardly used statistical tests but his intimate understanding of birds led to numerous insights that turned out to be true when studied systematically. He died in 1973 but some of his conclusions have still not been fully worked through more than fifty years later.

MEETING POINT: Western Car Park (free) SU 677 043 START TIME: 9:30am DURATION: Approx. 4 hrs TYPICAL SPECIES: Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Avocet, Redshank and Dunlin, possible Short Eared Owl and Bearded Tit CONTACT: Glen Pascoe 07856110354 outings@oos.org.uk ADDITIONAL NOTES: The car park can be reached from the eastern Portsmouth A27 roundabout (signed for the A2030). The track leading to Farlington is a small lane between the A27 westbound exit and the A2030 exit leading to Portsmouth. We last visited this site in March 2024 (https://ebird.org/checklist/S209537059)