THERE were just 25 members present at the recent meeting of Crediton Probus Club, on a cool April day.

David Dornom said grace, after which we enjoyed an excellent meal. The meal over, the quote was given by Ken Down and the draw prize won by John Pike.

Our president, Gerald Hill then asked Keith Beetlestone to introduce our speaker, Steve Willis.

Steve traps pest bird species in the countryside around Crediton. These comprise for the most part three crow types, magpies, crows and jays, although Steve described the disposal of some of the other pest species, including the lesser black-backed gull and the grey squirrel (these are culled by air rifle).

He doesn’t work for any organisation but does his trapping on a purely voluntary basis, his motivation in doing so is to help create conditions in the countryside whereby the breeding of ground-nesting birds, particularly the grey partridge (which was formerly found in the Crediton area), would be made a great deal easier.

It would also greatly increase the breeding success rate of many common songbirds (passerines). Magpies, in particular, decimate the populations of thrushes, finches, warblers, tits and many other species.

Steve had brought to the meeting examples of the traps he uses in his work and demonstrated their operation to members.

Given that there are many retired farmers within our membership, there was obviously great interest in what Steve was telling us about and he spent a considerable time answering their many questions.

Steve was thanked by Peter Bryan for a most interesting talk.

The president, Gerald Hill, then proposed the final toast “to the next time”.

KB