Monday 6 January 2014

John Barnes 1936 - 2013



John Barnes  1936 - 2013

John died on the 30th December, 2013 at Plas y Garnedd Residential Home in Llanberis. He was 77 and had been ill for many months.

John was born and brought up in Long Eaton, Derbyshire and started birding his local area as a boy. After University, he taught French at Secondary School level. Somewhat naturally for a birdwatcher, his first post was at a school in Diss, Norfolk, where he also met his wife.

They moved to North Wales in 1966, when John took up a post at the (then) Caernarfon Grammar School.

Although a Modern Languages graduate he had always considered Ornithology to be a major interest and he had travelled widely finding, studying and photographing birds. His particular interest was in woodland birds, from the Welsh oak-woods to the tropical rainforest.

John not only enjoyed birdwatching and ornithology, he was interested in all aspects of natural history, especially mammals. He contributed a great deal to the appreciation and recording of our local wildlife by becoming involved with natural history societies and conveying his quiet enthusiasm for the natural world to other people. The following are some of his achievements:

He had been President of the Cambrian Ornithological Society and was made an honorary life member in recognition of his services. He also edited the Society’s Bulletin for over 26 years. He retired after editing his 100th bulletin in 2008.

His book “Birds of Caernarfonshire” was published in 1997 and 10 years later he published a second book “Dreamcatcher: four decades of North Wales birdwatching”.

He was an active member of the North Wales Wildlife Trust, serving both as a Council member and Trustee.

John had also been president and committee member of Bangor Bird Group and regional representative of the British Trust for Ornithology for 18 years as well as being the County recorder for the Caernarfonshire area.

He contributed greatly to the North Wales Ornithological scene for many years and will be sadly missed. Rest in peace.

By Ron Evans

                                                

1 comment:

  1. I corresponded with John in the mid to late 1990s on Dotterel in North Wales. He was always enthusiastic about the birds and hoped the odd pair would remain to breed one day. I have a few lovely photos of Dotterel taken by John.

    Colin Richards.

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