The Lundy Field Society was founded in 29th May 1946 in the post-war resurgence of interest in ornithology. The LFS was originally to be a branch of the Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society but the owner of Lundy, Martin Coles Harman (on the right of the postcard illustrated) who jealously guarded the island's independence, insisted on a separate society. The originator of the idea within the DBW&PS, Leslie Harvey (a lecturer in zoology at Exeter, on the left of the postcard) became the first honorary secretary and Harman the president. From the first the new society's interests were not limited to birds and work on marine biology was followed by other subjects such as archaeology and geology.
During the early years the LFS employed a warden who ran a hostel in the Old Light which was used by visiting scientific parties. The warden also logged birds, some caught in the heligoland traps which the LFS constructed (and reconstructed following the winter storms!) in various places on the island.
With the sale of Lundy to the National Trust in 1969, and its lease to the Landmark Trust, much of the earlier role of the LFS has been taken on by national conservation agencies but the Society still continues to act as the main publisher of scientific material on the island, provides advice on conservation issues, maintains the wildlife records and assists with conservation and scientific studies on the island.