The series comprises a complete set of nature diaries which William Condry kept from his late teens, the only significant omission being a deliberate one, during the years of the Second World War. The earlier diaries are almost exclusively concerned with birds, noting the sightings, calls, nests, feeding and courtship habits, and identifying features, with occasional sketches. A gradual progression may be seen, from about 1949 onwards, as Condry developed his interest in other wildlife, and more particularly in plants, recording their habitats, individual sightings and identification, sometimes assisted by drawings. Species of birds, mammals, insects and plants are usually underlined for clarity. Accounts are given of daily events, meetings and places visited in connection with Condry's professional conservation duties and literary work. Several of the diaries contain charts of birds and butterflies recorded at Ynys-hir. Weather conditions are recorded throughout. Relevant enclosures are frequent. Some of the diaries have integral indexes, and it is evident from the other papers in the archive that the entries formed useful points of reference for the preparation of books and articles.
