This is an excerpt from a message from Mindy Waldron of the Bibbee Nature
Club of Bluefield WV.
I also wanted to let you know of the passing of Chandler Robbins, and
exceptional scientist and birder. If you have or have ever used the
"Golden" Birds of North America from as early as the 60's, you have seen his
work. Chandler along with 2 others, wrote that field guide, for many of us,
our first field guide. You may have heard about "Wisdom", the oldest known
living bird. She is a Laysan albatross, still laying eggs each year. We
know her age (over 60 years) because she was banded in 1956 by Chandler
Robbins. He was a member of Brooks Bird Club and I'm told, loved spending
time in West Virginia. He worked for the Fish and Wildlife Service in
Patuxent, Maryland until retiring in 2005. If you have participated in a
Breeding Bird Survey, you could thank him for your route. He started the
program and routes. His research on forest fragmentation was landmark
research and used by Rachel Carson in "Silent Spring". What I remember most
from meeting and birding with him, were his binoculars. They were the same
pair he'd used since starting with FWS. He will be remembered as a great
scientist and exceptional person.
Thanks Mindy for this info,
Roger Mayhorn
Compton Mountain
