[obol] Re: Remembering...may we never forget
- From: Joel Geier <joel.geier@xxxxxxxx>
- To: Oregon Birders OnLine <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 17:34:54 -0700
Still thinking about Dean this evening but as the topic has broadened to
other departed birders, I'd like to bring Merlin (Elzy) Eltzroth's
memory into the mix, since we're coming up on 10 years now since he
died.
Elzy, so far as I understand, was one of the founding members of the
Oregon Bird Records Committee, and was a major force in the early days
of Oregon Field Ornithologists.Thirty years ago, as you can read here:
http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/obituaries/merlin-s-eltzroth/article_0e4bbb39-d3ab-57d4-bcaa-a9ed464d0a45.html
he was instrumental in getting Oregon law changed to protect all native
non-game bird species.
When I took on the field notes for Corvallis Audubon in 1999, Elzy was
the one birder who would still type up his report for the month (on a
real typewriter -- younger OBOLers may not know what that is so lemme
explain, it was a device similar to a keyboard but with more limited
back-spacing capabilities) and send it in by mail, always with an
encouraging note about my column from the previous month.
By 2005 Elzy had given up the typewriter, and was sending in
hand-written notes, usually apologizing for not taking time to type them
up.
I've never thrown away any of them, and still have them in a drawer on
the right-hand side of my desk. Here's an excerpt from his report date
22 Mar 05 -- coming up fast on 10 years ago -- which was one of the last
ones that I received:
"15 Mar 2 Mountain Quail M&EE. First ones seen here since Sep 04. Single
on 22 Mar. I got an identifiable photo of the white eye-ringed Junco and
sent it to Steve Dowlan if he wants to use it in [Oregon Birds]. I saw
it again yesterday. -- Elzy"
This was not quite his last report. He had one more new yard bird not
long before he died, a Blue (now called Sooty) Grouse that showed up
while one or two of his kids were visiting. But I think Elsie was the
one who sent me the report on that one.
Really miss the guy. Elsie is also wonderful and still with us. Steve
Dowlan (another good guy) is in Pennsylvania after going through his own
loss.
Good birding,
Joel
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