I am sorry to have to report to Tom's many birding friends that he has been hospitalized for over two weeks.I have been out-of town for most of that time but I did not find any indication that the news had been posted.I spoke with his son Peter on Sunday night.Tom's condition is still serious but improving.He will likely not be released for another two weeks.The family has asked that additional information not be released at this time and visitation is limited. Wisconsin birders know Tom best as the long-time editor of Summer seasonal reports.However he has lived in Minnesota for 40 years and is an active member of the Minnesota birding scene as well. Tom retired last year as Professor of Plant Biology at the U of Minnesota and in May he retired from a 35 year position directing a church choir. He and Marilyn then traveled to Ireland and Scotland with a church group.While it was not a birding trip,the one conversation I had with him about it indicated that he had managed to get a fair amount of birding in. With his choir position ended and his Summer,2003 Passenger Pigeon report writen,Tom was looking forward to more time in the field.His latest posts were of a Western Grebe he saw in Ramsey County and an unsuccessful search for a Lark Bunting reported in Northwest Wisconsin. I will send updates as I have them as I know Tom has many friends in both Wisconsin and Minnesota. Manley Olson St Paul MN
