John Crosby, who illustrated The Birds of Canada (1966, 1986), passed away peacefully in Ottawa on 3 October 2016 at the age of 91. John learned birding and sketching as a youngster in Toronto. He frequented the Royal Ontario Museum where he became good friends with ornithologist Jim Baillie and bird artist Terry Shortt who furthered his love of birds and art.
John joined the staff of the National Museum of Canada in 1951 where he had access to research collections and an ornithological library. On museum field trips, John became familiar with Canadian birds from coast to coast and from Point Pelee to the High Arctic. I remember Bruce Di Labio telling me years ago that John had suggested to him that they do A Field Guide to the Birds of Canada. It would have been a good one. Quoting Dan Brunton in an email today, "John put the appreciation of the bird before all else. He loved a rare bird as well as anyone but first and foremost he was interested in the feel of the bird - only later to be called gizz. It was John's quiet appreciation for subtleties of appearance and behaviour that defined the nature of the creature just as surely as its field marks or DNA. Fortunately, John lived a long and exceptionally productive life and enriched us with his artistic skill and his gentle, encouraging nature." The talented national museum crew (Earl Godfrey, John Crosby, Stewart MacDonald) who produced two editions of The Birds of Canada are all gone now. An obituary and tribute to John Crosby will appear in an upcoming issue of The Canadian Field-Naturalist journal. Ron Pittaway Toronto ON _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
