Ludlow Griscom

Ludlow Griscom (June 17, 1890–May 28, 1959) was an American ornithologist known as a pioneer in field ornithology.

Griscom was born in New York City, the son of Clement Acton Griscom and Genevieve Sprigg Ludlow. He was a protege of Frank Chapman, later working for Thomas Barbour at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology, eventually becoming curator. In the 1920s and 1930s, he went on several expeditions collected birds in Central and South America. Among the birds collected was the now-extinct Atitlan Grebe, which he described for science. Even on field trips within the United States, Griscom kept detailed notes on bird observations, which are still on display at the Peabody Essex Museum. From his studies, he was able to establish the now prevalent notion that birds could be identified effectively from field marks, without needing to be collected [http://www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/america_united_states/massachusetts.html 1] . He was a mentor to both Allen Morgan and Roger Tory Peterson. He was instrumental in encouraging Peterson to write his first field guide.

Griscom retired from Harvard in 1955. In 1957, he was offered the position of President of the American Ornithologists' Union, but resigned almost immediately due to poor health, being succeeded by Ernst Mayr. He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery.

The American Birding Association's Ludlow Griscom Award for Outstanding Contributions to Regional Ornithology, the highest honor of its kind in the United States, was created in his honor.

Quotes

"One need not shoot a bird to know what it was."

Works

* (with Alexander Sprunt Jr.) "The Warblers of North America", New York: Devin-Avair (1957).
* "Audubon's Birds of America", Macmillan (1950)

References

* Davis, William E. "Dean of the Birdwatchers: A Biography of Ludlow Griscom", Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994.
* McAdow, Ron "Recalling a conversation with Allen Morgan," The Wayland Town Crier, June 7, 1990.