[Maine-birds] Russ Greenberg, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center director, dies

Russ Greenberg, who was director of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center since its beginning, died two weeks ago after succumbing to pancreatic cancer. Some in the Maine birding community knew or worked with Russ, and his contributions are known to most birders even if they are not directly aware of it. For example, Russ initiated the idea of shade-grown coffee (the bird-friendly label) to promote bird conservation in the Neotropics. The plight of Rusty Blackbirds, International Migratory Bird Day, and many other projects are also known to most birders now. The American Ornithologists' Union presented Russ with the Elliott Coues Award this year, and their website summarizes Russ's background under the award description: http://www.aou.org

As I watched hundreds of migrant shorebirds yesterday in Scarborough Marsh, hurriedly feeding to fuel their journey, I thought of the connectivity between breeding habitats, migration stop-overs, and wintering grounds--the big picture that people like Russ helped us understand.

Louis Bevier
Fairfield

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