Bob Spear
Encyclopedia
Bob Spear, founding director of the Birds of Vermont Museum
(BOVM), is a longtime naturalist
, birdwatcher and master woodcarver living in Huntington
, Vermont
USA. He has been influential in the birding and environmental communities, having co-founded Vermont's first chapter of the National Audubon Society
and having created more than 470 biologically accurate bird carvings on display at the BOVM. He is also the author of the book, The Birds of Vermont, published in 1969 by the Green Mountain Audubon Society.
, Massachusetts
because his mother, who was a teacher, could not get a teaching job in Vermont (married women could not be employed as teachers at that time). Spear credits his mother with inspiring his interest in birds, nature, and art. Following her death, the family moved back to Vermont and settled on a farm
in Colchester. In 1938, a stray parakeet
flew into their barn, moving Spear to create his first bird carving using only a penknife
. This early carving is now on display at the Birds of Vermont Museum.
During World War II
, Spear served in the US Navy as a radar
technician
. After his release from military service, he returned to Vermont and went to work at the General Electric
(GE) plant in Burlington
. He also enrolled in courses at the University of Vermont
. While at GE, most of his lunch hours were spent birding on Blodgett Beach on Lake Champlain
. During this time, Spear married, raised a family, served as a boy scout
troop leader, carved several guitars, and honed his wood carving skills.
In 1987, the Birds of Vermont Museum opened. In addition to creating all the bird carvings and their display cases, Spear also helped design and build the museum itself. At the time of the opening, the museum housed only 231 bird carvings. Spear continued to carve more species of birds and the museum's collection has since swelled to more than 498 carvings. (The collection now includes a few carvings from Bob Spear's apprentice, fellow carver, and former curator Ingrid Brown, and 4 from fellow carver and board member Richard Allen.) The length of time required for Spear to complete a carving varies widely, depending on the size of the bird. Small birds can take as little as 40 hours to carve and paint. Prior to completing a wild turkey
carving, which required 1,230 hours, Spear's carving of a California condor
had held the honor of having required the most hours to complete (500 hours).
Birds of Vermont Museum
The Birds of Vermont Museum is a non-profit institution established in 1987 in Huntington, Vermont USA. It was created to preserve and exhibit a collection of life-like bird carvings for the purpose of educating people about the role of birds in the ecosystem...
(BOVM), is a longtime naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
, birdwatcher and master woodcarver living in Huntington
Huntington, Vermont
Huntington is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,861 at the 2000 census.The town was originally called New Huntington but the name was changed to Huntington in 1795...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
USA. He has been influential in the birding and environmental communities, having co-founded Vermont's first chapter of the National Audubon Society
National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission...
and having created more than 470 biologically accurate bird carvings on display at the BOVM. He is also the author of the book, The Birds of Vermont, published in 1969 by the Green Mountain Audubon Society.
The first half century
Bob Spear was born in 1920 into a Vermont farming family. During his youth his family moved to WestfieldWestfield, Massachusetts
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
because his mother, who was a teacher, could not get a teaching job in Vermont (married women could not be employed as teachers at that time). Spear credits his mother with inspiring his interest in birds, nature, and art. Following her death, the family moved back to Vermont and settled on a farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
in Colchester. In 1938, a stray parakeet
Parakeet
Parakeet is a term for any one of a large number of unrelated small to medium sized species of parrot, that generally have long tail feathers...
flew into their barn, moving Spear to create his first bird carving using only a penknife
Penknife
A penknife, or pen knife, is a small folding pocket knife, originally used for cutting or sharpening a quill to make a pen nib. Originally, penknives did not necessarily have folding blades, but resembled a scalpel or wood knife by having a short, fixed blade at the end of a long handle...
. This early carving is now on display at the Birds of Vermont Museum.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Spear served in the US Navy as a radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
technician
Technician
A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
. After his release from military service, he returned to Vermont and went to work at the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
(GE) plant in Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
. He also enrolled in courses at the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
. While at GE, most of his lunch hours were spent birding on Blodgett Beach on Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
. During this time, Spear married, raised a family, served as a boy scout
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
troop leader, carved several guitars, and honed his wood carving skills.
Birds and nature
Spear left GE in 1972. He had already started to forge a career in the birding world and by 1974 he had started an Environmental Day. In 1979 he started creating a collection of bird carvings in hopes of someday establishing a location where people could come to see them and learn about birds. In the late 1970s, he was active in establishing the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington and served as its first director for seven years.In 1987, the Birds of Vermont Museum opened. In addition to creating all the bird carvings and their display cases, Spear also helped design and build the museum itself. At the time of the opening, the museum housed only 231 bird carvings. Spear continued to carve more species of birds and the museum's collection has since swelled to more than 498 carvings. (The collection now includes a few carvings from Bob Spear's apprentice, fellow carver, and former curator Ingrid Brown, and 4 from fellow carver and board member Richard Allen.) The length of time required for Spear to complete a carving varies widely, depending on the size of the bird. Small birds can take as little as 40 hours to carve and paint. Prior to completing a wild turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
carving, which required 1,230 hours, Spear's carving of a California condor
California Condor
The California Condor is a New World vulture, the largest North American land bird. Currently, this condor inhabits only the Grand Canyon area, Zion National Park, and coastal mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California...
had held the honor of having required the most hours to complete (500 hours).
Awards and recognition
- 1979 - Science Educators Award for Outstanding Contribution
- 1986 - National Wildlife FederationNational Wildlife FederationThe National Wildlife Federation is the United States' largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization, with over four million members and supporters, and 48 state and territorial affiliated organizations...
Wildlife Conservation Award - 2004 - Birds of Vermont Museum, along with Green Mountain Audubon Center, recognized as an Important Bird AreaImportant Bird AreaAn Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
- 2007 - Governor's Heritage Award for Traditional Arts
See also
- Birds of Vermont MuseumBirds of Vermont MuseumThe Birds of Vermont Museum is a non-profit institution established in 1987 in Huntington, Vermont USA. It was created to preserve and exhibit a collection of life-like bird carvings for the purpose of educating people about the role of birds in the ecosystem...
- Wood carvingWood carvingWood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object...
- National Audubon SocietyNational Audubon SocietyThe National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. Incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and uses science, education and grassroots advocacy to advance its conservation mission...
- Vermont Institute of Natural ScienceVermont Institute of Natural ScienceThe Vermont Institute of Natural Science is a non-profit environmental education organization based in Quechee, Vermont. Its mission is to motivate individuals and communities to care for the environment through education, research, and avian wildlife rehabilitation.- Avian rehabilitation :One...
- BirdingBirdwatchingBirdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
- American Birding AssociationAmerican Birding AssociationThe American Birding Association is a non-profit organization of people interested in birding. Begun in 1968, the ABA is the only organization in North America that specifically caters to recreational birders. Membership is open to all...
- List of birdwatchers