Frank Gill (ornithologist)
Encyclopedia
Frank Bennington Gill is an American
ornithologist with worldwide research interests and birding experience. He is perhaps best known as the author of the textbook Ornithology (3rd edition, 2006), which is considered the leading textbook in the field.
Gill was raised in Teaneck, New Jersey
. He reported that he became interested in birds at the age of seven, when his grandfather, Frank Rockingham Downing, showed him a Song Sparrow
at a birdbath. This was the first time he had seen a bird through binoculars, "and I was hooked."
After Gill received his Ph. D. in Zoology from the University of Michigan
in 1969 (where he had also completed his undergraduate degree), he joined the ornithology department at the Academy of Natural Sciences
in Philadelphia. From 1969-1995, Gill was a full-time staff member of the Academy, where he held various positions throughout his tenure, including that of Chairman for the Department of Ornithology and Vice President for Systematics and Evolutionary Biology. During his time at the Academy, Gill was instrumental in reestablishing the Academy's position as one of the leading centers of American ornithological research. This was manifested through Gill's work as the founding director of the VIREO program (Visual Resources for Ornithology) and his work as the editor of the encyclopedic series Birds of North America, Life Histories for the 21st Century. Since 1996, Gill has been affiliated with the Academy as a Research Fellow.
More recently, Gill was the president of the American Ornithologists' Union
from 1998-2000. For his contributions to ornithology, Gill was also recognized with the William Brewster Award, the highest honor bestowed by the AOU. Additionally, Gill is an elected member of the International Ornithological Congress
, as well as the co-author, with Minturn Wright, of Birds of the World: Recommended English Names
(2006).
In 1996, Gill became Senior Vice President and Director of Science for the National Audubon Society
, a position from which he retired in 2004. In 2007, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Audubon Society, where he had been a senior ornithologist. He has been quoted in a number of news reports concerning birds.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ornithologist with worldwide research interests and birding experience. He is perhaps best known as the author of the textbook Ornithology (3rd edition, 2006), which is considered the leading textbook in the field.
Gill was raised in Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
. He reported that he became interested in birds at the age of seven, when his grandfather, Frank Rockingham Downing, showed him a Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
The Song Sparrow is a medium-sized American sparrow.Adults have brown upperparts with dark streaks on the back and are white underneath with dark streaking and a dark brown spot in the middle of the breast. They have a brown cap and a long brown rounded tail. Their face is grey with a streak...
at a birdbath. This was the first time he had seen a bird through binoculars, "and I was hooked."
After Gill received his Ph. D. in Zoology from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1969 (where he had also completed his undergraduate degree), he joined the ornithology department at the Academy of Natural Sciences
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
in Philadelphia. From 1969-1995, Gill was a full-time staff member of the Academy, where he held various positions throughout his tenure, including that of Chairman for the Department of Ornithology and Vice President for Systematics and Evolutionary Biology. During his time at the Academy, Gill was instrumental in reestablishing the Academy's position as one of the leading centers of American ornithological research. This was manifested through Gill's work as the founding director of the VIREO program (Visual Resources for Ornithology) and his work as the editor of the encyclopedic series Birds of North America, Life Histories for the 21st Century. Since 1996, Gill has been affiliated with the Academy as a Research Fellow.
More recently, Gill was the president of the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
from 1998-2000. For his contributions to ornithology, Gill was also recognized with the William Brewster Award, the highest honor bestowed by the AOU. Additionally, Gill is an elected member of the International Ornithological Congress
International Ornithological Congress
The International Ornithological Congress series forms the oldest and largest international series of meetings of ornithologists. It is organised by the International Ornithological Committee, a group of about 200 ornithologists...
, as well as the co-author, with Minturn Wright, of Birds of the World: Recommended English Names
Birds of the World: Recommended English Names
Birds of the World: Recommended English Names is a paperback book, written by Frank Gill and Minturn Wright on behalf of the International Ornithological Congress. The book is an attempt to produce a standardised set of English names for all bird species, and it is the product of a project set in...
(2006).
In 1996, Gill became Senior Vice President and Director of Science for 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...
, a position from which he retired in 2004. In 2007, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Audubon Society, where he had been a senior ornithologist. He has been quoted in a number of news reports concerning birds.
Literature
- William Edwin Davis, Jerome A. Jackson: Contributions to the History of North American Ornithology, Nuttall Ornithological Club, 1995. p. 21, ISBN 9781877973369