Fred Shaw Mayer
Encyclopedia
Frederick William Shaw Mayer MBE
(26 September 1899 – 1 September 1989), also well known as "Masta Pisin" or the "Bird Man" in New Guinea, was an Australia
n ornithologist
, aviculturist
and zoological collector. He is notable for his work in New Guinea
, especially with the birds of paradise.
at Homebush
Primary School, Petersham
High School and Sydney Grammar School
. After leaving school Mayer had abortive career starts as a surveyor and in the building industry. Then he decided to follow his childhood interest in wildlife and became a zoological collector for museums and zoos.
, concentrating on New Guinea almost exclusively from the 1930s onward. A principal client of his was Walter Rothschild
, for whom he supplied specimens for the Rothschild Zoological Museum at Tring
in Hertfordshire
, England
. Other clients included John Spedan Lewis
and Jean Delacour.
’s aviaries
at Nondugl in the Wahgi Valley of the Western Highlands
of Papua New Guinea
. This largely avicultural facility, which later became known as the Nondugl Bird of Paradise Sanctuary, acted mainly as a staging post for Taronga Zoo
in Sydney, either to provide birds directly for Taronga, or for exchanges with other zoos. As well as managing the establishment, Mayer used it as a base for further collecting expeditions. He also became an expert on hand-rearing young birds of paradise.
Mayer was also involved in the establishment of the Baiyer River Sanctuary
, set up after Hallstrom donated part of his collection of birds of paradise to the then Australian-administered government of Papua New Guinea. Despite health problems Mayer established the aviaries at the sanctuary in 1967 and acted as manager until it was opened in 1968, following which he stepped down. His final collecting trip in New Guinea took place early in 1970, from Lae
to the Cromwell Mountains of the Huon Peninsula
.
, "for services to aviculture", for his work in establishing the Nondugl and Baiyer River sanctuaries, as well as for the breeding of birds of paradise. He was also made the first Honorary Life Member of the Papua New Guinea Bird Society. He retired to Australia, living for many more years in Nambour, Queensland
, where he died 25 days before his 90th birthday. He is commemorated in the names of several New Guinea animals, including the:
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(26 September 1899 – 1 September 1989), also well known as "Masta Pisin" or the "Bird Man" in New Guinea, was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
, aviculturist
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
and zoological collector. He is notable for his work in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, especially with the birds of paradise.
Early years
Mayer was educated in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
at Homebush
Homebush, New South Wales
Homebush is an inner western suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Homebush is located 15 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Strathfield. Homebush West and Homebush Bay are separate suburbs...
Primary School, Petersham
Petersham, New South Wales
Petersham is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Petersham is located 6 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Marrickville Council...
High School and Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. After leaving school Mayer had abortive career starts as a surveyor and in the building industry. Then he decided to follow his childhood interest in wildlife and became a zoological collector for museums and zoos.
The wildlife collector
Mayer became very skilled at caring for live mammals and birds as well as preparing their skins. His abilities as a collector and preparator were recognised early in his life. After an initial self-funded collecting expedition to South-East Asia, Mayer collected extensively through the 1920s in South-East Asia and New GuineaNew Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, concentrating on New Guinea almost exclusively from the 1930s onward. A principal client of his was Walter Rothschild
Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild
Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, Baron de Rothschild FRS , a scion of the Rothschild family, was a British banker, politician, and zoologist.-Biography:...
, for whom he supplied specimens for the Rothschild Zoological Museum at Tring
Tring
Tring is a small market town and also a civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, England. Situated north-west of London and linked to London by the old Roman road of Akeman Street, by the modern A41, by the Grand Union Canal and by rail lines to Euston Station, Tring is now largely a...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Other clients included John Spedan Lewis
John Spedan Lewis
John Spedan Lewis was a British businessman and the founder of the John Lewis Partnership.The elder of two sons of John Lewis, who had opened the John Lewis department store on Oxford Street, London, Spedan Lewis joined the business at 19 and in 1914 assumed control of his father's second shop,...
and Jean Delacour.
The "Bird Man"
In 1953 Mayer became manager of Sir Edward HallstromEdward Hallstrom
Sir Edward John Lees Hallstrom was one of Australia's best-known philanthropists and businessmen of the mid-20th Century.-Early life:...
’s aviaries
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
at Nondugl in the Wahgi Valley of the Western Highlands
Western Highlands (Papua New Guinea)
Western Highlands is a province of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital is Mount Hagen. The province covers an area of 8,500 km², and there are 440,025 inhabitants , making the Western Highlands one of the most densely populated provinces. Tea and coffee are grown in the Western Highlands...
of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. This largely avicultural facility, which later became known as the Nondugl Bird of Paradise Sanctuary, acted mainly as a staging post for Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo is the city zoo of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Officially opened on 7 October 1916, it is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in the suburb of Mosman...
in Sydney, either to provide birds directly for Taronga, or for exchanges with other zoos. As well as managing the establishment, Mayer used it as a base for further collecting expeditions. He also became an expert on hand-rearing young birds of paradise.
Mayer was also involved in the establishment of the Baiyer River Sanctuary
Baiyer River Sanctuary
The Baiyer River Sanctuary is a nature reserve in Western Highlands Province of Papua-New Guinea. It was opened on 13 January 1968 by the then-Australian administration. It has been expanded to a current area of 740 hectares...
, set up after Hallstrom donated part of his collection of birds of paradise to the then Australian-administered government of Papua New Guinea. Despite health problems Mayer established the aviaries at the sanctuary in 1967 and acted as manager until it was opened in 1968, following which he stepped down. His final collecting trip in New Guinea took place early in 1970, from Lae
Lae
Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located at the start of the Highlands Highway which is the main land transport corridor from the Highlands region to the coast...
to the Cromwell Mountains of the Huon Peninsula
Huon Peninsula
Huon Peninsula is a large rugged peninsula on the island of New Guinea in Morobe Province, eastern Papua New Guinea. It is named after French explorer Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec who discovered it along with his personal assistant and porter, Henry Ole. The peninsula is dominated by the steep...
.
Recognition
Mayer was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1971 New Year HonoursNew Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
, "for services to aviculture", for his work in establishing the Nondugl and Baiyer River sanctuaries, as well as for the breeding of birds of paradise. He was also made the first Honorary Life Member of the Papua New Guinea Bird Society. He retired to Australia, living for many more years in Nambour, Queensland
Nambour, Queensland
The area now known as Nambour, was first settled in 1870. The town was then called Petrie's Creek. In 1890 the Maroochy Divisional Board was established...
, where he died 25 days before his 90th birthday. He is commemorated in the names of several New Guinea animals, including the:
- Ribbon-tailed AstrapiaRibbon-tailed AstrapiaThe Ribbon-tailed Astrapia also known as Shaw Mayer's Astrapia, Astrapia mayeri is a medium-sized, up to 32 cm long , velvet black bird of paradise...
(Astrapia mayeri) - Pygmy Ringtail PossumPygmy Ringtail PossumThe Pygmy Ringtail Possum is a species of marsupial in the Pseudocheiridae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-External links:*...
(Pseudochirulus mayeri) - Shaw Mayer's Brush MouseShaw Mayer's Brush MouseShaw Mayer's Brush Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-References:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
(Pogonomelomys mayeri) - Shaw Mayer's Water RatShaw Mayer's Water RatShaw Mayer's Water Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in the mountains of Papua New Guinea.-References:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
(Hydromys shawmayeri)