Storrs L. Olson
Encyclopedia
Storrs Lovejoy Olson is an American biologist and ornithologist from the Smithsonian Institution
. He is one of the world's foremost avian paleontologists
.
An appointment with Alexander Wetmore
in 1967 led him to his main research field of paleornithology
and to his work on Ascension Island
and Saint Helena
where he made remarkable discoveries in the 1970s, including the Giant Hoopoe
and the Saint Helena Crake. In 1976 he met his future wife Helen F. James who later became another known paleornithologist herself, focusing on Late Quaternary prehistoric birds
.
During their pioneering research work on Hawaii, which lasted 23 years, Olson and James found and described the remains of 50 extinct bird species new to science, including the Nēnē-nui
, the Moa-nalo
s the apteribis
es, and the Grallistrix
"stilt-owls". In 1982, he discovered subfossil bones of the long ignored Brace's Emerald
on the Bahamas, which gave evidence that this hummingbird is a valid and distinct species. In November 1999, Olson wrote an open letter to the National Geographic Society
, in which he criticized Christopher P. Sloan's claims about the dinosaur-to-bird transition which referred to the fake species Archaeoraptor
. In 2000, he helped to resolve the mystery of Necropsar leguati from the World Museum Liverpool
, which turned out to be an albinistic specimen of the Grey Trembler
.
Olson was the 1994 recipient of the Loye and Alden Miller Research Award
. He was formerly curator of birds at the United States National Museum of Natural History
; , he holds an emeritus
position in the institution.
Several prehistoric bird species named after Storrs Olson, including Nycticorax olsoni
, Himantopus olsoni, Puffinus olsoni
Primobucco olsoni, Gallirallus storrsolsoni, and Quercypodargus olsoni. He was also one of the authors of the description of the extinct rodent Noronhomys vespuccii.
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. He is one of the world's foremost avian paleontologists
Paleornithology
Paleornithology also known as Avian Paleontology is the scientific study of bird evolution and fossil birds. It is a mix of ornithology and paleontology. Paleornithology began with the discovery of Archaeopteryx. The reptilian relationship of birds and their ancestors, the theropod dinosaurs, are...
.
An appointment with Alexander Wetmore
Alexander Wetmore
Frank Alexander Wetmore was an American ornithologist and avian paleontologist.-Life:Wetmore studied at the University of Kansas...
in 1967 led him to his main research field of paleornithology
Paleornithology
Paleornithology also known as Avian Paleontology is the scientific study of bird evolution and fossil birds. It is a mix of ornithology and paleontology. Paleornithology began with the discovery of Archaeopteryx. The reptilian relationship of birds and their ancestors, the theropod dinosaurs, are...
and to his work on Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
and Saint Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
where he made remarkable discoveries in the 1970s, including the Giant Hoopoe
Giant Hoopoe
The Giant Hoopoe , also known as Saint Helena Giant Hoopoe or Saint Helena Hoopoe, is an extinct species of Hoopoe , known exclusively from an incomplete subfossil skeleton....
and the Saint Helena Crake. In 1976 he met his future wife Helen F. James who later became another known paleornithologist herself, focusing on Late Quaternary prehistoric birds
Late Quaternary prehistoric birds
Prehistoric birds are various taxa of birds that became extinct before recorded history, or more precisely, before they could be studied alive by bird scientists...
.
During their pioneering research work on Hawaii, which lasted 23 years, Olson and James found and described the remains of 50 extinct bird species new to science, including the Nēnē-nui
Nene-nui
The Nēnē-nui or Woodwalking Goose is an extinct species of goose that once inhabited Maui and possibly Kauai, Oahu and perhaps Molokai in the Hawaiian Islands...
, the Moa-nalo
Moa-nalo
The moa-nalo are a group of extinct aberrant, goose-like ducks that lived on the larger Hawaiian Islands, except Hawaii itself, in the Pacific...
s the apteribis
Apteribis
Apteribis is an extinct genus of flightless birds in the ibis subfamily that was endemic to the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean.-Distribution:...
es, and the Grallistrix
Grallistrix
The stilt-owls are a genus of true owls which contains four species, all of which lived on the Hawaiian Islands but are now extinct....
"stilt-owls". In 1982, he discovered subfossil bones of the long ignored Brace's Emerald
Brace's Emerald
Brace's Emerald is an extinct species of hummingbird which was endemic to the main island of the Bahamas, New Providence.-Description:...
on the Bahamas, which gave evidence that this hummingbird is a valid and distinct species. In November 1999, Olson wrote an open letter to the National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
, in which he criticized Christopher P. Sloan's claims about the dinosaur-to-bird transition which referred to the fake species Archaeoraptor
Archaeoraptor
"Archaeoraptor" is the generic name informally assigned in 1999 to a fossil from China in an article published in National Geographic magazine. The magazine claimed that the fossil was a "missing link" between birds and terrestrial theropod dinosaurs. Even prior to this publication there had been...
. In 2000, he helped to resolve the mystery of Necropsar leguati from the World Museum Liverpool
World Museum Liverpool
World Museum is a large museum in Liverpool, England which has extensive collections covering archaeology, ethnology and the natural and physical sciences. Special attractions include the Natural History Centre and a free Planetarium. Entry to the museum itself is also free...
, which turned out to be an albinistic specimen of the Grey Trembler
Grey Trembler
The Grey Trembler is a songbird species in the family Mimidae. It is found only in Martinique and Saint Lucia, the Martinique Trembler on the former island, the Saint Lucia Trembler The Grey Trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis) is a songbird species in the family Mimidae. It is found only in...
.
Olson was the 1994 recipient of the Loye and Alden Miller Research Award
Loye and Alden Miller Research Award
The Loye and Alden Miller Research Award was established in 1993 by the Cooper Ornithological Society to recognize lifetime achievement in ornithological research...
. He was formerly curator of birds at the United States National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
; , he holds an emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
position in the institution.
Several prehistoric bird species named after Storrs Olson, including Nycticorax olsoni
Ascension Night Heron
The Ascension Night Heron is an extinct Night heron species from the genus Nycticorax endemic to the South Atlantic island of Ascension...
, Himantopus olsoni, Puffinus olsoni
Lava Shearwater
The Lava Shearwater, Puffinus olsoni, was a species of shearwater that formerly bred on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. The species is known only from fossil remains, and was only described by science in 1990. The species was intermediate in size between the Manx Shearwater and...
Primobucco olsoni, Gallirallus storrsolsoni, and Quercypodargus olsoni. He was also one of the authors of the description of the extinct rodent Noronhomys vespuccii.