Frank Chapman (ornithologist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Chapman
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| Born |
Frank Michler Chapman
June 12, 1864 |
| Died | November 15, 1945 (aged 81) |
| Known for | Audubon Christmas Bird Count |
| Awards | Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal (1917) John Burroughs Medal (1929) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Ornithology |
| Institutions | American Museum of Natural History |
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | Chapman |
Frank Michler Chapman (June 12, 1864 – November 15, 1945) was an American ornithologist. This means he was a scientist who studied birds. He was also a pioneer in writing field guides, which are books that help people identify birds in nature.
Contents
Who Was Frank Chapman?
Frank Chapman was born in West Englewood, New Jersey. He later joined the American Museum of Natural History in 1888. He started as an assistant and later became the Curator of Birds in 1908.
His Big Ideas and Books
Chapman had a great idea for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. This event helps people count birds every winter. It's a fun way to learn about bird populations.
He wrote many important books about birds. Some of his famous books include Bird Life and Birds of Eastern North America. He also wrote Life in an Air Castle.
Chapman loved using photography to study birds. He wrote Bird Studies With a Camera. In this book, he talked about using a special hiding spot called a photographic blind. In 1901, he even invented his own portable blind. It was like an umbrella with a big skirt to hide the photographer. This made it easier to take pictures of birds without scaring them.
Awards and Recognition
For his important work, Chapman received special awards. In 1917, he won the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal. This was for his book Distribution of Bird-life in Colombia. He was also chosen to be a member of important groups. These included the National Academy of Sciences in 1921.
Exploring the World for Birds
Chapman traveled a lot to study birds. He went on many trips to collect small mammals and birds. He explored places like Florida, Texas, Cuba, and Mexico. He also visited many countries in South America. He wrote about his adventures in books like Camps and Cruises of an Ornithologist. Later, he shared more stories in his Autobiography of a Bird Lover.
His Family
Frank Chapman had a son named Frank Chapman, Jr. His son later married an opera singer named Gladys Swarthout. Frank Chapman was buried in Brookside Cemetery.
Studying Birds in Colombia
In 1917, Frank Chapman published a very important book. It was called Distribution of Bird-life in Colombia. This book shared information from eight trips to Colombia. Chapman and his team from the American Museum of Natural History collected many bird and mammal specimens. A specimen is a sample of an animal, like a preserved bird, used for scientific study.
New Ways to Study Birds
Later, in the 1950s, scientists started new ways to study birds. They began to watch birds and record what they saw. This was in addition to collecting specimens. In the 1990s and 2010s, people became more interested in Colombia's birds. They were worried about deforestation (cutting down forests) and changes in climate. So, more surveys were done. These surveys focused on watching birds and using mist nets to catch them safely for study. They also used citizen observational data. This means everyday people helped collect information.
The Colombia Resurvey Project
A group of researchers started the Colombia Resurvey Project in 2020. They wanted to repeat Frank Chapman's original trips. Their goal is to see how bird groups and their homes have changed. They also want to create a public database. This database will help future studies and bird monitoring.
The project also includes training local people. These citizens then help collect data. The project also uses "decolonial practices." This means they make sure to credit local people who help. They also share information to help protect birds in the areas they study.
In 2020, an all-women expedition was part of this project. They were inspired by Elizabeth L Kerr's work. She helped Chapman and the museum collect specimens in Colombia. Letters show that Elizabeth Kerr was one of the first women to go on bird expeditions there. She found many important specimens, including new species. One bird, the Choco tinamou (Crypturellus kerriae), was even named after her by Chapman.
