James Davidson (ornithologist) facts for kids

James Davidson (born 1849, died 1925) was a Scottish naturalist. A naturalist is someone who studies nature, like plants and animals. He spent much of his life in India when it was under British rule. He loved studying birds and many other parts of India's amazing natural world. He did this while working for the British government in India, mainly in areas like the Bombay Presidency.

Early Life and Career

James Davidson was born in Maryhill, near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1849. His parents were William James Davidson and Harriet Sprot. He went to school in St Andrews and later studied at both Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities.

In 1872, he joined the Indian Civil Service. This was a group of people who worked for the British government in India. He worked in the Bombay Presidency, a large region in western India, until 1897. During some difficult years around 1876–1878, when there wasn't enough food for everyone, he did important work and received a special award from the government. After his service, he returned to Edinburgh, Scotland.

Studying Birds in India

While working in India, James Davidson wrote a lot about the birds he found. He focused on regions that are now known as Uttara Kannada, Satara, and Belgaum. He often wrote to another famous bird expert named Allan Octavian Hume. Davidson even gave his collection of birds to Hume.

Davidson had a clever way of finding bird nests. He worked with local young people, including those from the Bhil community, who helped him locate the nests. He wrote many articles for Stray Feathers, a journal started by Hume, and also for the journal of the Bombay Natural History Society.

Just before he retired, he took a trip to Kashmir. On this trip, he was with Thomas Reid Davys Bell, who studied butterflies and moths. James Davidson was also a member of the British Ornithologists' Union starting in 1883. This was a group for people who studied birds.