Barbara Kathleen Snow (born Whitaker; 21 February 1921 in Evershot, Dorset – 2007), was a noted English ornithologist and a trained geologist. She and her husband, David Snow, formed a close team, becoming among the most influential British ornithologists of the 20th century.
Here David Snow began his studies of the oilbirds (Steatornis caripensis), and their echolocation abilities which enabled them to navigate to their nests in complete darkness using high-pitched clicks audible to humans (unlike the echolocation sounds of many bats). Barbara joined him in 1957 and from then on they worked together as a close-knit partnership. He and Barbara also began detailed studies of three bird families, the hummingbirds, the cotingas and the manakins, all associated with plants. This work extended over many years in Central and South America and led to important discoveries on the co-adaption between the birds and plants, providing food for the birds while ensuring the fertilising of the plants' flowers and dispersal of their seeds - "an early breakthrough in the integration of behaviour and ecology."
They focussed for some time on the fascinating and very complex courtship dances of the white-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus) and the golden-headed manakin (Pipra erythrocephala). They came to realise that tropical fruit-eating birds have abundant food resources, and, therefore, a lot of "spare time" which has facilitated the extraordinary flourishing of communal lek displays by male manakins. He described these in several classic papers, while also working with Barbara on other tropical birds.
In 1963, David was invited to become director of the new Charles Darwin Station on the Galápagos Islands. He completed the first real working field station there and set up regular surveying routines. He may have stayed longer, but as he now had a young family to raise, in 1964 he returned to England, following Barbara who had gone ahead to have their second son.
They spent the rest of their careers in Britain. David was appointed Director of Research at the British Trust for Ornithology and later Director of the Natural History Museum's bird room. They moved out to Tring, Hertfordshire, close to their home. He edited the influential ornithological journal, The Ibis for some years and published the valuable two-volume work, Birds of the Western Palaearctic.
At their home and in the neighbouring countryside they continued their studies - particularly of fruit-eating birds "resulting in Birds and Berries, of which Barbara was deservedly the senior author as she had done a good deal more of the field work than I had."
Barbara was survived by David who died two years later. They were survived by their two sons.[1][2]
"Again, her remarkably acute observation, coupled with endless patience and, perhaps more importantly, delight in the birds around her, from Flightless Cormorants to hummingbirds, enabled her to discover much that could only be discovered by sitting and watching."[3]
Worksedit
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (March 2011)
Snow, D.W. & Snow, B.K. (1966). "The breeding season of the Madeiran Storm-petrel (Oceanodromo castro) in the Galapagos." Ibis108(2):283-284.
Snow, D.W. & Snow, B.K. (1967). "The breeding cycle of the Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus)." Ibis109(1):14-24
Snow, B.K. & Snow, D.W. (1968). "Behavior of the Swallow-tailed Gull of the Galapagos." Condor70(3):
Snow, B.K. & Snow, D.W. (1969). "Observations on the Lava Gull (Larus fuliginosus)." Ibis111(1):30-35
Snow, B.K. & Snow, D.W. (1971). "The feeding ecology of tanagers and honeycreepers in Trinidad." The Auk88(2)
Snow, David (2008a). (PDF). Ibis. 150 (3): 662–663. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919x.2008.00821.x. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
Snow, David (2008b). Birds in our Life. William Sessions limited, York. ISBN978-1-85072-381-3.
Frank D. Steinheimer: David Snow (1924–2009), Vogelwarte, Band 47, Heft 2, 2009, S. pp. 144–145.
Rudder, Joy (2009). The old house and the dream: The story of The Asa Wright Nature Centre. Prospect Press, Maraval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. ISBN976-95082-1-7. Especially pp. 47–49.
Article on Barbara Snow on the German Wikipedia at: http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barbara_Kathleen_Snow&action=edit
Snow, D, W. (2008). Birds in Our Life. William Sessions Limited. ISBN978-1-85072-381-3 (pbk) An autobiography.
"David Snow: unrivalled doyen of British ornithology." Sunday Times, February 28, 2009.[2]
December 15, 2023
barbara, snow, ornithologist, therapist, barbara, snow, therapist, barbara, kathleen, snow, born, whitaker, february, 1921, evershot, dorset, 2007, noted, english, ornithologist, trained, geologist, husband, david, snow, formed, close, team, becoming, among, m. For the therapist see Barbara Snow therapist Barbara Kathleen Snow born Whitaker 21 February 1921 in Evershot Dorset 2007 was a noted English ornithologist and a trained geologist She and her husband David Snow formed a close team becoming among the most influential British ornithologists of the 20th century Barbara amp David Snow At the home of Dr William Beebe Simla Trinidad c 1959 Contents 1 Career and personal life 2 Works 3 Awards 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 Further readingCareer and personal life edit nbsp Dr Wilbur Downs and wife Babbie with baby of Barbara amp David Snow Trinidad c 1961In 1958 Barbara who had been the Warden of Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel married David William Snow a highly renowned British ornithologist in Trinidad From 1957 to 1961 the Snows worked for the New York Zoological Society at the society s Tropical Research Centre headed by the famous American naturalist William Beebe The centre was later expanded and is now known as the research centre in Trinidad Here David Snow began his studies of the oilbirds Steatornis caripensis and their echolocation abilities which enabled them to navigate to their nests in complete darkness using high pitched clicks audible to humans unlike the echolocation sounds of many bats Barbara joined him in 1957 and from then on they worked together as a close knit partnership He and Barbara also began detailed studies of three bird families the hummingbirds the cotingas and the manakins all associated with plants This work extended over many years in Central and South America and led to important discoveries on the co adaption between the birds and plants providing food for the birds while ensuring the fertilising of the plants flowers and dispersal of their seeds an early breakthrough in the integration of behaviour and ecology They focussed for some time on the fascinating and very complex courtship dances of the white bearded manakin Manacus manacus and the golden headed manakin Pipra erythrocephala They came to realise that tropical fruit eating birds have abundant food resources and therefore a lot of spare time which has facilitated the extraordinary flourishing of communal lek displays by male manakins He described these in several classic papers while also working with Barbara on other tropical birds In 1963 David was invited to become director of the new Charles Darwin Station on the Galapagos Islands He completed the first real working field station there and set up regular surveying routines He may have stayed longer but as he now had a young family to raise in 1964 he returned to England following Barbara who had gone ahead to have their second son They spent the rest of their careers in Britain David was appointed Director of Research at the British Trust for Ornithology and later Director of the Natural History Museum s bird room They moved out to Tring Hertfordshire close to their home He edited the influential ornithological journal The Ibis for some years and published the valuable two volume work Birds of the Western Palaearctic At their home and in the neighbouring countryside they continued their studies particularly of fruit eating birds resulting in Birds and Berries of which Barbara was deservedly the senior author as she had done a good deal more of the field work than I had Barbara was survived by David who died two years later They were survived by their two sons 1 2 Again her remarkably acute observation coupled with endless patience and perhaps more importantly delight in the birds around her from Flightless Cormorants to hummingbirds enabled her to discover much that could only be discovered by sitting and watching 3 Works editThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items March 2011 Snow D W amp Snow B K 1966 The breeding season of the Madeiran Storm petrel Oceanodromo castro in the Galapagos Ibis 108 2 283 284 Snow D W amp Snow B K 1967 The breeding cycle of the Swallow tailed Gull Creagrus furcatus Ibis 109 1 14 24 Snow B K amp Snow D W 1968 Behavior of the Swallow tailed Gull of the Galapagos Condor 70 3 Snow B K amp Snow D W 1969 Observations on the Lava Gull Larus fuliginosus Ibis 111 1 30 35 Snow B K amp Snow D W 1971 The feeding ecology of tanagers and honeycreepers in Trinidad The Auk 88 2 Snow B K amp Snow D W 1974 Breeding of the Green bellied Hummingbird The Auk 91 3 Snow B K amp Snow D W 1979 The Ochre bellied Flycatcher and the Evolution of Lek Behavior Condor 81 3 Snow B K amp Snow D W 1984 Long term defence of fruit by Mistle Thrushes Turdus viscivorus Ibis 126 1 39 49 Snow B K amp Snow D W 1985 Display and related behavior of male Pin tailed Manakins Wilson Bulletin 97 3 Snow D W 1987 The Blackbird Shire Natural History ISBN 0 85263 854 X Snow B K amp Snow D W 1988 Birds and berries a study of an ecological interaction Poyser London ISBN 0 85661 049 6Awards editIn 1972 Barbara and David were joint recipients of the American Ornithologists Union s Brewster Medal 4 Footnotes edit David Snow 2009 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 26 Retrieved 2011 03 08 David Snow unrivalled doyen of British ornithology Sunday Times February 28 2009 Snow David 2007 The Times of London obituaryReferences editSnow David 2008a Obituary Barbara Snow 1921 2007 PDF Ibis 150 3 662 663 doi 10 1111 j 1474 919x 2008 00821 x Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 26 Retrieved 2011 03 08 Snow David 2008b Birds in our Life William Sessions limited York ISBN 978 1 85072 381 3 Frank D Steinheimer David Snow 1924 2009 Vogelwarte Band 47 Heft 2 2009 S pp 144 145 The Daily Telegraph obituary 1 Further reading editRudder Joy 2009 The old house and the dream The story of The Asa Wright Nature Centre Prospect Press Maraval Port of Spain Trinidad ISBN 976 95082 1 7 Especially pp 47 49 Article on Barbara Snow on the German Wikipedia at http de wikipedia org w index php title Barbara Kathleen Snow amp action edit Snow D W 2008 Birds in Our Life William Sessions Limited ISBN 978 1 85072 381 3 pbk An autobiography David Snow unrivalled doyen of British ornithology Sunday Times February 28 2009 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Barbara Snow ornithologist amp oldid 1154813563, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
