Amelia Laskey
Amelia Laskey | |
---|---|
Born | Amelia Rudolph December 12, 1885 Bloomington, Indiana, US |
Died | December 19, 1973 Nashville, Tennessee, US | (aged 88)
Other names | Mrs. F.C. Laskey |
Known for | Investigations of bird behavior |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Ornithology |
Amelia Rudolph Laskey (December 12, 1885 – December 19, 1973) was an American amateur
Over the course of Laskey's career, her investigations included bird breeding behavior, nesting habits, territoriality, longevity, and
Early life and education
Laskey was born Amelia Rudolph to German immigrant parents, Susan and Frank Rudolph, in
Ornithology research
Laskey's research career began following her 1921 move to Nashville, Tennessee. At that time, Laskey began to participate in a local
Bird behavior studies
Laskey's initial investigations began with the migratory behavior of
Among her early investigations, Laskey discovered that chimney swifts wintered in Peru. She determined early in her investigations that, while
She was particularly noted for her study of mockingbird behavior; Laskey investigated the species' song development, mating behavior, number of mates, their egg clutch sizes, and territorial defense. She also discovered that brown-headed cowbirds were monogamous.[1]
One of Laskey's scientific methods was direct and prolonged observation of the behavior of specific individuals of a bird species. In this regard, Laskey kept a mockingbird named Honey child at her home for 15 years. Her study of this captive bird complemented her systematic studies of mockingbird behaviour, including song acquisition by mockingbirds.[4][5]
Other birds that Laskey rehabilitated included a crippled
Bird rescue
Beginning in 1948, Laskey became aware that many birds were dying for then unknown reasons at the
Influences
Early in her scientific investigations, Laskey corresponded with professional ornithologist Margaret Morse Nice, who mentored Laskey and encouraged her to publish in scientific ornithological journals. This led to collaborations with Nice and other ornithologists including Josselyn Van Tyne.[9][10]
Honors and legacy
Laskey was made a Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union in 1966, an organization in which she held membership since 1933.[3][11]
The Eastern Bluebird Nesting Project in the Warner Parks of Nashville, Tennessee, was started in 1936 by Amelia Laskey. It continues as of 2021 and is the oldest nesting project in the United States.[12]
Laskey is interred next to her husband at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee.
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0415920391.
- ^ ISBN 9780890964897.
- ^ a b c d e f Goodpasture, Katherine A. (1975). "In Memoriam: Amelia Rudolph Laskey" (PDF). The Auk. 9 (2): 252–259.
- JSTOR 4079364.
- JSTOR 4082641.
- ^ Lowery, George H., and Robert J. Newman. “A Continentwide View of Bird Migration on Four Nights in October.” The Auk, vol. 83, no. 4, 1966, pp. 547–586. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4083149. Accessed 2 Aug. 2021.
- JSTOR 4081744.
- ^ "History of TOS". tnbirds.org. Tennessee Ornithological Society. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- ^ Laskey, Amelia R. (1944). "A study of the cardinal in Tennessee" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin. 56 (1): 27–44.
- ^ Laskey, Amelia R. (1957). "Some tufted titmouse life history" (PDF). Journal of Field Ornithology. 28 (3): 135–145.
- ^ Laskey, Amelia R. (1966). "The manner of feeding fledgling woodpeckers" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin. 78 (1): 64–67.
- ^ "Eastern Bluebirds in Tennessee". warnerparks.org. Friends of Warner Parks. June 14, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
External links
- Archive Photographs of Amelia Laskey
- Example of a bird-banding report made by Laskey in 1955 pertaining to Eastern Bluebird migration