James Macdonald (ornithologist)

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James David Macdonald

Scottish-Australian ornithologist
and ornithological writer. A traditional museum ornithologist, he did much to build up the collections of African and Australian birds held by the British Museum, as well as popularising ornithology through his writings.

Education and career

Macdonald was born in the village of

Public School from 1913 to 1924 before obtaining a bursary to complete his secondary education at the Inverness Royal Academy, from which he graduated Dux in Art in 1927.[1] He studied natural science at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with a BSc in Forestry in 1930 and in Pure Science (botany and zoology) in 1932, following which he carried out research on decapod crustaceans with the Scottish Fisheries Board and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory.[1]

In 1935 Macdonald was appointed to a position at the British

British Admiralty during the Second World War, he stayed with the museum for the rest of his career, becoming Senior Scientific Officer in charge of the Bird Room and Deputy Keeper of the Zoology Department by the time of his retirement in 1968.[1][2]

Expeditions

As part of his job with the museum, Macdonald organised

Harold Hall Expeditions to collect bird specimens in Australia.[2][3]

In 1962 he was elected a Fellow of the

Landsborough Thomson, Sir George Taylor, Edward Hindle and V. C. Wynne-Edwards. He resigned from the Society in 1987.[4]

Retirement

In 1968 Macdonald moved to

International Ornithological Congress in Canberra.[5] He was active in the establishment of the Queensland Ornithological Society in 1969, of which he was the founding President.[1]

Macdonald died peacefully in Brisbane at the age of 93, survived by his wife, Dr Betty Macdonald, to whom he had been married for 64 years.[2]

Honours

Recognition of Macdonald's abilities and achievements as an ornithologist include:[1]

Publications

As well as about 70 papers in the scientific literature, books authored or coauthored by Macdonald include:

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Dow (2003).
  2. ^ a b c Kikkawa (2003).
  3. ^ Bright Sparcs.
  4. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  5. ^ Macdonald (1973).

Sources

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