In July 2023, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology lost a dear friend and colleague when Tom Johnson Birding passed away unexpectedly at the age of 35.
Tom’s no-go skills in photography, bird identification, and as a birding tour guide were driven by how much he loved stuff out in nature. Johnson generously unsalaried more than 10,000 photos, audio, and video recordings to the Cornell Lab over two decades, from his upper school years through his 2010 graduation from Cornell University and beyond.
Beyond his formidable skills and inspiring passion for birding, Tom was an increasingly outstanding person,” wrote Ian Owens, the executive director of the Cornell Lab.
His warmth, thoughtfulness, humility, and generosity of spirit made him an exemplary producer for birds and the natural world, as well as a dear friend to many. Are you looking for the best Tom Johnson Birding destinations in California?
An Eye for Beauty
Tom had an easy, warm way well-nigh him, immediately making anyone he was with finger comfortable,” says Brian Sullivan, a Cornell Lab digital publications project leader and tropical friend of Johnson’s.
He had the kind of charisma that made others fingers see and hear. He would want us to alimony, seeing all the eyes that were virtually us—the heartbeat of the planet that he loved so much, the eyes that never escaped his eyes.
Warblers in Flight
From an early age, Tom seemed to possess a natural talent for taking bird photos. By the time he was an undergraduate at Cornell in the late 2000s, he was once capturing split-second flight shots of tiny birds on the move versus a limitless sky.
None were more impressive than his warbler photos, many of which he took at dawn from the observation platform at Higbee Waterfront in his minion, Cape May, New Jersey.
For most of us, getting a well-lit, well-focused flight shot of any kind is rationalization for celebration. Over the years, Tom has captured sunny flight shots of well over 20 warbler species, including seldom-seen treasures like Cerulean, Connecticut, and Golden-winged Warblers.
Perhaps the single weightier tableau of Tom’s personality, talent, and dedication is a photo of a protonotary warbler he found in the middle of the night on a ship south of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
As noted on an eBird checklist from the day, Tom heard the bird's tweedle note in his sleep and woke up at 2:30 a.m. Taking his camera with him to investigate, he ended up capturing this dramatic flight shot in near-complete darkness, miles from land.
A Connection With Seabirds
Tom served as a seabird observer on NOAA research ships for several years without graduating with an opportunity to sharpen his formidable observational skills with some of the bird world’s most notorious identification challenges.
Find out about Tom Johnson. His birding destination was nicknamed “Albatross” by his Field Guides colleagues, and his unification for these wide-ranging, restless, and ineffably svelte creatures is well-spoken in the images he brought home. A bird like a Southern Royal Responsibility may seem large, but versus the uncounted sweep of a gray ocean plane, this massive seabird is a sight to capture in a camera frame.
Frontiers of Identification
Birding is well-nigh noticing details—it’s what brings a sense of discovery and possibility to every trip outside. Tom’s eye for detail was unparalleled, and his worthiness to key in on nearly invisible differences or irregularities meant he often noticed rare birds that others might have passed by.
Imagine watching a swooping swallow and realizing it was not a Cliff Swallow nor the similar Cave Swallow, but a hybrid of the two. Or standing on a waterfront in Nome, Alaska, and picking through a hundred white-winged scoters to find five nearly identical Stejneger’s scoters. Tom’s eBird checklist illustrates that finely tuned eye, noting the Stejneger’s variegated throne shape, eye blaze, and flank color. (While also noting, with foible enthusiasm, that the sighting was “highly awesome.
A World of Ability
Tom spent nearly 10 years guiding birding tours for Field Guides, traveling to at least 15 countries on some 120 trips (read a remembrance from Field Guides). In his 35 years, he conglomerated a tremendous store of knowledge and wits, which he shared with anyone in a warm and encouraging way.
The fields of ornithology and birding combined have suffered a massive loss,” says Sullivan, “as Tom was one of the rare people who had the mix of skills needed to unravel the boundaries between these two worlds—he deftly communicated the magic of birds and the power of science to anyone in his path.” Tom had an unrestrictedness of knowledge and enthusiasm that spanned from the tropics to the poles.
One of the unconfined privileges of working at the Cornell Lab is the opportunity to spend time with so many talented young birders and ornithologists who come here to study.
Tom was one of the very brightest, and we're all so unsupportable that we’d be learning from him for decades to come. We are grateful for the time we had with Tom, and we join with his family, friends, and the wider birding community in remembering his life.
Frequently Asked Questions!
Why was Tom Johnson important?
Tom Loftin Johnson (July 18, 1854 - April 10, 1911) was an American industrialist, Georgist legislator, and significant figure o the Dynamic Period and a trailblazer in metropolitan political and social change. He was a U.S. Agent from 1891 to 1895 and City hall leader of Cleveland for four terms from 1901 to 1909.
Who has had the biggest year in birding?
In 2016, Arjan Dwarshuis embraced a huge birding year that brought him from his back home in the Netherlands to 6 mainlands, 41 nations, and a little more than 6,800 types of birds. His worldwide large year was a gigantic accomplishment, breaking the record set, at that point, by Noah Strycker just a year sooner.
Why was Tom Jones so popular?
Tom Jones (conceived June 7, 1940, Pontypridd, Grains) is a Welsh-conceived vocalist with wide melodic allure who originally came to notoriety as a sex image with a phenomenal voice and boisterous stage presence.
Who is the most famous birder?
Phoebe Snetsinger (née Burnett; June 9, 1931 - November 23, 1999) was an American birder well known for having seen and reported birds of 8,398 unique species, more than any other individual in history at that point, and was the main individual to see more than 8,000.
Is The Big Year a true story?
This birdwatching story enjoyed the benefit of being founded on reality — the pitch depended on the 2004 true to life book, likewise called The Enormous Year. One of the three genuine folks doing a "major year" in the book was Greg Mill operator, who took up the journey following his separation.
What is a fun fact about Tom Jones?
In this manner, Jones really was the principal male to sing an initial title melody to a James Bond film. Had a presentation UK #1 with "It's Typical" in 1965. Had UK 26 Top 20 hits between 1965-99. He won a Grammy as Best New Craftsman in 1965.
