Chris Mead
Encyclopedia
Christopher John Mead (1 May 1940 – 16 January 2003) was a popular British ornithologist
, author and broadcaster, and an influential member of the British Trust for Ornithology
(BTO).
Chris Mead was enthusiastic about the natural world, and about communicating this world to those around him. He was an avid lover of jazz
, (watching) rugby, motor racing, local history and archaeology. In 1994, he stated his ornithological interests as "bird ringing, migration, longevity and population dynamics"
and Miranda. Harriet is a renowned wildlife artist.
, Hertfordshire, he read Mathematics
at Peterhouse
, Cambridge
, but never finished his degree.
, he worked for the BTO for more than 40 years, from 1961. For most of that time (33 years) he worked in the BTO's Ringing
Unit. In his lifetime, he caught and ringed over 400,000 birds of some 350 species in 18 countries. He was head of Britain's National Ringing Scheme.
, first ringed as an adult in 1957 on Bardsey Island
, Wales
, and re-trapped in July 2002, had probably flown about 5 million miles (8 million km) over its lifespan. The same bird was caught on Bardsey again in July 2003 and May 2004, having outlived Mead.
research, he devised a CD
of poetry, and Nightingale song (including several historic archive recordings) Nightingales: A Celebration with an accompanying book by Richard Mabey
.
A memorial day was held at the BTO's headquarters, The Nunnery, on 5 May 2003, at which his family and colleagues spoke warmly of his knowledge, and generosity in sharing it.
Mead was also remembered in a special edition of BBC Radio 4
wildlife programme Nature
on 12 May 2003 (available on-line, see below).
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
, author and broadcaster, and an influential member of the British Trust for Ornithology
British Trust for Ornithology
The British Trust for Ornithology is an organisation founded in 1932 for the study of birds in the British Isles.-Activities:The BTO carries out research into the lives of birds, chiefly by conducting population and breeding surveys and by bird ringing, largely carried out by a large number of...
(BTO).
Chris Mead was enthusiastic about the natural world, and about communicating this world to those around him. He was an avid lover of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, (watching) rugby, motor racing, local history and archaeology. In 1994, he stated his ornithological interests as "bird ringing, migration, longevity and population dynamics"
Family
He married Verity (known as "V") in 1965; they had three daughters called Vanella, HarrietHarriet Mead
Harriet Rebecca Mead is an English Wildlife Artist specialising in metal sculptures.She received formal art education during a foundation year at St Albans College, followed by a degree in Fine Art at the Norwich School of Art....
and Miranda. Harriet is a renowned wildlife artist.
Education
Educated at Aldenham SchoolAldenham School
Aldenham School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged thirteen to eighteen, located between Elstree and the village of Aldenham in Hertfordshire, England...
, Hertfordshire, he read Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at Peterhouse
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, but never finished his degree.
Migration and ringing
An acknowledged expert on bird migrationBird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, he worked for the BTO for more than 40 years, from 1961. For most of that time (33 years) he worked in the BTO's Ringing
Bird ringing
Bird ringing or bird banding is a technique used in the study of wild birds, by attaching a small, individually numbered, metal or plastic tag to their legs or wings, so that various aspects of the bird's life can be studied by the ability to re-find the same individual later...
Unit. In his lifetime, he caught and ringed over 400,000 birds of some 350 species in 18 countries. He was head of Britain's National Ringing Scheme.
Manx Shearwater
In 2002, Chris Mead calculated that a Manx ShearwaterManx Shearwater
The Manx Shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx Shearwaters were called Manks Puffins in the 17th century. Puffin is an Anglo-Norman word for the cured carcasses of nestling shearwaters...
, first ringed as an adult in 1957 on Bardsey Island
Bardsey Island
Bardsey Island , the legendary "Island of 20,000 saints", lies off the Llŷn Peninsula in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. The Welsh name means "The Island in the Currents", although its English name refers to the "Island of the Bards", or possibly the island of the Viking chieftan, "Barda". It is ...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and re-trapped in July 2002, had probably flown about 5 million miles (8 million km) over its lifespan. The same bird was caught on Bardsey again in July 2003 and May 2004, having outlived Mead.
Nightingales
To raise funds for the BTO's NightingaleNightingale
The Nightingale , also known as Rufous and Common Nightingale, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
research, he devised a CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
of poetry, and Nightingale song (including several historic archive recordings) Nightingales: A Celebration with an accompanying book by Richard Mabey
Richard Mabey
Richard Mabey is a naturalist and author.He has been called by The Times 'Britain's greatest living nature writer'. Among his acclaimed publications are Food for Free, The Unofficial Countryside and The Common Ground, as well as his study of the nightingale, Whistling in the Dark...
.
Retirement
In 1995, ill health brought about his early, and supposed, "retirement", after which he became the Trust's media consultant, regularly being intervewed on radio and in the press.Awards
Mead is probably unique, in being given each of the UK's three prestigious awards for ornithology:- The British Ornithologists' UnionBritish Ornithologists' UnionThe British Ornithologists' Union aims to encourage the study of birds in Britain, Europe and elsewhere, in order to understand their biology and to aid their conservation....
's Union Medal (1996) - The BTO Bernard Tucker Medal (1997)
- The RSPB Medal (1999; for his achievements in the causes of wild bird protection and countryside conservation)
Memorial
Amazed by the spontaneous out-pouring of warmth following Mead's death, his family and the BTO decided to use the many proffered donations to develop the BTO's library, and rename it The Chris Mead Library.A memorial day was held at the BTO's headquarters, The Nunnery, on 5 May 2003, at which his family and colleagues spoke warmly of his knowledge, and generosity in sharing it.
Mead was also remembered in a special edition of BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
wildlife programme Nature
Nature (radio programme)
Nature is a long-running documentary programme on BBC Radio 4, covering wildlife and environmental matters.It is broadcast on Mondays at 21:00-21:30 and repeated on Tuesdays at 11:00...
on 12 May 2003 (available on-line, see below).
External links
- BTO Chris Mead Memorial Fund
- BTO Chris Mead Library
- Daily Telegraph obituary
- Species Accounts from State of the Nations' Birds
- BBC Nature tribute programme (Available from this page as streaming Real Audio).
- Mead's tips on raising mealworms