Ian Cecil Robert Rowley
Encyclopedia
Ian Cecil Robert Rowley was an Australian ornithologist of Scottish origin. He was born in Edinburgh
and educated at Wellington College
and Cambridge University. Following service in the Royal Navy
during the second world war
, he moved to Australia
in 1949 and graduated in Agricultural Science
from Melbourne University under the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme. From 1952 he worked for many years with the CSIRO on animal ecology. He was well known for his extensive studies on fairy-wrens
. He served the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
as Editor of the Emu
1990-2000. He was elected a Fellow of the RAOU
in 1989. In 1991 he was awarded the inaugural D.L. Serventy Medal, which recognises excellence in published work on birds. Published books include:
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and educated at Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
and Cambridge University. Following service in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the second world war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1949 and graduated in Agricultural Science
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
from Melbourne University under the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme. From 1952 he worked for many years with the CSIRO on animal ecology. He was well known for his extensive studies on fairy-wrens
Maluridae
The Maluridae are a family of small, insectivorous passerine birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea. Commonly known as wrens, they are unrelated to the true wrens of the Northern Hemisphere...
. He served the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, also known as Birds Australia, was founded in 1901 to promote the study and conservation of the native bird species of Australia and adjacent regions. This makes it Australia's oldest national birding association. It is also Australia's largest...
as Editor of the Emu
Emu (journal)
Emu, subtitled Austral Ornithology, is the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union. The journal was established in 1901 and is the oldest ornithological journal published in Australia...
1990-2000. He was elected a Fellow of the RAOU
Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union Fellows
The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union may elect somebody to the position of Fellow, the highest grade of membership, for service to the RAOU and to ornithology. Fellows of the RAOU are entitled to use the letters FRAOU after their name. There is a limit to the number of Fellows that may...
in 1989. In 1991 he was awarded the inaugural D.L. Serventy Medal, which recognises excellence in published work on birds. Published books include:
- Rowley, Ian. (1975). Bird LifeBird LifeBird Life is a book authored by Australian ornithologist Ian Rowley and published by Collins in 1975 in its Australian Naturalist Library series. It was issued in octavo format , containing 284 pages, bound in brown cloth with a dust jacket illustrated by a painting of a Superb Fairy-wren...
. Australian Naturalist Library. Collins: Sydney. - Rowley, Ian. (1990). Behavioural Ecology of the Galah, Eolophus roseicapillus, in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty Ltd: Chipping Norton.
- Rowley, Ian; & Russell, Eleanor. (1997). Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens. Bird Families of the World. No.4. Oxford University Press: Oxford.