Date: 4/28/25 3:31 pm From: Sherry Lane (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: The passing of Bruce Smithson of Wilmington
Dear Carolina Birders,
It is with great sadness that I inform the Carolina birding community of the passing of Bruce Smithson. His wife, Patti, shared that he passed peacefully in his sleep today after a long illness.
To me, Bruce was a legendary birder. He was not only my mentor but also a dear friend. He always took the time to bring beginner birders along, inspiring them to improve their skills. I learned so much from Bruce and cherish the countless wonderful memories we created while birding in Wilmington and throughout the Carolinas. We also traveled to Costa Rica, Colombia, and Kenya on birding trips. His passion for birding and for life in general was truly contagious, and he will be deeply missed by many.
If you have any memories of Bruce Smithson, please share them with me, and I will pass them along to Patti. I know she would love to read them.
One of my favorite memories is birding at Fort Fisher Spit with Bruce. He had an incredible ability to find rare shorebirds among the masses like no one else.
Sherry Lane
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
LifeBirdTours.com
