Date: 10/17/25 9:21 pm From: Bill Deppe via groups.io <bdeppe...> Subject: Re: [inlandcountybirds] Passing of birding legend, Gene Cardiff
Being a High Desert birder, I didn't have the opportunity to bird with Gene often . . . except for 1998. After reading Kenn Kaufman's *Kingbird Highway,* I decided to see how many species of birds I could find in San Bernardino--a Big Year. I quietly started on my own, but on the third Thursday of January, I received an evening call. It was Gene. After greeting me, he asked me how my Big Year was going. I don't know if he knew how surprised I was to get his call, but I told him I had found about 120 species during the first three weeks of January. He replied that he was keeping track as well and had already found about 135 birds or so. We talked about where we found this and that and finally decided to keep in touch The following Thursday evening, I called Gene and we again shared where we stood with our year lists. To fast forward, we ended talking every Thursday night for the rest of the year.
I can't overstate how special and impactful that year was for me. I really didn't know the County very well back then, but Gene generously shared where and when to find birds in the County. We birded together quite a few times, particularly in the remote areas of the County's eastern deserts. Of course we shared a few breakfasts together at Denny's. Like so many other birders in the County, I am indebted to him for sharing his passion for birding. He spent a lifetime teaching us all about birds (with some climate change concern mixed in). He was our mentor and good friend to us all and has left some some big shoes to fill.
As for that 1998, Big Year, Gene found 318 species which was a County record at the time. My 311 species didn't match his total, but I felt like I was a winner having had such a special year with him.
