Date: 10/18/25 11:08 am From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [CALBIRDS] We've lost two giants of California field ornithology
California birders,
Having very recently learned of the October 15th passing of Gene Cardiff, it was another jolt today to learn of Alan Craig's passing early yesterday, October 17th. These two men had a huge impact on birding and scientific ornithology in California and beyond. Younger birders might not have met either of them, but they should certainly know (or learn) about their contributions. I'm sure these will be memorialized in detail on-line and in the journal Western Birds in future weeks and months. There are already many tributes to Gene on the Inland Counties birding listserv.
Alan Craig was a founding member of California Field Ornithologists in 1969-1970 (an organization soon rechristened as Western Field Ornithologists). Critically, he was the first editor of California BIrds/Western Birds, admirably filling that position through the always difficult early years of a fledgling publication and developing it into a major journal by the time he retired as editor in 1986 when current editor Phil Unitt took the helm. He lived in Arizona and New Mexico for decades after leaving California.
Both Gene and Alan served on the California Birds Records Committee in its earlier years (for 7 and 8 years, respectively).
I know others can provide much more detail and personal remembrances, but I did not want to let the loss of these two important and beloved figures who lived long and full lives and contributed so meaningfully to our field to go unnoticed for too long.
