Louis Agassiz Fuertes

Louis Agassiz Fuertes ( born February 7, 1874 in Ithaca, † August 22 1927 in Unadilla, New York) was an American ornithologist, illustrator and artist. He died in an accident on the road crossing Potter 's Crossing at Unadilla.

Life

His father Estevan Antonio Fuertes (1836-1903), born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was descended from a major Spanish family. He was closely associated since 1873 until his death in 1873 at Cornell University, where he served as Director of Engineering and Dean of the Faculty. His mother Mary Stone Perry Fuertes (1840-1930) was born in Troy (New York). Their ancestors came from England and the Netherlands. Since the father was a more ardent admirer of naturalist Louis Agassiz (1807-1873), called the family to her youngest son after this. Fuertes had three brothers named Felix Juan Estevan Fuertes (1861 - ), James Hillhouse Fuertes ( 1863-1932 ), George Perry Fuertes ( 1865-1878 ) and two sisters named Sarah Demetria Fuertes Hitchcock (1868 - ), Mary Katherine Fuertes (1872 - ). Fuertes lived all his life in Ithaca. In 1904 he married Margaret F. Summer, the daughter of Dr. Albert and Harriet (nee Beers ) Summer, by whom he had children Louis and Mary Fuertes. Even as a child he showed a natural talent for painting. With about eight he started this ability with his second passion to combine the birds. So he sent him in 1884 in a letter to his brother, James, a very nice picture of a snowy owl. In the following three years, he produced more pictures of birds that in its surroundings brought him universal recognition. Without the help of an experienced ornithologist or artist drove his desire to develop this talent on its own initiative further. At 14, he painted a male Crossbill ( Loxia curvirostra ) and was thus finally went up to professional bird painter. The details of the copper- brown plumage, its distinctive beak, be less robust body had never before been so clearly perceived. But his observation was not limited to painting. His observation notes were extremely accurate and he was able to imitate the song of birds of different species deceptively real. So he was not only a talented painter and ornithologist, but to musician and author.

Training

In 1890, Louis wrote mother to her son James that Louis had sent a rare species at the Smithsonian Institution and was asked by there for more information. This experience was probably his first contact with professional ornithologists. Supported in this development he was from Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954), which began in 1889 at Cornell University and had been very impressed by Fuertes images. Another mentor was the zoologist and Professor Burt Green Wilder (1841-1925), who asked him for the preparation of some animal signs.

In June 1892 Louis accompanied his parents to Europe. He visited the Jardin des Plantes to customize designs of birds and other animals. In September of the same year he attended the Institute cellar, a private school in Zurich, which he visited in 1893. Since his father recognized his son 's lack of interest in the study of history, the family returned to America. During this period many pictures of birds in Europe. His works from this period were so different that even recognized experts of his works have hardly assigns Fuertes. So all works 1890-1894 were outlined with ink, then colored and then filled in with pen and ink.

After returning to the States Louis attended Cornell University. In the first two years, he attended lectures in architecture, but an interest in algebra and geometry was not available. To his chagrin, was at this time there are no courses in ornithology. Despite its very different interests Fuertes took an active part in university life. His musical talent made ​​him a member of the Cornell University Glee Club, a choral society of the university. For two years, he was even head of club. In 1894 he went to the club on tour and came to Washington and Others. One of the members informed Fuertes that he an uncle named Samuel Elliott Coues (1842-1899) had, which was very interested in birds. So he got to know a significant birders this time, which contributed significantly to the promotion of his career. Fuertes was regularly Coues in correspondence. So Coues invited him to thirteenth AOU Congress in 1896 in Washington, DC one, which took place on 11 November 1895 to publicize Fuertes works in the ornithological circles. Fuertes could not participate this year, but Coues presented some works that were popular in professional circles. A year later Fuertes again appeared on the advice of Coues ' for the first time in person at the Meeting of the American Ornithologists ' Union. Here he was given the opportunity to explain his previously published works and to make important contacts. Many of the images appeared in Citizen Bird by Mabel Osgood Wright (1859-1934) and Samuel Elliott Coues, and a comparison of his pictures my pictures in Bird Craft by Wright underlined Fuertes ' extraordinary talent. Ernest Thompson Seton's Only (1860-1946) images showed similar quality at that time.

In July 1897, the month after he had completed the university itself Fuertes ( New Hampshire), went to Dublin to teaching at Abbott Handerson Thayer ( 1849-1921 ). Him he also learned during his first AOU Congress know, not because of Fuertes ' pictures, but rather because of its competent comments to Thayer's lecture on the protective effect of the coloring of animal skins.

Although his life was associated with Cornell University, he was until 1922 an employee of the university. He gave lectures on birds and his friend and mentor Arthur Augustus Allen (1885-1964) was his superior. According to Allen was a gifted speaker Fuertes, who moved his students in this field cast a spell.

Research trips

Fuertes accompanied Abbott H. Thayer in 1898 and his son Gerald to Florida to gain new experience in the field. So far he only knew the avifauna of New York, and he lacked the experience, how to collect birds and study notes anfertigte. Their headquarters they beat on in the department of wife, Frances EB Latham, I was in the eastern part of the peninsula on the Indian River near Micco. Here, surrounded by primary forest, consisting of Palmettopalmen and oak with adjacent swampy savannas and mangrove islands, there were many new things for the young Fuertes to discover. Later the group moved on and camped in Indian Field at the headwaters of the St. Johns River.

In 1899 he took part in the Harriman Alaska Expedition. In 1901 he was part of a Biological Survey program, which led their participants in West Texas and New Mexico. In 1902, he took as an artist part in an expedition in the Bahamas, which was sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History ( AMNH ).

During the AOU Congress 1903 in San Francisco, he joined a group Farallon Islands visited. Then he collected for the AMNH in the San Joaquin Valley, Carmel -by-the -Sea, in Paicines in San Benito County, Prince's camp in the region around Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake. Even his honeymoon in Jamaica in 1904 he used for a first look at the avifauna of the West Indies.

Two years later, in 1906, he took part in a wide expedition of the AMNH in the prairies of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Under the same auspices he visited South Florida in 1908 Cuthbert Rookery, which today is part of the Everglades. Along with Leonard Cutler Sanford (1868-1950), he moved in 1909 to the Magdalen Islands and Bird Rock and again. AMNH 1909 as a member of a research trip to the Yucatan and in the eastern Mexico Here he expanded his knowledge of the bird fauna of the continental tropics. This experience took him during further travels in the years 1911 and 1913, which led him as part of other AMNH activities to Colombia. Here he crossed the country from the Pacific coast to the Orinoco Delta. Then Fuertes had due to its many orders fieldwork limit, and he made up to the year 1926 only small locally based trips. But in September 1926 and in May 1927 he finally escorted another AMNH group to Abyssinia. With the group traveled Wilfred Hudson Osgood ( 1875-1947 ). Both wrote together on the book Artist and Naturalist in Ethiopia, which was released posthumously in 1936.

Memberships

At age 17, he was elected in 1891 to comrades (associate ) of the American Ornithologists ' Union ( AOU ). In 1901 he was promoted to Member (Member) and 1912 and a companion ( Fellow ). He took the first time on the fourteenth AOU Congress in 1896 in part in Cambridge.

In 1913, Fuertes was one of the founders of the Cayuga Bird Club. He opened the Renwick Wildlife Sanctuary in Stewart Park, which today is often popularly referred to as Fuertes Wildlife Sanctuary.

In 1927, the title of Honorary Scout, he was awarded by the Boy Scouts of America, an award that had been introduced in the same year. There was this award for:

"American citizens Whose achievements in outdoor activity, exploration and worthwhile adventure are of seeking to exceptional character as to capture the imaginations of boys ... ( German: American citizens whose achievements in outdoor activities in exploration and worthwhile adventures of so exceptional manner are that they inspire the imagination of our youth. "

Dedikationsnamen

Between February 23 and April 21, 21 1910 collected Fuertes Birds in Mexico. The description of his collection he left Frank Michler Chapman, who dedicated him a subspecies of Gartentrupials (Icterus spurius fuertesi ). According to the IOC World Bird List, it could even be a separate species, and so can be found in English literature and the trivial name Fuertes 's Oriole. Chapman wrote:

"For this new bird I propose the name Icterus fuertesi, in honor of Louis Agassiz Fuertes, not alone in recognition of his invaluable services to ornithology, but so Because, Attracted by its notes, hey what the actual discoverer of the species to Which his name is now given. ( German: . For this new bird I propose the name Icterus fuertesi ago, in honor of Louis Agassiz Fuertes, not only in recognition of his invaluable services, but also for its captivating notes He was the true discoverer of this kind for which his name is now used has been. "

1912 in the first description of Fuertespapagei ( Hapalopsittaca fuertesi ) Chapman used the name Fuertes honor, which is also reflected in the English common name Fuertes 's Parrot. In his publication Chapman writes:

"I have named this interesting bird in honor of Mr. Louis Agassiz Fuertes, in recognition of the service Which, not alone as artist, but in many other Capacities he rendered the Museum 's Colombian expedition. ( German: I have named this interesting bird in honor of Louis Agassiz Fuertes, in recognition of his services, not only as an artist but also in many other functions, which he did during the expedition of the Museum ".

George Miksch Sutton (1898-1982) and Josselyn Van Tyne (1902-1957) made ​​a subspecies of the Red-tailed Hawk with Fuertes (Buteo jamaicensis fuertesi ) to pay their respects. In the literature there is also the English common name Fuertes 's Red -tailed Hawk. They base their naming as follows:

"The name is in honor fuertesi of the late Louis Agassiz Fuertes, the world - renowned bird artist, who nineteen years ago what gracious enough to take the senior author under his tutelage, to help him in his problems of bird portraiture, to give him a lifetime 's inspiration. Fuertes visited Brewster County, Taxas, artist in 1901. He doubtless saw Red-tailed Hawks did at time without Realizing thatthey were of an undescribed DOCUMENT We take pleasure in honoring Malthus Fuertes not alone Because of his genius as to, but Because of his interest in the birds of the Big Bend country. ( German: The name fuertesi honors the deceased Louis Agassiz Fuertes, the world-famous artists who trained the main author 19 years ago, helped him to overcome and he mediated a lifelong inspiration his problems with Vogelportrais Fuertes visited Brewster County in Texas in 1901.. no doubt he has, without that it was aware of him, observed Rotschwanzbussarde at this time and not realize that it concerned to an undescribed species. it is a pleasure not only to honor us Fuertes for his creative genius as an artist, but also because his interest in the birds of Big Bend Country. "

Herbert Friedmann (1900-1987) described in 1932 in his article Notes on the Abyssinian Red-capped Lark and Long-billed Pipit in Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington ( vol 45, p 163) corresponds to a further subspecies Tephrocorys cinerea fuertesi ( Erlanger lark, Calandrella erlangeri ) with Fuertes ' names. This taxon true today as invalid.

Works

His first drawing he painted at age 14. It was a male Red Crossbill ( Loxia curvirostra ), a bird he had never seen before. For the National Geographic Magazine, he also painted mammals, where his creative focus in painting and drawing birds lay. In addition to his published works still exist many unpublished works. The most important collection of unpublished works possessed Frederick Foster Brewster (1872-1958) of New Haven with 25 oil paintings. Other individuals purchased images by Fuertes. Below you find a selection of his most important publications:

• In plant A - birding on a bronco of Florence Augusta Merriam Bailey (1863-1948) from 1896, he contributed 22 pen and ink drawings.
• From 1897-1899 in The Osprey - An Illustrated Monthly Magazine, he published some ink drawings.
• 1897 published 111 black-and- white drawings in Citizen Bird by Mabel Osgood Wright and Elliott Coues Samuel
• 1899-1914 The Auk In The Distribution and Relationships of Ammodramus maritimus and its Allies in The Auk (Volume 16, Number 1 ) of the first color print Fuertes with the two subspecies of beach Bunting ( Ammodramus maritimus maritimus fisheri and Ammodramus sennetti ).
• In Outram Bangs ' (1863-1932) article The Hummingbirds of the Santa Marta region of Colombia (Volume 16, Number 2, 1899),
• In Jonathan Dwight, Jr. (1858-1929) Item Sequence of plumage: Illustrated by Myrtle Warbler (Dendroica coronata ) and the Yellow-breasted Chat ( Icteria virens) (Volume 16, Number 3, 1899)
• Witmer Stone (1866-1939) Article winter plumage: illustrated by the Rose-breasted Grosbeak ( Zamelodia ludoviciana ) (Volume 16, Number 4, 1899).
• In January 1913, the new cover of the magazine has designed, which was in 1914 still in use.
• In 1914, in Chapman's article Description of a new oriole (Icterus fuertesi ) from Mexico (Volume 28, Number 1, 1911)
• In 1914 Robert Cushman Murphy in ( 1887-1973 ) Item Preliminary description of a new petrel (Volume 31, Number 1, 1914 ) published another work of Fuertes.

Written publications:

• Impression of the Voices of Tropical Birds, Bird -Lore, Vol XVI, No 1, 1914, pp. 1-3
• Impression of the Voices of Tropical Birds, Bird -Lore, Vol XVI, No. 2, 1914, pp. 96-101
• Impression of the Voices of Tropical Birds, Bird -Lore, Vol XVI, No. 3, 1914, pp. 161-169
• Impression of the Voices of Tropical Birds, Bird -Lore, Vol XVI, No. 5, 1914, pp. 342-349
• Impression of the Voices of Tropical Birds, Bird -Lore, Vol XVI, No. 6, 1914, pp. 421-428
• Together with Wilfred Hudson Osgood, Artist and Naturalist in Ethiopia, Doubleday, Doran & company, 1936
• To a Young Bird Artist: Letters from Louis Agassiz Fuertes to George Miksch Sutton, University of Oklahoma Press, 1979

Gallery

Gallery with pictures of Louis Agassiz Fuertes.

Subspecies of beach Bunting ( Ammodramus maritimus fisheri ) & ( Ammodramus sennetti maritimus ) in The Auk, 1899

White-tailed Andean Hummingbird ( Coeligena phalerata ) in The Auk, 1899

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata ) & Yellow-breasted Warbler ( Icteria virens) in The Auk, 1899

Rose chest - core Ex ( Pheucticus ludovicianus ) in The Auk, 1899

Leaning back Flycatcher (Tyrannus tyrannus ) in The Second Book of Birds, 1901

Pomarine from the Harriman Alaska Series, 1904

Virginiauhu (Bubo virginianus) in United States Department of Agriculture Yearbook, 1908

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus ) in Birds of New York, 1910-1914

Various buntings in Bird -Lore, 1914

South Trinidad Petrel ( Pterodroma arminjoniana ) in The Auk, 1914

Brillensichler ( Plegadis chihi ) in Game Birds of California, 1918

Reisstärling ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus ) in The Burgess Bird Book for Children, 1919

Silver cheeks Hornbill ( Bycanistes brevis ) in Album of Abyssinian Birds and Mammals, 1930

Black -headed heron (Ardea melanocephala ) in Album of Abyssinian Birds and Mammals, 1930