Keith Russell (ornithologist)

Keith Russell is an American ornithologist, birder, science communicator, and conservationist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1][2][3] He is a leading advocate of bird-safe glass and other methods for reducing mortality of migrating songbirds in urban environments.[4][5][6] He is currently the program manager for urban conservation for Pennsylvania Audubon.[7]

Russell grew up in Mount Airy, a neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia, and graduated from Germantown Friends School in 1973. He attended Cornell University and graduated with a B.S. in biology in 1978. He earned an M.Sc. in zoology from Clemson University in 1981.[8]

Russell worked as collections manager for the Exhibits Department at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia from 1982 to 1992.[9] He was the assistant editor for the landmark publication The Birds of North America (1992–2003), edited by Frank Gill.

Russell has coordinated the Philadelphia Mid-winter Bird Census for more than three decades, for which the American Birding Association awarded him the Ludlow Griscom Award for Outstanding Contributions to Regional Ornithology in 2016.[10]

Publications

• Russell, K. 1973. Breeding birds of the upper Wissahickon. Cassinia 54: 10–14.
• Russell, K. 1979. Birds of the Wissahickon Valley. Cassinia 57: 6–9.

References

1. Conservancy, Rails-to-Trails (September 2020). "Keith Russell: Philly Birder Takes Fledgling Bird Enthusiasts Under His Wing". Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
2. "Black bird watchers draw attention to racial issues outdoors". WHYY. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
3. "Profile: For the Birds". Grid Magazine. November 2009. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
4. Peck, Robert M.; Russell, Keith (21 October 2020). "Philly can save thousands of birds that crash into our buildings and die | Opinion". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
5. "For migrating birds, the Philly skyline can be deadly". Billy Penn. July 2018. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
6. "CrashBirds". www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
7. "Audubon Pennsylvania Staff". Audubon Pennsylvania. 2017-02-14. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
8. Lear, Len (19 November 2020). "'Master Birder of Carpenter's Woods' calls attention to bird die-offs". The Chestnut Hill Local. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
9. "Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia Exhibits Department records, 1852-2001". dla.library.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
10. "Announcing the 2016 ABA Awards Recipients!". ABA Blog. 2016-02-02. Retrieved 2021-01-27.