[Tweeters] Brian Bell

[Constance Sidles]

Hey tweets, a sad day indeed to hear of the loss of Brian Bell, a great loss to all of us in the birding community that he did so much to foster. Not only was he a skilled birder who was eager to share his vast knowledge with anyone who asked, but he had a kind heart and a ready smile. I will remember that smile. It was usually accompanied by a twinkle in his eye, which could be wicked at times. Brian was no stranger to the contradictions in life, but like all the best humorists, he could laugh at the human condition without a shred of rancor. The world is a better, happier place because of Brian. I am so very sad to lose him. - Connie, Seattle


> On Aug 9, 2023, at 5:52 PM, Mason Flint <masonflint at outlook.com> wrote:

> 

> I’ll miss Brian a lot. Near the end of our walk at Marymoor last week, he and I took the first row through the P-patch, walking slowly and enjoying the common birds we’ve enjoyed together over nearly 20 years. He was clearly tickled to see a young Rufous Hummingbird, telling me it looked like the same bird he saw in the at that spot a week earlier. I’m grateful to have that time with him.

> 

> Mason Flint

> Bellevue

> From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces at mailman11.u.washington.edu> on behalf of Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson at comcast.net>

> Sent: Wednesday, August 9, 2023 10:24:19 AM

> To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Brian Bell

>  

> I am so sorry to learn this unexpected news. Brian was always a special person and indeed has long been a pillar of the local birding community. He will be missed.

> 

> Dennis Paulson

> Seattle

> 

> > On Aug 9, 2023, at 8:43 AM, Michael Hobbs <birdmarymoor at gmail.com> wrote:

> > 

> > It is with a very heavy heart that I relate that Brian Bell passed away last weekend.

> > 

> > Brian arrived in the PNW in 1995, already a very serious birder.  He came to us from the Sacramento area, where he had been president of Sacramento Audubon, led and arranged field trips, helped manage the 400+ acre Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary along the Feather River, and was a co-author of Areas of Critical Concern, a book which identifies valuable natural areas in the greater Sacramento area.

> > 

> > Once arriving here, he continued his strong interest in promoting birding and teaching others, becoming a board member for Eastside Audubon and the Washington Ornithological Society (WOS), serving as Field Trip Chair for Seattle Audubon, and leading field trips for Eastside Audubon, Seattle Audubon, WOS, the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival, and the Gray's Harbor Shorebird Festival.

> > 

> > That's not just a few field trips.  He led probably at least 100 trips to Whidbey Island alone.  Brian led more field trips than any other birder I know, a huge commitment towards teaching people about birds and birding.  Always, he not only led a field trip, but turned it into a learning experience for the participants.

> > 

> > Besides leading trips, he also taught many classes for Seattle Audubon Society, Eastside Audubon Society, Shoreline Community College, and North Seattle Community College. The courses included: Beginning Birding, Birds of Puget Sound, Water Birds, Woodpeckers, Birding by Habitat, and Summer Birds of the Mountains.

> > 

> > He was one of the early Seattle Audubon Master Birders.

> > 

> > He ran his own guiding business under the business name of Peregrine Northwest, helping out-of-town birders find our local specialties.

> > 

> > He authored of Birds of Washington State (from Lone Pine Publishing)

> > 

> > In 2019, I was honored to present the Zella M. Schulz Award Brian at the WOS conference in Moses Lake.

> > 

> > In addition to all of that, Brian was effectively the co-founder of the Marymoor Survey.  When we first met, on the boardwalk at Marymoor Park in 1995, it wasn’t even a survey yet; just me, a beginning birder, walking around and keeping a list once each week.  

> > 

> > Brian started coming out with me almost every week, and taught me everything he could.  Suddenly, “I” was finding more birds.  He taught me the concept of birding by ear, and then tirelessly worked to actually teach me the bird songs and calls.  

> > 

> > And this continued for over 1000 surveys from 1995 through our survey last week!  He also covered for me on 125 surveys when I was sick, injured, or out-of-town.

> > 

> > The common theme throughout this list of contributions is that Brian made a tremendous commitment to teaching others, an amazing gift that a huge number of people have benefited from.

> > 

> > I am sure that Brian will be greatly missed by the PNW birding community.  And I can’t even fathom the reality that he will no longer be birding at my elbow on every Thursday morning.

> > 

> > = Michael Hobbs

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