ENHS Nature Trails May 2002 Article 1

This month's speaker: Herb Wisner

Yellow Rumped Cacique in the pines of Tabago

No, the picture doesn't need to be turned 180, we just need Herb Wisner to interpret for us. Herb has been a favorite interpreter of the life of birds for local schoolchildren and adults alike for many years. Though a retired UO senior instructor emeritus in biology, Herb travels, reads, listens and fortunately still likes to share his new knowledge of natural history. With wit and wonderful photographs, Herb will treat us to a very interesting talk on the wildlife of Trinidad and Tobago Friday evening. And here's a little more about Herb that some of you might not know.

WERE YOU INTERESTED IN NATURE AS A CHILD?
I suspect that I was. My dad taught me gardening at an early age. I have pictures proving that I worked at it. Bird feeders were present; an uncle had a special interest in them. I don't recall any specific nature experiences however.

PARENTAL INFLUENCES?
My father was a biology teacher, photographer, and botanical specialist with a general interest in living things. The above mentioned uncle (his family and ours lived together for all years that I can recall) collected bird nests and took me out on birding expeditions in New Jersey (where I grew up) starting in the mid 1940's, when a semi dedication to learning how to identify birds began.

EARLY TEACHER INFLUENCES?
I don't remember any special in-school teachers, but my family, father, uncles, aunts, were all practicing teachers of various subjects and had broad interests that rubbed off on me.

LANDMARK EXPERIENCES?
Attending Audubon Camps for adults in Maine and Wisconsin and a nine-summer stint as an instructor atthe Wisconsin Camp were stimulating. Also 15 years as a science teacher trying to encourage junior and senior high school students to see value in understanding their surroundings, followed by 25 years in the University of Oregon biology department attempting the same thing.

ANY NATURE HOBBIES?
Photography of plants and animals. Collecting books on natural history subjects. Field trips pursuing photography and natural history interests.

MEMORABLE TRAVELS?
Australia, East Africa, Costa Rica, Norway, all with primary aims at learning about their environments and the residents thereof.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO YOUR AREA OF SPECIALIZATION?
The influences of my father and a botany professor, Mildred Faust, plus the courses taken at Syracuse University in the process of obtaining a science teaching certificate. Additionally, the experiences of joining with others of similar interests and catching some of their excitement.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO OUR TOWN?
A golden opportunity offer to join the staff of the biology department at the U of O. This came two years after attending an Academic Year Institute (1962-63) here aimed at upgrading the knowledge of high school biology teachers. I must credit Sandy Tepfer with giving me this chance to make a decision we have never regretted.

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