11 Facts About Alexander Skutch

Alexander Frank Skutch was a naturalist and writer.

Alexander Skutch published numerous scientific papers and books about birds and several books on philosophy.

Alexander Skutch is best remembered ornithologically for his pioneering work on helpers at the nest.

Alexander Skutch received a doctorate in botany from Johns Hopkins University in 1928.

Alexander Skutch then found employment with United Fruit Company, which had a problem with banana diseases, for which it needed the expertise of a botanist.

Alexander Skutch collected plants for museums to make money, but observing birds remained his life's main focus.

Alexander Skutch believed in "treading lightly on the mother Earth".

Alexander Skutch wrote over 40 books and over 200 papers on ornithology, preferring a descriptive style and eschewing statistics and even banding.

Alexander Skutch died eight days before his 100th birthday, in the same year that he received the Loye and Alden Miller Research Award.

Alexander Skutch is universally regarded as one of the world's greatest ornithologists.

Alexander Skutch was honored at that meeting for over 60 years of contributions to ornithology.