Percy Algernon Taverner (June 10, 1875 – May 9, 1947) was a Canadian

ornithologist Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...

and architect. https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v065n01/p0085-p0106.pdf He was born Percy Algernon Fowler in Guelph, Ontario in 1875. When his parents separated and his mother remarried, he took on his new parent's surname, Tavernier, which he later changed to Taverner. Taverner, a self-taught naturalist, was the first ornithologist at the National Museum of Canada, now the

Canadian Museum of Nature The Canadian Museum of Nature (french: Musée canadien de la nature; CMN) is a national natural history museum based in Canada's National Capital Region. The museum's exhibitions and public programs are housed in the Victoria Memorial Museum Bui ...

, from 1912 to 1942. Taverner was in correspondence with Alberta's first female naturalist and 'keen observer' of birdlife

Elsie Cassels Elsie Cassels (February 1864 - 12 November 1938) was a Scottish born naturalist, the first woman to become Vice-President of a Canadian naturalist society. Cassels lived in Red Deer, Alberta and became a recognised authority across Canada on mig ...

. Taverner was one of a handful of federal bureaucrats who convinced the Canadian Government to sign the 1916 Canada-U.S. Migratory Birds Convention. He helped establish Point Pelee National Park and a number of bird sanctuaries across Canada, including Bonaventure Island. As an architect, Taverner designed in Chicago, Detroit and Ottawa, including homes on Rosedale Avenue and Leonard Avenue in Ottawa. A pillar of the Ottawa naturalist community, he was president of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club in the 1930s and was substantially responsible for the survival of this organization and its journal, ''The Canadian Field-Naturalist'', which he founded. Taverner was a mentor to

Louise de Kiriline Lawrence Louise de Kiriline Lawrence (née Flach; January 30, 1894 – April 27, 1992) was a naturalist, author, and nurse. She was a frequent contributor to the National Audubon Society magazine ''Audubon''. Early life Louise de Kiriline Lawrence was b ...

in her career as an ornithologist, encouraging her work as a bird bander. He died in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

in 1947 and is buried in

Beechwood Cemetery Beechwood Cemetery, located in the former city of Vanier in Ottawa, Ontario, is the National Cemetery of Canada. It is the final resting place for over 82,000 Canadians from all walks of life, such as important politicians like Governor Genera ...

. Taverner is the subject of a biography titled "A Life With Birds: Percy A. Taverner, Canadian Ornithologist".Jack Cranmer-Byng (1996) "A Life With Birds: Percy A. Taverner, Canadian Ornithologist" The Canadian Field-Naturalist 110(1): 1-254. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/106979#page/9/mode/1up

Honors

The Taverner Cup, a 24-hour competitive birdathon held in eastern Ontario and western Quebec, is named after him. The

timberline sparrow The timberline sparrow (''Spizella breweri taverneri'') is a taxonomically controversial American sparrow. Usually treated as a subspecies of Brewer's sparrow, it is considered a distinct species ''Spizella taverneri'' by some authorities. While ...

(''Spizella breweri taverneri''), considered to be a

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of Brewer's sparrow, and a

Canada goose The Canada goose (''Branta canadensis''), or Canadian goose, is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America, and it is o ...

(''Branta canadensis taverneri'') carry the last part in his honour. In turn, he named the Fleming's grouse (''

Dendragapus obscurus The dusky grouse (''Dendragapus obscurus'') is a species of forest-dwelling grouse native to the Rocky Mountains in North America.del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J., eds. (1994). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World'' 2: 401-402. Lynx Edic ...

flemingi'') after Canadian ornithologist

James Henry Fleming James Henry Fleming (Toronto, July 5, 1872 – June 27, 1940) was a Canadian ornithologist. His father was Scottish, and sixty years old when his son was born. James became interested in birds at the age of 12. He was an associate member of the Ro ...

. In 2015, in recognition of his contributions, the City of Ottawa named a new park at 130 Woodbine Place “Percy Taverner Park.”

Partial works

*''Birds of Eastern Canada'' (1919) *''Birds of Western Canada'' (1926) *''Birds of Canada'' (1934)

References

1875 births 1947 deaths Canadian naturalists People from Guelph Canadian people of English descent Burials at Beechwood Cemetery (Ottawa) {{Canada-scientist-stub