On the Wings of Cranes

Loving Whooping Cranes, Sandhill Cranes, and Kirtland’s Warblers was easy for Larry Walkinshaw. Saving them from extinction engulfed his life. Only recently have his dreams, propelled by inspiration, borne fruit to tell appropriately of their contributions to society through ornithology, conservation, and science. When ornithological academics and society presidents assess his life achievements their superlatives and comparisons reveal Walkinshaw’s attainments On the Wings of Cranes: * Professor Emeritus, Dr. Stanley A. Temple positioned Walkinshaw “…shoulder-to-shoulder with other giants such as Alexander Wilson, John James Audubon, Elliott Coues, Margaret Nice, Rosalie Edge, Harold Mayfield, and Roger Tory Peterson.” * Professor Andrew J. Berger, former WOS President considered him “…one of the top five field ornithologists since Audubon.” * Dr. C. Stuart Houston, former AOU Vice President thought him “…perhaps the greatest bird-nest-finder of all time.” * Harold F. Mayfield, former president of three leading societies, featured Walkinshaw as the “model” amateur life history scholar over all others, including Margaret Morse Nice and A. C. Bent. Likewise, Walkinshaw’s contributions as an amateur birder easily matched, more often far exceeded, what the author had come to experience at three major universities serving with accomplished full-time professionals. By comparison, professors had large grants, technicians, laboratories, secretaries, and students at their disposal. Instead, the self-financed Walkinshaw always conducted his fieldwork with friends and family. The wilderness served as both his classroom and his laboratory. There he inspired others with species saving dreams. Why and how he conceived a plan that led them to rescue endangered birds unfolds precisely as Walkinshaw lived it… methodically. One bird, one nest, at a time. What possessed a youthful Larry to commit his life to saving birds? How could this native of Michigan, who mapped his own research agenda, lead in the salvation of three species decades before ‘Endangered’ was officially coined? Was he like other men? Birds literally penetrated Walkinshaw’s psyche, capturing his imagination and providing him life-long inspiration. It all started about a century ago. “I began watching birds when I was this high,” gesturing with his hand indicating a lad of about four feet – near the height of the cranes he worshiped.3 In an era when birding was as often as not considered odd if not quirky, he taught himself to discipline his passions to master ornithology. Then dared to be different by following his convictions. How different you might ask? Upon graduating with honors from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Dr. Walkinshaw who obviously loved birds proposed by asking, “Clara, do you think you can love birds as much as I do?”1 Their union extended over sixty years approaching his seventy-year span of publishing nearly 400 technical works. Somehow, while successfully practicing dentistry the naturalist found time to search the world over to serve birds and with a spirit of altruism his Battle Creek community while leading an otherwise ‘normal’ family life. Somewhere between the nearly impossible and highly improbable, he extracted, tweak by tweak, secrets from reclusive cranes and warblers. After acquiring field data as their foundation for rescue, Walkinshaw led by inspiring movements around the world to secure their future. His dream represented an uncomplicated ambition: save them with knowledge. His friend, crane expert Dr. George Archibald, freely acknowledged that “He is not only a great scientist; he’s a tremendous human being and is respected by everyone who knows him. He inspired me and has inspired many others.”1 After publishing The Sandhill Cranes and Cranes of the World professional crane researchers recognized his works as the foundation upon which they would build programs for the future study and salvation of cranes worldwide. He is not only distinguish today as “The Father of International Studies of Gruiformes” but by the Walkinshaw Crane Conservation Award, the highest honor attainable by the 1,000 or so World crane researchers.4 Simultaneously, across the same fifty-year span, he studied the Kirtland’s Warbler, his title for another book with its subtitle, The Natural History of An Endangered Species. To avert their extinction the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) asked him to study new habitat management techniques. Today these unique summer inhabitants of Michigan have initiated a striking comeback from extinction just as have the Sandhill and Whooping Cranes he championed. The fruits of his dynamism have led to numerous birding tourism celebrations, one or more for each species. Yet his birding penchants were not limited to those three species on the very brink of obliteration at the hand of ‘modern’ man. He meticulously studied hundreds of other species and published additional volumes like The Life History of the Eastern Field Sparrow and Birds of the Battle Creek, Michigan Area. Journey into Walkinshaw’s incredible life drama to discover how his adventures led him onto the very pinnacle of ornithological attainment – into that world of birding he so loved and mastered. Join him in the global wilderness of marshlands, deserts, and tundra seeking nature’s truths as birds literally hatched, fluttered, and died in his hands. “Now…that incomparable passion that Larry transfused into crane research and conservation, is being expressed by hundreds of colleagues worldwide,” asserted Dr. Archibald.1 Nowhere is this assertion more direly appropriate than in the frequent but incomplete, sometimes even inaccurate retelling of the evolving recovery of the Whooping Cranes. Revealed is a man of purposeful ambition working as few can with Clara ever at his side. Eventually his dogged determination to conduct field studies haunted his capacity to write, publish, and tell his story. The changing structure of science rushed upon him as time was ‘running out.’ At times, heartbreak entered his life but his perseverance held true as he took calculated risks, sacrificed, and struggled to save endangered birds. Beneath the “mask” of his deliberate and reserved personality resided a uniquely complicated genius who desired to serve both nature and humankind. On the Wings of Cranes extends an invitation to respond to the powers of inspiration, motivation and self-discipline so vividly exhibited throughout. The theme of Walkinshaw’s life is birding – inspiration its message. However, when asked to compile this biography by Larry’s daughter certain notes of caution sounded in the mind of the author. After all, Schake had joined the Walkinshaw family through the process of marriage. Even though a previous book was then successfully rolling of the press, objectivity might be difficult. Certainly intimate family insights like none other resided nearby. Nevertheless, objectivity could never be compromised. The author’s experiences in animal behavior research, teaching, and serving as a university administrator in the biological sciences offered confidence. The saving grace allowing for an objective ’safe distance’ became the plethora of Larry’s notes, correspondence, tapes, quotes, and publications largely sparing personal conflicts when portraying and interpreting his life. Additionally, brother-in-law Jim Walkinshaw, also a published author, helped shape this biography. Every family member knew how deeply Larry loved birds. Exceeding that love, however, was his commitment to family. His publishing four genealogy books attest to that. However, when Larry received a plaque designating him as “The Father of Crane Biology” its inscription acknowledged both “Larry & Clara” as honorees.5 These renowned scientists knew how Clara had worked and sacrificed alongside Larry. Hence, his theme of birding would be incomplete without inclusion of his family and friend