Percy A. Taverner
Encyclopedia
Percy Algernon Taverner was a Canadian
ornithologist and architect.
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. Taverner, a self-taught naturalist
, was the first ornithologist at the National Museum of Canada, now the Canadian Museum of Nature
, from 1912 to 1942. He helped establish Point Pelee National Park
and a number of bird sanctuaries across Canada
, including Bonaventure Island
.
Books by Taverner include:
He died in Ottawa
in 1947. He is buried in Beechwood Cemetery
.
The Taverner Cup, a 24-hour competitive birdathon held in eastern Ontario
and western Quebec
, is named after him.
Taverner is the subject of a biography entitled "A Life With Birds: Percy A. Taverner, Canadian Ornithologist", by Jack Cranmer-Byng, published in 1996 by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists Club.
The Timberline Sparrow
, currently considered to be a sub-species of Brewer's Sparrow
, and a sub-species of Canada Goose
were given the name taverneri in his honour.
As an architect, Taverner designed in Chicago, Detroit and Ottawa, including homes on Rosedale Avenue and Leonard Avenue in Ottawa.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ornithologist and architect.
He was born Percy Algernon Fowler in Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in 1875. When his parents separated and his mother remarried, he took on his new parent's surname. Taverner, a self-taught naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
, was the first ornithologist at the National Museum of Canada, now the Canadian Museum of Nature
Canadian Museum of Nature
The Canadian Museum of Nature is a natural history museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Its collections, which were started by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1856, include all aspects of the intersection of human society and nature, from gardening to gene-splicing...
, from 1912 to 1942. He helped establish Point Pelee National Park
Point Pelee National Park
-See also:*National Parks of Canada*List of National Parks of Canada*Long Point-External links:**...
and a number of bird sanctuaries across Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, including Bonaventure Island
Bonaventure Island
Bonaventure Island is a Canadian island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence located off the southern coast of Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula, southeast of the village of Percé...
.
Books by Taverner include:
- Birds of Eastern Canada (1919)
- Birds of Western Canada (1926)
- Birds of Canada (1934)
He died in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 1947. He is buried in Beechwood Cemetery
Beechwood Cemetery
Beechwood Cemetery is the National Cemetery of Canada. Because it is located in Ottawa, Ontario, the nation's capital, it is the burial site for a number of statesmen as well as a large number of mayors of the city. A woodland cemetery founded in 1873, it is 160 acres and is the largest cemetery...
.
The Taverner Cup, a 24-hour competitive birdathon held in eastern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and western Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, is named after him.
Taverner is the subject of a biography entitled "A Life With Birds: Percy A. Taverner, Canadian Ornithologist", by Jack Cranmer-Byng, published in 1996 by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists Club.
The Timberline Sparrow
Timberline Sparrow
The Timberline Sparrow is a taxonomically controversial American sparrow. Usually treated as a subspecies of Brewer's Sparrow, it is still considered a distinct species Spizella taverneri by many authorities...
, currently considered to be a sub-species of Brewer's Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow is a small, slim species of American sparrow in the family Emberizidae. This bird was named after the ornithologist Thomas Mayo Brewer.-Description and systematics:...
, and a sub-species of Canada Goose
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
were given the name taverneri in his honour.
As an architect, Taverner designed in Chicago, Detroit and Ottawa, including homes on Rosedale Avenue and Leonard Avenue in Ottawa.