Passing of Norman Saunders

[Mike Bowen]

I just learned via Lydia Schindler, who had heard the news from Rick Sussman, that Norm Saunders passed away on June 19.  I have no more recent information than that, and hope that someone else has.

Norm was a past President of MOS, but I believe that his major contribution to the world of birding was his development of arguably the first bulletin board service (BBS) aimed at  birders. The Osprey's Nest (TON) served birders in the greater DC area.  That was in 1987 -- long before the advent of eBird.  I was an avid user and contributor, not realizing at the time what a true pioneer Norm was.

An interesting interview with Norm, from 2007, can be found at http://www.thebirdist.com/2007/11/interview-with-norm-saunders.html

Mike Bowen

Montgomery Bird Club

Bethesda

[Marcia Watson]

Mike,

This is sad news indeed. I looked online but could not find an obituary. If anyone finds an obituary or learns anything, please post here if appropriate, or please write to me privately at marsh...@comcast.net. 

I worked closely on various MOS projects with Norm and his wife Fran during the days of Norm’s MOS presidency. I was going through a difficult time personally and Norm and Fran were exceptionally kind and supportive to me. For that, I will always be grateful.

Norm was also continually supportive to those of us who were trying to launch serious birding in the nether region called Cecil County, which was not really on much of anyone’s birding map in those days. Cecil County was known mainly as “the other side” when standing at Conowingo Dam. Norm was in the habit of reaching out to us to encourage our posts of Cecil sightings on MDOsprey. That helped put Cecil on the birding map.

As Mike noted, Norm’s The Osprey Nest bulletin board and then the later MDOsprey listserv were groundbreaking efforts that put Maryland at the forefront of the digital birding world. In particular, MDOsprey foreshadowed what we now call “social media,” enabling birders from all around the state and beyond to develop a sense of community. Norm and Fran fostered this community-building by hosting an in-person reception for MDOspreyites at the annual MOS Convention, so that we could put names to faces. Some of my oldest birding friendships came out of this network. 

Norm was one of those larger than life figures that inhabit our birding world. I’m sorry that he’s gone. 

Marcia 

------------

Marcia Watson

Bowie, MD

On Jun 21, 2023, at 11:32 AM, 'Mike Bowen' via Maryland & DC Birding <mdbi...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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[Jan Braumuller]

Thank you, Mike and Marcia, for sharing the news and reflections about Norm. I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but I used MDOsprey very frequently. its existence is why this VA. resident birded (s) 90% of the time in MD. I am grateful for Norm’s efforts and his legacy. 

Jan Braumuller

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 21, 2023, at 1:25 PM, Marcia Watson <marsh...@comcast.net> wrote:

Mike,

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/74B10AA7-7716-476B-9956-07C70FD8A49C%40comcast.net.

[Phil Davis]

Hi MD/DC Birders:

I am also saddened to learn of Norm's passing. He was a friend.

I'm glad that Mike posted the link to "An Interview with Norm Saunders." Norm and Fran supported the MD Osprey Bulletin Board System (BBS) and the later MDOsprey email listserver out of their own pocket, for many, many years. We are indebted to Norm's pioneering work of integrating computers and birding.

FYI ... here is Norm and Fran's "welcome" message when MDOsprey opened for business on the Internet on 13 Oct 1997 ...
        
         http://www.mdbirding.com/archives/posts/9799_0000.html

I recall that Norm and Fran once sponsored a MDOsprey picnic at a local public park where many of us users got to actually meeting each other, face-to-face ... what a concept!

Norm did hold strong opinions on many birding-related subjects and this often led to some lively discussions. I found a link to a 1997 MDOsprey message entitled "My Disappointment with the ABA (American Birding Association)". In this message, most importantly, Norm summarized, in detail, his significant birding-related contributions to Maryland birding. Here's the link ...

         http://www.mdbirding.com/archives/posts/9799_7363.html

Lastly, this 2008 article in the ABA magazine, Birding, featured Norm's early BBS efforts and the subsequent founding and history of BirdChat and the other important related regional and speciality listservers of the 1990-2000 era ...

         https://www.aba.org/birding_archive_files/v40n1p54.pdf

We are indebted to Norm's passion!

Phil

On Jun 21, 2023, at 11:32 AM, 'Mike Bowen' via Maryland & DC Birding <mdbi...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I just learned via Lydia Schindler, who had heard the news from Rick Sussman, that Norm Saunders passed away on June 19.  I have no more recent information than that, and hope that someone else has.

Norm was a past President of MOS, but I believe that his major contribution to the world of birding was his development of arguably the first bulletin board service (BBS) aimed at  birders. The Osprey's Nest (TON) served birders in the greater DC area.  That was in 1987 -- long before the advent of eBird.  I was an avid user and contributor, not realizing at the time what a true pioneer Norm was.

An interesting interview with Norm, from 2007, can be found at http://www.thebirdist.com/2007/11/interview-with-norm-saunders.html

===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
web: https://mdbirds.org/records-committee/
email: pda...@ix.netcom.com
phone: 301-261-0184
===================================================

[JAMES SPEICHER]

Interesting also that you can continue reading all the earliest Osprey posts following Norm's.

If only the rest of social media had developed on a pair with Osprey...

Jim S

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[Lydia Schindler]

Thanks, Phil and Mike, for the good backgrounders.

[Marcia Watson]

Phil,

Thanks for posting the links.  Interesting reading. I had not known that Norm was one of the founders of BirdChat. 

Marcia 

------------

Marcia Watson

Bowie, MD

On Jun 21, 2023, at 3:40 PM, Phil Davis <pda...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

 Hi MD/DC Birders:

--

[Les Eastman]

On 6/21/2023 12:39 PM, Phil Davis wrote:
> I recall that Norm and Fran once sponsored a MDOsprey picnic at a
> local public park where many of us users got to actually meeting each
> other, face-to-face ... what a concept!

I was at that picnic! I think it was still The Osprey's Nest then. In
addition, for a few years I sponsored a TON trip to Conowingo Dam and
other Harford and Cecil County hot spots, then going back to my house
outside Havre de Grace for some chili and conversation.

I lost touch with Norm for the last few years and am very sad at the
news of his passing.

Les

===========
Les Eastman
mailto:l...@birdtreks.com
Fountain Hills, AZ

"I used to be with it, but then they changed what *it* was.
Now what I'm with isn't *it*, and what's *it* seems weird
and scary to me. It'll happen to you..."
Grandpa Simpson

[Marcia Watson]

Les,

I was at one of your chili bashes! Good memories!

Marcia
------------
Marcia Watson
Bowie, MD

> On Jun 21, 2023, at 5:54 PM, Les Eastman <l...@birdtreks.com> wrote:

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[Gail Mackiernan]

Yes, i also had forgotten Norm was one of BirdChat’s founders. It still exists, albeit in diminished form. At one time it was a great source of birding info, trip reports, recommendations, etc. 

Very sorry to hear of his passing...

Gail Mackiernan

Colesville

Sent from my iPad

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[Janet Millenson]

I don't think anyone has mentioned that in addition to all his other contributions, Norm was also editor of the MOS newsletter The Yellowthroat in the 1990s.

---

Janet Millenson
Potomac, MD (Montgomery County)
ja...@twocrows.com

[JB Churchill]

… And Regional Editor of the Audubon CBCs (Christmas Bird Counts) before passing that torch to your’s truly. Not a trivial task if I do say so myself.

J.B.

Pasadena, MD

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[Art Drauglis]

FYI

The link to Nick Lund's interview with Norm is broken, BUT

if you search Norm on the blog th page comes up

http://www.thebirdist.com/search?q=norm

Art D

WDC

[Russ Ruffing]

While we are at it, Norm also produced the annual MOS Listing Report from 2001 to 2009.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/CAKc4q8CrPh5kmZdZXZ_M7rebQvrk5eKOZdVgS6hqBsa%2BRxKhDw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Marcia Watson]

And another project related to the Listing Reports: Norm kept official lists for each county.

Marcia 

------------

Marcia Watson

Bowie, MD

On Jun 22, 2023, at 10:15 AM, Russ Ruffing <russr...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Les Eastman]

Here is the link to Norm Saunders' obituary:

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/28244526/norman-c-saunders/cambridge/maryland/thomas-funeral-home-pa

[JAMES SPEICHER]

Nice picture at the "Tribute" section...

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/28244526/norman-c-saunders/wall

Jim Speicher 

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[Jack Saba]

From https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230622142345.htm

Animals that eat fruit or sip nectar often ingest alcohol because
naturally occurring yeasts turning sugar into ethanol. But how do
animals feel about that? A new study details an experiment to determine
whether hummingbirds are turned off by alcohol in sugar water. At 1% by
volume, no. At 2% by volume, they consume much less. The implication is
that hummingbirds have adjusted to small amounts of alcohol likely
present in flowers and backyard feeders.

Journal article: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.230306

--
Jack Saba
<jlsa...@gmail.com>
Berwyn Heights

[Gail Mackiernan]

Norm was pretty young, does anyone know cause of death? I got the impression he had not been actively birding for some time, as well...

Gail Mackiernan
Colesville, MD

Sent from my iPad

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[scott]

Those yeasts are everywhere, and very efficient. Your fresh squeezed OJ probably has close to 1‰. So I expect all animals are adapted to some extent.

Scott Garrison 

Silver Spring 

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[bird...@gmail.com]

Hi all,

I first want to thank Mike Bowen for getting word out of Norms passing. Nancy and I are currently at a campground near Lancaster, PA that has limited cell and internet service.

My first encounter with Norm was through The Ospreys Nest BBS, back in the late 1980's, when we lived nearby in Ashton. Once I discovered this existed, and I could chat with like-minded individuals (albeit mostly just locals) I became an avid user. It was great fun to sit and exchange stories, bird sightings, and locales with folks who would eventually become real life friends. I think I didn't actually meet Norm in person until 1990 or '91, when we met at ANS headquarters (Woodend) in Chevy Chase. We would eventually become very good friends (and he became a sort of mentor to me in the computer and Christmas Count world). It was because of Norm that I first joined MOS, did my first Christmas Count, and discovered birding outside of Montgomery County. Eventually Norm passed the reins of the Triadelphia CBC compiler over to Nancy and I, and I hope we met his high level of standards. 

Also in these early years, Norm led many birdwalks through The Backyard Naturalist in Olney, sponsored by Debi and Mike Klein, where a small group of us became lifelong friends, even to this day. Just prior to The Ospreys Nest morphing into MD Osprey, we threw him and Fran a big surprise party/picnic at Brighton Dam, where we presented them with a large full-size weathervane of an Osprey (paid for by donations from his TON friends, unbeknownst to him) which took a place of honor at their (new) home near Ocean city. It was a wonderful time! 

I was honored to serve as a state director for MOS while Norm was president as well, and we remained friends throughout (even though we butted heads on more than one occasion) the years. After moving to Dorchester County, we only saw them once when we stopped by their house, but we remained in touch through the years, and still exchange Christmas cards (and will continue to).

Cheers to you my friend Norm, you made the birding world (or at least our small part of it) a much better place. We'll miss you (and your goofy "woodcock dance!").

With deep sadness, 

Rick and Nancy Sussman

On the road near

 Lancaster County PA

[JAMES SPEICHER]

I was trying to find my first Osprey post, but it's eluded my best efforts. I remember as a newbie logging on in summer of 2003, or maybe winter of 2004 - anyway a slack time for birding.  Not thinking it thru and only finding lots of posts about Ian Fleming/James Bond and wondering "what the heck," I posted my puzzlement and that led to my first ever instance of being "flamed."  

Thanks to Norm and Fran for all their efforts and for putting up with all of us for all of those years...

Jim Speicher

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/65F8613D-1EE6-4171-A0C4-D3C23B229C79%40comcast.net.

[Phil Davis]

Hi Jim:

Ask and ye shall receive ... from my personal archives ...

Date:         Fri, 17 Jan 2003 09:40:38 -0500
From:         James Speicher <JSPE...@NIAID.NIH.GOV>
Subject: [MDOSPREY] NOISE REDUCTION
To:           MDOS...@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM

I'm relatively new to this "server" but it does seem that there could be
improvements in efficiency.  If you are posting a strictly personal appeal,
for example suggestions on field guides or spotting scopes, you should place
your e-mail address PROMINENTLY in the text of your message so it can be
easily cut and pasted for those wishing to reply to you (check it twice for
accuracy!!!).  Otherwise the tendency seems to be that the replies will go
out to all the members.

The second observation is to comment that the whole point of this site is to
share our enjoyment in our hobby by letting people know what's being seen in
the area.  Mis-identifications are going to happen, but i don't think anyone
needs to apologize for making a mistake.  That approach will only increase
the chances of someone failing to post a bird siting that we would all like
to know about for fear that they may be mistaken.

I also wonder if it's really necessary for most of us to know the connection
between James Bond the field guide author, James Bond the fictional
character and Ian Fleming.  This is the second time this has surfaced in the
two months i've belonged to OSPREY.

If this offends anyone in any way, i suggest that you reply to me personally
(address below) to spare everyone else on the server from even more noise...

Jim Speicher

jspe...@niaid.nih.gov

At 17:22 06/23/2023, JAMES SPEICHER wrote:

I was trying to find my first Osprey post, but it's eluded my best efforts. I remember as a newbie logging on in summer of 2003, or maybe winter of 2004 - anyway a slack time for birding.  Not thinking it thru and only finding lots of posts about Ian Fleming/James Bond and wondering "what the heck," I posted my puzzlement and that led to my first ever instance of being "flamed."

Thanks to Norm and Fran for all their efforts and for putting up with all of us for all of those years...

Jim Speicher

[Fran Saunders]

Hello, everyone, I want to thank you all for the memories and tributes you posted regarding Norm. The entire family greatly appreciates your thoughtfulness.

Hugs

[Fred Fallon]

Among Norm's lesser-known contributions to Maryland bird-life was his support as MOS president, sometimes behind the scenes and in the face of opposition, for MD Partners in Flight in its struggle to advocate sound management practices for MD land-birds. For that MD birds have benefited.

Indeed Norm was a man of strong opinions, strongly expressed. But at the end of an exchange he was always courteous, and in any case "we take our giants as we find them". Norm was that kind of giant.

Fred Fallon