Our Members Make the Difference
They volunteer with purpose at every turn.
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Shirley Sturts has dedicated over six decades to the study, observation, and preservation of birds. Born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, her passion for birding began after college and marriage, when she and her husband, Keith, spent countless hours exploring the mountains and forests of North Idaho. Her interest in nature initially focused on identifying plants but quickly turned to birds, which became her lifelong passion.
Her journey as a birder officially began in 1965, when Keith gifted her a Peterson’s Field Guide to Western Birds for Christmas. Shirley joined the Spokane Audubon Society and participated in its field trips, meticulously documenting her observations in field notebooks. Over the years, her commitment to birding evolved into a mission to contribute to conservation efforts and enhance the collective understanding of avian species in Idaho and beyond.
Shirley’s work in data collection and record-keeping is particularly noteworthy. Under the mentorship of Tom Rogers, she compiled Idaho bird sightings into notebooks, which eventually expanded into a comprehensive database created with her husband’s help. This database, which includes nearly 190,000 bird records, has become a cornerstone for bird distribution studies in Idaho. It incorporates records from birding enthusiasts, scientific surveys, and historical accounts, such as those found in Thomas Burleigh’s Birds of Idaho.
The database also inspired the development of the Idaho Bird Distribution Database and led to the publication of Idaho Bird Distribution: Mapping By Latilong, co-authored by Daniel A. Stephens and Shirley in 1991 and updated in 1997. Shirley’s meticulous work on latilong maps continues to inform bird distribution research. These maps, accessible on the Idaho Birds website, are updated regularly to reflect the current status of species across the state.
A founding member of the Coeur d’Alene Audubon chapter, Shirley has been instrumental in its growth and success since its inception in 1990. She managed membership, edited the chapter newsletter for over 30 years, and established the chapter’s first website in 2004, which she coded in HTML. The site served as a vital resource until 2024.
Her dedication extended to various conservation initiatives. Shirley spearheaded the Mica Bay Surveys, conducted as part of the Idaho Fish and Game’s “Adopt a Wetland” program, and participated in the Indian Mountain and Coeur d’Alene Christmas Bird Counts. She also worked on the “Adopt-a-Highway” program, helping to maintain a stretch of US 95 near Mica Bay.
Beyond Idaho, Shirley’s birding adventures have taken her across the United States and around the world. Some of her favorite birding locations include the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes in Idaho, Central Park in New York City, and the Galápagos Islands, where she encountered the iconic Blue-footed Booby during a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Shirley describes herself as more of a “watcher” than a “lister,” valuing the experience of observing birds in their natural habitats over tallying sightings. However, her passion for collaborative birding led her to initiate Kootenai County Big Year challenges, inspiring birders to collectively document as many species as possible within a year.
Her contributions extend to education and mentorship. She co-authored latilong maps for birding websites, served as secretary for the Idaho Bird Records Committee, and maintained the chapter’s spring arrival records. Her library of birding resources includes an impressive collection of field guides, historical bird books, and specialized ornithological texts, reflecting her deep commitment to avian study.
Now in her late eighties, Shirley currently lives in Seattle with her daughter and son-in-law, where she continues to serve as a club historian and advisor to Coeur d’Alene Audubon. Shirley’s work has left an indelible mark on the birding community. Her meticulous data collection, dedication to conservation, and ability to inspire others have made her a treasured figure in Idaho’s birding history. Through her ongoing efforts, Shirley has enriched the understanding of bird species in the region and fostered a love for nature that will endure for generations to come.
Honoring a Current Member
Remembering Janet Callen-A Legacy of Leadership, Generosity and Dedication
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After a second interpretive sign in memory of my wife, Kris, was installed on Tubbs Hill, I was asked to contribute an article summarizing her many contributions to our Audubon chapter and our community. Since she passed in 2017, our membership has aged and benefited greatly from many younger individuals who have joined our chapter. For those of you who knew her, I hope this reignites many joyful memories. For those who never had the opportunity to meet her, you may wonder how she accomplished so much!
Before we moved here in 1994, Kris was a microbiologist at the National Institutes of Health, an instructor at a Maryland Science Center for K-12 students and an illustrator for several scientific papers, books and theses on biological topics.
She was never idle, always learning and teaching. After moving here, it didn’t take her long to decide that we needed to further hone our birding skills and so we joined our Audubon Chapter. After a few years, she became Vice President, then President of the Chapter.
As she gained momentum, her involvements expanded geometrically in depth and breadth. She contributed to several sections of the IDFG “Idaho Birding Trail” publication, led innumerable wildflower and birding trips on Tubbs Hill, participated in many bird surveys and submitted the results to national data banks so they would be available to researchers. Kris gave many presentations to our Chapter, including her favorite annual prepping session before our Christmas Bird Counts.
Her educational accomplishments included being invited to speak to local school classes (K-12), teaching years of seasonal Elderhostels (which unfortunately don’t exist anymore), participating in annual Earth Day celebrations, organizing and distributing “Audubon Adventures” packets for 3rd and 4th grade teachers (in collaboration with Beth Paragamian and Pam Gomes). Over the decades, she touched literally thousands of lives.
Kris had a knack for “birding by ear” and could identify virtually any bird by its call notes or song without seeing it. Carrie Hugo (BLM) and others benefitted from her efforts to teach this skill. Men consistently fail miserably at it because we don’t have the same ability to hear high frequencies. With Jenny Taylor, Kris cofounded WREN, a foundation that was devoted to wildlife education programs for youths.
Along her chosen path in life, she was recognized with several awards from our local Chapter and the National Audubon Society. She was also very moved when, in 2012, she was presented with the Art Manley Lifetime Conservation Award by Kootenai Environmental Alliance to which we belonged.
Some years ago, we both became federally licensed raptor rehabilitators. Of all the birds we had the privilege of working with, Kris was most affected by a snowy owl who was so close to death it couldn’t lift its head. With her care and perseverance, it gradually gained strength over several months and was successfully released.
Kris was infectiously gregarious, never ran out of hugs, and was interested in individuals and their happiness. She was an active member of Cancer and Community Charities and served on our city’s Open Space Committee for several years where she was instrumental in guiding the development of Lake Fernan Park and ensuring that our land and all that it holds will be used in a wise and sustainable way. Her sensitivity to the needs of the elderly was illustrated in her conviction that our Great Pyrenees could be trained as a therapy dog. She succeeded at this also and took him to many retirement and assisted living facilities along with Valerie Zagar and her dog. He had the uncanny ability to seek out the most depressed persons and lay next to them with his head on their laps.
The interpretive signs in her honor are located at the 10th Steet trailhead to Tubbs Hill and next to the new home of the North Idaho Museum near McEuen Park.
The epitaphs on both signs are the same – “Environmental Educator, Lover of Nature, Friend”.
I still talk to her every day. Hers was a life well lived.
Ed Buchler