It is with sadness that we learn of the passing of David Boyd (1933-2024), a long time member of Nature Vancouver. David joined Nature Vancouver in 1997, and was member of the Birding Section Committee. He coordinated several ongoing bird surveys, including Christmas bird counts since the 1980s. These included the Ladner Area ‘E’ of the Ladner Christmas Bird Count and where the birders warmly remember the gatherings at Sharkey’s to share their tallies with David and the cheerful atmosphere he fostered. For the Vancouver Christmas Bird Count, David coordinated Area ‘N’, which included the Langara Golf Course and surroundings. All the participants looked forward to seeing David and his wife, Rosemary, for the Christmas count—so cheerful and enthusiastic, even though it was inevitably snowing, sleeting or pouring. Then warming up at Wick’s cafe, where David with his pencil would compile the count.

David was a leader, more than two decades ago, in initiating and coordinating the Nature Vancouver bird surveys at the three City of Vancouver Golf Courses: Fraserview, Langara and McCleery. David recognized that these three courses form 15% of Vancouver’s parkland; so retaining and enhancing their natural habitat was important for birds and other wildlife. Monthly surveys have been conducted at these three courses since 2002. David also helped in developing display panels, including photos of birds likely to be seen, to improve golfers’ appreciation of wildlife friendly habitats. David was the lead in establishing a similar survey at the University Golf Course which began in 2013 and ran for five years. 

More information on these golf course bird surveys, including the species recorded, can be found in the two articles written by David for Discovery 36(1): 37-43 Spring 2007 and Discovery (43): 55-61 2014. 

From 2013 onwards, David worked with Cascade Bird Box Team members on installation of nest boxes for songbirds (Chickadees and Tree Swallows) at the three golf courses. This involved expanding the number of nest boxes installed in co-operation with the Superintendents of each course, as well as annual maintenance and cleaning. The legacy of David’s work is that there are now about 80 pairs of song birds that return each spring to nest.

David is fondly remembered for his fun, yet thoughtful conversations during the social breaks when monthly Birders’ Nights were held at St Mary’s Church Hall in Kerrisdale. He was presented with a NV Garibaldi Award in 2015.

In his career before retirement, David worked as a Civil Engineer. His interest in the ‘fantastic’ environment of BC was sparked when he lived in New Zealand, by reading Don and Phyllis Munday’s book, The Unknown Mountain. That book describes Mt. Waddington, which David climbed in 1962. He had arrived in BC a year earlier and he described that on arrival, he was also impressed by the great variety of waterfowl. A loving family man, David is survived by his wife, Rosemary, three children and their spouses, and seven grandchildren.

by Bev Ramey, Monica Nugent, Fred Hornby and Peter Ward