J. Drew Lanham

Last updated

Joseph Drew Lanham is an American author, poet, and wildlife biologist who was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2022 for his work "combining conservation science with personal, historical, and cultural narratives of nature." [1] [2]

Contents

Biography

Raised in Edgefield, South Carolina, Lanham studied zoology at Clemson University, where he also earned a PhD in Forest Resources in 1997. He was named an Alumni Distinguished Professor at the university in 2012. [3] [4] He currently teaches several classes on birding and wildlife science. He describes his work in his own words as: "’Connecting the conservation dots’ is how I envision my research mission. My past work has focused on the impacts of forest management and other human activities on songbirds, herpetofauna, small mammals and butterflies. More recently I've begun to investigate how ethnicity (especially Black Americans) relate to wildlife and other conservation issues. I'm also interested in how birders and hunters might bridge philosophical gaps to effect conservation in a more holistic way."

His research focuses on songbird ecology. He is a board member of several conservation organizations, including the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, Audubon South Carolina, the Aldo Leopold Foundation, BirdNote, and the American Birding Association, and an advisory board member for the North American Association of Environmental Education. [5] In 2016, he was named a Brandwein Fellow for his work in environmental education, and he has also been a fellow of Toyota TogetherGreen and the Clemson University Institute for Parks. Lanham is a Board member of the National Audubon Society; in 2019 he was awarded its Dan W. Lufkin Prize for Environmental Leadership, recognizing "individuals who have dedicated their entire lives to the environment". [6] [7] In his 20 years as a faculty member, he has taught courses, conducted research and outreach in woodland ecology, conservation biology, forest biodiversity, wildlife policy and conservation ornithology and has mentored more than 40 students.

Lanham is a strong advocate for the African American role in natural resources conservation, intrigued with how culture and ethnic prisms can bend perceptions of nature and its care. Lanham believes that conservation must be a blending of head and heart, rigorous science and evocative art. In 2013, Lanham wrote a piece for Orion Magazine titled "9 Rules for the Black Birdwatcher," [8] [9] drawing attention to the lack of Black birders and diversity in general among naturalists. The short piece inspired producer Ari Daniel and videographer Amanda Kowalski to create a short film with the same title for BirdNote, [10] [11] which quickly went viral on social media. [1] In 2016 he wrote "Birding While Black." [12] In 2017 he published the award-winning memoir The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature. [13] His book received the Reed Award from the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Southern Book Prize, and was a finalist for the John Burroughs Medal. [14] The book was listed in The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the 11 best scholarly books of the 2010s, chosen by Anna Tsing. [15] Lanham features in episode 7 of the 2019 TV series Birds of North America , produced by Topic and hosted by Jason Ward. [16] [17] In 2020, the podcast This Is Love spoke with Lanham for their episode, "Prairie Warbler." [18] In December 2020, he received the E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Award for Outstanding Science, Advocacy. [19] In 2021, Lanham wrote an essay for the Autumn 2021 issue of Living Bird, entitled "Wildness on A Whim: Reflections On Whimbrel In The South Carolina Lowcountry." [20] Lanham was recognized in February 2022 by the Post and Courier newspaper (Charleston, SC) as one of twelve Black Leaders in South Carolina.

Personal life

Lanham is married to Janice Garrison Lanham, a senior lecturer in the School of Nursing at Clemson University. [21] They have two adult children. He and his family live in the Upstate of South Carolina.

Bibliography

Articles

Breeding bird assemblages of hurricane-created gaps and adjacent closed canopy forest in the southern Appalachians

CH Greenberg, JD Lanham

Habitat specificity and home‐range size as attributes of species vulnerability to extinction: a case study using sympatric rattlesnakes

JL Waldron, SH Bennett, SM Welch, ME Dorcas, JD Lanham, ...

Evaluation of herpetofaunal communities on upland streams and beaver-impounded streams in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina

BS Metts, JD Lanham, KR Russell

Using behaviorally-based seasons to investigate canebrake rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) movement patterns and habitat selection

JL Waldron, JD Lanham, SH Bennett

Macrohabitat factors affect day roost selection by eastern red bats and eastern pipistrelles in the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA

JM O'Keefe, SC Loeb, JD Lanham, HS Hill Jr

Short‐term effects of fire and other fuel reduction treatments on breeding birds in a southern Appalachian upland hardwood forest

CH Greenberg, AL Tomcho, JD Lanham, TA Waldrop, J Tomcho, ...

Comparison of anesthesia and marking techniques on stress and behavioral responses in two Desmognathus salamanders

Herpetofaunal response to gap and skidder-rut wetland creation in a southern bottomland hardwood forest

RB Cromer, JD Lanham, HH Hanlin

Influences of coarse woody debris on birds in southern forests

JD Lanham, DC Guynn Jr

Oak regeneration using the shelterwood-burn technique: management options and implications for songbird conservation in the southeastern United States

JD Lanham, PD Keyser, PH Brose, DH Van Lear

Quantifying clutter: a comparison of four methods and their relationship to bat detection

JM O'Keefe, SC Loeb, HS Hill Jr, JD Lanham

Birding by ear: a study of recreational specialization and soundscape preference

ZD Miller, JC Hallo, JL Sharp, RB Powell, JD Lanham

The Effects of Prescribed Burning and Thinning on Herpetofauna and Small Mammals in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina: Preliminary Results of the Na tional Fire and Fire

ES Kilpatrick, DB Kubacz, DC Guynn Jr, JD Lanham, TA Waldrop

Composition and aboveground productivity of three seasonally flooded depressional forested wetlands in coastal South Carolina

WS Busbee, WH Conner, DM Allen, JD Lanham

Effects of riparian buffer width on activity and detection of common bats in the southern Appalachian Mountains

JM O'Keefe, SC Loeb, PD Gerard, JD Lanham

Long-term avian response to fire severity, repeated burning, and mechanical fuel reduction in upland hardwood forest

CH Greenberg, J Tomcho, A Livings-Tomcho, JD Lanham, TA Waldrop, ...

Monotypic nest site selection by Swainson's Warbler in the mountains of South Carolina

JD Lanham, SM Miller

Short-term effects of fuel reduction treatments on herpetofauna from the southeastern United States

ES Kilpatrick, TA Waldrop, JD Lanham, CH Greenberg, TH Contreras

OF THE NATIONAL FIRE AND FIRE SURROGATE STUDY

LA Zebehazy, JD Lanham, TA Waldrop

Habitat—area relationships of shrub-scrub birds in South Carolina.

JD Lanham, DC Guynn Jr [22]

Poems

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birdwatching</span> Amateur observation of birds

Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device such as binoculars or a telescope, by listening for bird sounds, watching public webcams, or by viewing smart bird feeder cameras.

The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation of birds and their habitats. Located in the United States and incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world. There are completely independent Audubon Societies in the United States, which were founded several years earlier such as the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Indiana Audubon Society, and Connecticut Audubon Society. The societies are named for 19th century naturalist John James Audubon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henslow's sparrow</span> Species of bird

Henslow's sparrow is a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It was named by John James Audubon in honor of John Stevens Henslow. It was originally classified in the genus Emberiza and called Henslow's bunting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-throated blue warbler</span> Species of bird

The black-throated blue warbler is a small passerine bird of the New World warbler family. Its breeding ranges are located in the interior of deciduous and mixed coniferous forests in eastern North America. Over the cooler months, it migrates to islands in the Caribbean and Central America. It is very rarely found in western Europe, where it is considered to be a non-indigenous species. The black-throated blue warbler is sexually dimorphic; the adult male has a black face and cheeks, deep blue upperparts and white underparts, while the adult female is olive-brown above and light yellow below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baird's sparrow</span> Species of bird

Baird's sparrow is a species of North American birds in the family Passerellidae of order Passeriformes. It is a migratory bird native to the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Townsend's warbler</span> Species of bird

Townsend's warbler is a small songbird of the New World warbler family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indochinese green magpie</span> Species of bird

The Indochinese green magpie, also known as the yellow-breasted magpie, is a small colorful bird native to the forests of China all the way to Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic Flyway</span> Major north-south flyway for migratory birds in North America

The Atlantic Flyway is a major north-south flyway for migratory birds in North America. The route generally starts in Greenland, then follows the Atlantic coast of Canada, then south down the Atlantic Coast of the United States to the tropical areas of South America and the Caribbean. Every year, migratory birds travel up and down this route following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or traveling to overwintering sites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Beidler Forest</span> Wildlife sanctuary in South Carolina, US

The Francis Beidler Forest is an Audubon wildlife sanctuary in Four Holes Swamp, a blackwater creek system in South Carolina, United States. It consists of over 18,000 acres (73 km²) of mainly bald cypress and tupelo gum hardwood forest and swamp with approximately 1,800 acres (7 km2) of old-growth forest. It is the largest virgin stand of cypress-tupelo forest in the world, with some Bald Cypress trees over 1,000 years old. It is a favorite haunt of birdwatchers and is used for biological research projects by area schools.

Mountain Lake Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The wilderness area is located next to privately owned Mountain Lake, and consists of 8,314 acres (3,365 ha) in Virginia and 2,721 acres (1,101 ha) in West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Patch</span> Mountain in North Carolina and Tennessee

Max Patch is a bald mountain on the North Carolina-Tennessee Border in Madison County, North Carolina, and Cocke County, Tennessee. It is a major landmark along the Tennessee/North Carolina section of the Appalachian Trail, although its summit is in North Carolina. It is known for its 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains, namely the Bald Mountains in the immediate vicinity; the Unakas to the north; the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the south; and the Great Balsams and Black Mountains to the southeast. A small parking area is near the summit with a short loop trail. No public bathrooms or trash cans exist, and parking is limited at the site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandler Robbins</span> American ornithologist and author (1918–2017)

Chandler Seymour Robbins was an American ornithologist. His contributions to the field include co-authorship of an influential field guide to birds, as well as organizing the North American Breeding Bird Survey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clemson Experimental Forest</span> Place in South Carolina, United States

Clemson Experimental Forest, a 17,500 acre forest surrounding Clemson University, is a natural resource laboratory. It is a product of a land reclamation project funded by Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration's New Deal programs. The forest is habitat for more than 195 species of birds and more than 90 species of trees. The forest is used for research, education, and recreation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivory-billed woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The ivory-billed woodpecker is a woodpecker that was native to the bottomland hardwood forests and temperate coniferous forests of the Southern United States and Cuba. The US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing it as extinct September 29, 2021. Habitat destruction and hunting have reduced populations so thoroughly that the species is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on its Red List as critically endangered, and by the American Birding Association as "definitely or probably extinct". The last universally accepted sighting of an American ivory-billed woodpecker occurred in Louisiana in 1944, and the last universally accepted sighting of a Cuban ivory-billed woodpecker occurred in 1987, after the bird's rediscovery there the prior year. Sporadic reports of sightings and other evidence of the persistence of the species have continued since then.

John C. Robinson is an American biologist, environmental advocate, and author. He studied biology at Iowa State University and devoted the rest of his career to becoming a professional ornithologist. He worked for the United States Department of Agriculture (1979-1988) and the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (1988-) and served on the board of directors for the American Birding Association. He is the recipient of Audubon's Toyota TogetherGreen fellowship and the author of several ornithology reference books, including Common Birds of Mount Diablo and the North American Bird Reference Book.

Birds of North America is an American documentary web series produced by Topic and distributed by YouTube. It was directed by Rob Meyer and hosted by naturalist and birdwatcher Jason Ward. The series, which regularly featured Jason's brother Jeffrey, was first announced on March 8, 2019, and the first episode aired on March 17, 2019. The series aimed to reach people who might not normally engage in conservation efforts and learn about natural history—in particular young people, people of color, and people who live in cities. People and projects featured in the series include: the American Museum of Natural History's collection manager Paul Sweet, veteran birder Pete Dunne, author and ecology professor Drew Lanham, New York City-based artist George Boorujy, comedian Wyatt Cenac, and Molly Adams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Birders Week</span> Campaign for diversity in birding, conservation, and the natural sciences

Black Birders Week is a week-long series of online events to highlight black nature enthusiasts and to increase the visibility of black birders, who face unique challenges and dangers when they are engaged in outdoor activities. The event was created as a response to the Central Park birdwatching incident and police brutality against Black Americans. The inaugural event ran from May 31 to June 5, 2020. The week of events was organized by a group of STEM professionals and students known as the BlackAFinSTEM Collective.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earyn McGee</span> American herpetologist

Earyn McGee is an American herpetologist and science communicator. She is an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) IF/THEN Ambassador and a 2020 AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellow. In response to the racism faced by Black birdwatcher Christian Cooper in the Central Park birdwatching incident, McGee co-organized Black Birders Week to celebrate Black birders.

References

  1. 1 2 Long, Kat (2016-09-09). "Exploring Ties Between Nature, History, and Race". National Geographic. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  2. ↑ "Joseph Drew Lanham".
  3. ↑ "Endowed Chairs and Titled Professors". Endowed Chairs and Titled Professors. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  4. ↑ "Employee Profiles | College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences | Clemson University, South Carolina". www.clemson.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Dr. J. Drew Lanham". Audubon. 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  6. ↑ "Dan W. Lufkin Prize for Environmental Leadership". Audubon. 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  7. ↑ "Clemson professor J. Drew Lanham to be honored by National Audubon Society". Newsstand | Clemson University News and Stories, South Carolina. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  8. ↑ Lanham, J. Drew (December 2013). "9 Rules for the Black Birdwatcher". Orion Magazine. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  9. ↑ "Rules for the black birdwatcher". The Guardian. 2015-03-04. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  10. ↑ BirdNote (2015-02-28), Rules for the Black Birdwatcher - With Drew Lanham , retrieved 2019-04-23
  11. ↑ "Bird-Watching While Black: A Wildlife Ecologist Shares His Tips", National Geographic, archived from the original on April 23, 2019, retrieved 2019-04-23
  12. ↑ "Birding While Black". Literary Hub. 2016-09-22. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  13. ↑ Lanham, J. Drew (Joseph Drew) (2017-06-13). The home place : memoirs of a colored man's love affair with nature (First paperback ed.). Minneapolis, Minnesota. ISBN   978-1571313508. OCLC   959536553.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  14. ↑ "J. Drew Lanham". Milkweed Editions. 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  15. ↑ "The Best Scholarly Books of the Decade". The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  16. ↑ "Drew Lanham: Hope Is the Thing With Feathers". Topic. Archived from the original on 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  17. ↑ Becker, Rachel (2019-04-03). "Birding gets new life in this YouTube nature series". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  18. ↑ "Prairie Warbler". This is Love . May 13, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Clemson Ornithologist Named 2020 E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Award Recipient".
  20. ↑ "Wildness on a Whim: Reflections on Whimbrel in the South Carolina Lowcountry". All About Birds. 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  21. ↑ "Faculty Scholars | Clemson University, South Carolina". www.clemson.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  22. ↑ "Joseph Drew Lanham". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.