In Remembrance of Steven Caldwell
Our birding community has lost one of the great ones and we are left with the fierce reality of Steven Caldwell’s passing.
Steve was an extraordinary birder, whose smile, good humor, and willingness to share birds and the birding experience was felt by all who knew him. Steve was one of the first people I met when we moved to Vashon in the late 90s. A quiet man by nature, his temperament lent well to his amazing ability to tease apart the songs and calls of warblers that arrived each spring.
His love of birds reigned supreme, only matched by his quick wit. Often when he was pointing out a bird in a green thicket and I finally found it with my bins, Steve would crack a joke and I would lose the bird as well as my concentration. That was Steve, never wanting to miss an opportunity to lighten the mood.
Steve strongly believed in the mission of Audubon and gave freely of his time. He was part of the inaugural group who founded our chapter in 1989 and served as a board member, mostly in a fundraising capacity, on and off through 2005. Fundraising was not an attribute I would associate with Steve, but low and behold he exceled in that arena. Birdathon was a big deal in those early years, and under Steve’s leadership, Vashon businesses donated and many chapter members pledged $1/bird species in 1991.
Three teams participated, netting $3800, which was used to help purchase the Heronry on Maury Island and support programs such as the Landmark Trees Program and the work of Education and Recycling Committees. Our chapter earned First Place in Washington State and First Place in the Western Region for chapters under 300 members.
The following year, thanks to Steve, our chapter raised even more money and earned Second Place Nationally for chapters under 300 members. Beginning in early 2000, Steve began teaching his “birding by ear” classes in association with the Basic Birding classes taught by Dan Willsie and me. His classes were especially popular.
Through the years our chapter could count on Steve to lead field trips on island, to Nisqually NWR, the Skagit Flats, and eastern Washington. He assisted with the 4th grade birding program and was a team leader for the Christmas Bird Count. Steve monitored the purple martin bird houses in Tramp Harbor, Lisabuela and elsewhere on the island.
You could always count on Steve to show up for our chapter whenever there was a need. He probably wins the award for most hours spent at the Strawberry Festival booth. About 10 years ago, Steve and I began our birding by ear field trip along Old Mill Road. I looked forward to these spring walks every year, as an opportunity to learn more from this master birder. I smile now thinking about how he helped differentiate the song similarities between the Black-headed Grosbeak (“drunken” Robin) and Western Tanager (“mad” Robin). I will always think of Steve when I hear these birds.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Steve’s other talents. Many may not have known that Steve was a master cabinetmaker, furniture maker, and wood artist. His turned bowls attracted crowds at many art shows both on- and off-island and are found in many island homes (including mine). From a recent art show: “I have carved, burned, colored, sandblasted, bleached, polished, and finished wood. I have used wood to express ideas about the natural world; about climate, weather, flora, fauna, and geography.”
Many of the holiday bazaars over the years have included bird houses made by Steve.
How do you say goodbye to such a dear friend? I think the best way to honor Steve is to stop what you are doing, grab your binoculars and spend some time with the feathered world. I know he would appreciate that.
By Sue Trevathan, with assistance from Rayna Holtz
