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Close Focus: Sir Peter Scott by Gustav A. Swanson

Sir Peter Scott's extraordinary accomplishments have spanned several different spheres, including conservation, ornithology, art, communication, and for pure recreation, sailing and gliding. One wonders how one person could accomplish so much. Most of his activities have been based upon his background as a naturalist, a background that had its beginnings in childhood.

When he was only 18 months old his father, Robert Falcon Scott, headed an expedition to the South Pole, and although he reached it, he perished in severe blizzards on the return trip. A letter he wrote to his wife a few days before his death in March 1912, spoke of Peter, then only 2 and a half years old, and said, "Make the boy interested in natural history." This had already been encouraged by family friend Sir James Barrie (author of Peter Pan), who had given the infant as a christening present a life fellowship in the Zoological Society of London. As a result the youngster began visiting the famous zoo with his nanny even before he could write, signing his admission as a fellow with an X. Another favorite haunt was St. James Park, near his home, where he could watch the many waterfowl and pelicans.

Paralleling his naturalist interests was his developing skill as an artist, which his mother encouraged while he was still a child. A respected sculptor herself, she recognized the child's aptitude for drawing what he saw, especially the birds.

At Cambridge University, Peter studied biology, but by his third year he had decided to become a professional artist, so he finished in art and architecture, then continued studying art for a year in Munich and another two years at the Royal Academy in London. He then searched for a place where he could draw and paint his favorite subjects in life and was lucky to find an unused lighthouse that he could rent for five pounds a year. It was on the tidal flats of the River Nene on the British east coast; here he lived for six years painting the waterfowl that were attracted to his decoys. In 1939 he entered the navy, contributing to the war effort as an artist by developing camouflage for ships and important buildings. One of his books, Battle of the Narrow Seas, deals with his wartime experiences.

While he was still a student at Cambridge a local bookstore sponsored a one-man show of his bird paintings, and all were sold. In 1933 he became more widely known when two of his paintings were accepted in a Royal Academy show; in that year he also had his first exhibit at Ackermann's, the distinguished fine art gallery in London. In 1989, Sir Peter's 80th year, he again had a one-man show at Ackermann's, where it is felt that "the span of 1933 to 1989 is certainly a remarkably long association for a gallery and an artist." Ackermann's, in its 206th year, should know.

Bird watchers are indebted to Sir Peter Scott, especially because of his worldwide conservation work. He has helped to preserve many important wildlife habitats that would otherwise have been destroyed. His conservation efforts began in England in 1946 when he established the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge on an estuary of the Severn River. It is his headquarters for research and conservation work and for his painting of birds. His home there is also his studio, with large picture windows looking out on pools that provide harbor and safety for the thousands of geese, swans, and ducks that winter in the area.

From all over the world he has assembled the largest collection anywhere of living, mostly free-flying, ducks, geese, and swans-about 100 species in all. Attracted are not only thousands of wintering geese from Iceland and Lapland, but many serious students of bird behavior, too. As an example, when Dr. Paul Johnsgard, currently America's most prolific writer of bird books, finished at Cornell, he spent two post-doctoral years at the Wildfowl Trust, preparing for his first book, the Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior.

The Slimbridge collection has made it possible for Peter to paint from life all of the world's species for Jean Delacour's classic four-volume Waterfowl of The World, and for his own Colour Key To The Wildfowl of The World. I have used this convenient little book to good advantage on trips to Africa, South America, and Australia. I once used it to identify a species seen in Fort Collins, Colorado. A local newspaper reporter called to ask about a pair of "new birds" that had appeared in City Park Lake with the hundreds of wild and semi-wild waterfowl normally there. Some fairly rare species had shown up from time to time-Ross' goose, lesser snow goose, and Eurasian wigeon I recall-but they had all been North American species, easily identified. "But no one has ever seen these," the reporter claimed. "I got a good picture of them. Could I bring it to your office?"

It took only a minute in Peter Scott's Key to name the birds as bar-headed geese, which nest in Mongolia and winter in Pakistan and India. I suggested that they must be escapes from a zoo or private collection, which turned out to be true.

The Wildfowl Trust area at Slimbridge has become such an important refuge for wintering waterfowl and has attracted so many bird watchers that, one by one, additional trust areas have been acquired until now there are six in England and one in Scotland; an eighth with soon be opened. These private refuges make an important contribution to bird conservation and education, and bird watchers are welcome.

Among Peter Scott's contributions to conservation has been his role in saving the Hawaiian goose, or nene, from extinction. Still another has been in helping to persuade the government of Ecuador to make the Galapagos Islands a national park, providing protection for its unique bird life. He also helped to establish there the Charles Darwin Research Station.

His greatest contribution, however, has been through the World Wildlife Fund, which he established in 1961 with two friends, E. M. (Max) Nicholson and Guy Mountfort. It has been a remarkable force for wildlife conservation. In its first 25 years it raised more than $100 million, which has been used in 135 countries. The preservation of wildlife habitat in many developing countries is due to the efforts and financial support of the World Wildlife Fund.

Sir Peter's conservation work has been tremendously aided by his skills and fame as speaker and author. He served as a radio broadcaster for the BBC for 20 years with the children's house programs "Nature Parliament" and "The Naturalist." Then he was principal organizer for 17 years of the TV natural history program "Look," and since 1971 has been commentator for the Anglia TV "Survival" series.

His 18 books begin in the 1930s with Morning Flight and Wild Chorus and run up to the present with the series, Travel Diaries of a Naturalist. His books are lavishly illustrated with his paintings. Most are out of print, but you will find some in your public library.

Sir Peter has deservedly received many honors for his accomplishments in conservation, ornithology, and bird art, and in several other areas. In the British tradition his name is shown as Sir Peter Markham Scott, CH, CBE, DSC, FRS, which for us Americans requires a bit of translating. The CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) was awarded by the Queen in 1953 in recognition of the success of the Wildfowl Trust as a research and educational center. The DSC (Distinguished Service Cross) was twice awarded for his World War II accomplishments in the British Navy. In 1973 he was the first person to be knighted (hence the Sir) for accomplishments in conservation. The CH (Companion of Honour) is a particularly selective award by the Queen, made in 1987. The FRS (Fellow of the Royal Society) recognized, in 1987, his eminence as scholar and scientist.

Seven universities in England, Scotland, and Canada have awarded Peter Scott honorary degrees. Among the organizations that have presented him their highest honors are the British Ornithologists' Union, the National Wildlife Federation, the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, the New York Zoological Society, the World Wildlife Fund, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Royal Geographic Society, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. His contributions to conservation have also been recognized with gold medals from Wildlife Art News magazine and from the National Zoological Park in Washington.

At age 80 Sir Peter Scott is still going strong as naturalist, conservationist, wildlife artist, and communicator. He is truly a man who deserves our admiration and gratitude.