Phoebe Snetsinger was born in 1931 in Lake Zurich, Illinois. Snetsinger was an inspiration to many in the birding community. She is the first person to have seen over 8,000 species before she died. Her fascination of birding began in 1965 after observing

a Blackburnian Warbler. Although interested, she did not begin to ardently pursue her birding fascination until 1981 when she was diagnosed with terminal melanoma. Presented with the dire news, she chose continue living her life while fulfilling her passion for birding.

Snetsinger threw herself into her quest to observe as many birds as possible before her time was up. She traveled all over the world while encountering all types of danger throughout her quest. It was during a birding trip in 1999 that Snetsinger was killed in a tragic car accident. During her travels she made it a habit to take notes of all her experiences as well as findings. After her death the book "Birding on Borrowed Time" was published in 2003 with accounts of Snetsinger's travels as well as her fight with an incurable illness.

Theodore A. Parker III

Theodore A Parker III was born in 1953 and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Parker became interested in bird watching while quite young, and at age 18 broke the record for observing more species of birds in one year that anyone else. He went on to attend college at the University of Arizona where he continued his birding expeditions. Parker had quite of skill when it came to identification, and quickly was deemed one of the best ornithologists around.

It's said that Parker had his own method when it came to birding that allowed him to expand his knowledge in both details and behavior. He was very generous with his knowledge and findings and regularly shared them with the birding community. Parker was killed in a plane crash in 1993 while in Ecuador. He was truly a marvel to the birding community that contributed greatly to the growth and knowledge of birding and identification.

Without the skill, knowledge, and contributions of these individuals, the birding community might not be where it is today. It's through the works of these people, as well as every other contributor in the birding community that has allowed the knowledge to grow in such massive proportions to where it is today.