Howard County Bird Club
Chandler S. Robbins Skywatch
Genesis
At the January 2016 meeting, the Howard County Bird Club board discussed the possibility of establishing a designated site at Mount Pleasant for skywatching. The Howard County Conservancy was receptive to a simple mulched area outlined by timbers which would contain some benches and, eventually, informational signage. Basic installation was completed by September in time for hawk migration. Benches were in place by mid-November. After initial construction, it didn’t take long for birders to discover it.
Naming the site was an easy decision. For more than 60 years Chandler Robbins was both preeminent in Howard County bird research and a mentor to the birding community. For more complete information, see Chandler S. Robbins .
Site planning, design, and execution occupied much of 2017.
By late March, 2016, a site had been chosen and the outline staked.
View toward northeast.
Entrance to Skywatch and mulched area soon after construction.
Photographs by Jo Solem
Dedication of the Chandler S. Robbins Skywatch took place at 9:00 a.m. on Earth Day, April 21, 2018. Present were members of Chan’s family, representatives of the Howard County Conservancy, and Howard County Bird Club members. In the spirit of the day, the ceremony was preceded by a bird walk, while a list of birds seen over the site during the dedication was also compiled.
Chan’s son George with his wife Andrea and daughter Michelle, and Chan’s daughter Jane attended the ceremony. See a video of the dedication ceremony by Sherry Tomlinson.
Andrea and George Robbins, Jane Robbins.
Jo Solem, Meg Schumacher Boyd, John Harris, and Nancy McAllister.
The crowd gathered to hear the introduction by Nancy McAllister and remarks by John Harris (President, Howard County Bird Club), Meg Schumacher Boyd (Director, Howard County Conservancy), Joanne Solem (charter member of the Howard County Bird Club), Jane Robbins, and George Robbins.
Photographs in top row by Anthony VanSchoor (2) and Bob Solem,.
Photographs in second row by Anthony VanSchoor (3) and Bob Solem.
Those who knew Chan knew the story of his binoculars and why they had to feature in any sign commemorating his career: He received many awards during his long career, many included the best and latest binoculars. But as his son George reminded us, Chan never wanted to give up his original pair because “They had so many good birds in them…”
Photographs by Anthony VanSchoor