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LONGTIME AAS CURATOR DIES NEW YEAR'S DAY

By Dolores Harrington

Arkansas Birds

Max Parker, longtime curator of the Arkansas Audubon Society, died Jan. 1, 2008.

Max was born in Allen County, Ind., to W.W. and Linnie Ann Laub Parker. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, a graduate of Purdue University and a retired employee of International Paper Co.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son John W. "Jack" Parker; and two sisters. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen Leslie Parker; a son, Joseph L. Parker and his wife Terrisue of Fort Smith; a daughter, Cynthia Wells and her husband Dennis of Sherrard, Ill.; a daughter-in-law, Leslie Parker of Brooksville, Fla.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; a sister; two sisters-in-law; and two brothers-in-law.

A memorial service was Jan. 5 in the Parkway Village Chapel in Little Rock. Max was a charter member of AAS, and had served as curator from 1986 until 2007. He was also a longtime member of the Ouachita-Caddo Audubon Society in Arkadelphia. He and Helen had participated in, and he had compiled the results of, the Arkadelphia Christmas Bird Count for all of its 40 years, including the count in December 2007.

Helen said Max was the coordinator for the BBS (Breeding Bird Survey) for many years. "Beginning in 1968, he participated in 117 separate BBS surveys, either as observer or assistant, always as the driver. Together, we ran 21 of the original 29 routes (at different times) some just one time up to 38 times for the Hollywood route, and 40 times for the Blakely route and its replacement, after we had to change its location."

In 2004, the AAS instituted the Parker Award in honor of Max and Helen's contributions to the society. It was presented first to them for "basically a long term accomplishment of high quality service to the goals of the Arkansas Audubon Society." According to Art Johnson, "In their case it involved attendance, leadership roles in many areas, interest and development of members both new and long time, holding many offices and filling them admirably, etc."

The award has been presented twice since then to deserving persons, and will be presented to others as the committee deems it appropriate.

Sad news reported around the state

By mid-morning on New Year's Day, some of us had heard the shattering news - Max Parker had died earlier that morning. The news was so unexpected; we had just begun to be relieved that Max was feeling better.

Max and Helen had received a dreadful blow in May 2007 when their son, Jack, died in an automobile accident. For several months, we worried about Max, especially, as he was not quite himself. He became reclusive, and his appetite was very poor, Helen said.

We were delighted when, on Nov. 18, he, Helen and their daughter-in-law Leslie were able to get to Okay Levee at Millwood Lake to see the Snow Buntings, which had been discovered earlier that day. He looked a bit pale and shaky, but he had driven from Little Rock and we were relieved to think he had turned a corner. It was such a pleasure to see the Parkers back to doing what we all love to do.

On New Year's Day, Helen said, they were going to Northwest Arkansas to look for the Northern Shrike that had been reported. If accepted, it would be a new state record, and the Parkers had to add it to their impressive state lists.

Helen said she was in the kitchen preparing her hot drink, and she went to remind Max that they planned to leave early. He got up, she said, and she returned to her preparations. When Max didn't join her in a timely manner, she went to check on him. She found him unresponsive.

Max's obituary began with, "Max Darrel Parker, 82, passed away peacefully, at his Little Rock home early New Year's Day." We are happy for Max that he had a peaceful end, but sad for his family and us that he is gone.

Those of us who knew Max well have heard the stories he and Helen tell about their experiences with Henry and Edith Halberg, who mentored them when they were beginning birders. Many of us claim the Parkers as our mentors, and are grateful for all they have taught us about birds and birding.

Around 25 years ago, when my husband and I began birding, we got a great deal of help from the Parkers. My first real contact with them began when I found a Say's Phoebe at a little fishing lake in Clark County. I had learned of the Parkers, and phoned to ask if Say's Phoebe had been seen previously in the state.

I was so impressed when Max told me that there was one previous record. I was amazed that anyone had that kind of information at his fingertips. Of course, I learned that Max had a great deal more information to impart. He and Helen showed us our first Whippoorwill and our first Bachman's Sparrow and goodness knows how many other firsts.

We can tell as many stories about our experiences with the Parkers as they tell about theirs with the Halbergs. That could take many pages and much time, but one story stands out. It points our Max's fairness.

One evening a few years ago, several of us were birding at the Arkadelphia oxidation ponds. I think we may have been conducting the International Migratory Bird Count for Clark County. Helen and I located a podiceps grebe, which we both believed was an Eared Grebe.

Max took a look through the scope, and disagreed with us. He had always insisted that one could only be certain of an Eared Grebe if one saw that the lower mandible was slightly upturned (he was a stickler, as we all know). Helen and I continued to believe the grebe was Eared, but didn't argue with him for long.

Two days later, I received a postcard from Max (we'll miss those cards in his very legible cursive). He said he had gone, the next morning, back to the ponds and checked out the grebe. It was Eared, he said, and he made sure we knew that we were right.

Many others have memories of Max that they will always treasure. Following are tributes from some of his friends:

I first met Max at the AOU meeting at Fayetteville. At that time I realized he was not just a "bird watcher" but a "bird student" as Ben Coffey would say. This judgment was confirmed over the years. When I would see Max approaching with a twinkle in his eye and that sly smile, I knew we were in for an interesting discussion of some bird seen or what was wrong with National Audubon, etc. After they moved to the big city, Carolyn and I had many interesting bird discussion meals with Max and Helen at El Chico, These "get to-gathers" will be fondly remember and sorely missed. Max was always consistent ... a cheese enchilada and a coke.

Arkansas Audubon is very fortunate to have had Max as Curator for he was a stickler for documentation of rare bird reports. Because of his dedication, the records added to the rare bird database during his tenure are in good shape.

Lyndal York

Webmaster and Finance Committee chair

Birders rarely talk about it, but the truth is that there are some birds on their life list that are more special than others. The reasons vary but a common denominator is that at least one individual of the species made a remarkable impression and the encounter was memorable. It's like that with people in our lives, too.

I met Max Parker in a way that many did - in the field, he was fresh off the thrill of a rare bird discovery. I don't know whether he was the one who found it or not, but the fact is that the bird had just flown east mere minutes before I arrived, at a place that I considered my home turf. I mean, I went there a lot. Ask my kids. They still remember it 25 years later. It was not just a potential life bird but the first (and only, to date) of its kind in Arkansas. Hearing that the bird was gaining elevation and flying away in a way that can only mean it will never return was pretty depressing news. But there was Max. You would have thought that he was the one who failed to see it. In a way that I can't describe, (but if you knew him you would remember) he managed to completely turn around the disappointment, engage me and my family in a wonderful conversation that turned out to be the beginning of a friendship that spanned 20 years and halfway across the United States.

It may have started as birding encounter, but to me, it was so much more. His kindness, patience and curiosity were huge. His wry sense of humor was always tipped off by a twinkle in his eye that I've never seen elsewhere. He loved to tease, but always in a way that showed how much he cared about you. He lovingly shared his passions with you, if you let him. Part teacher, part sleuth, he studied, investigated and patiently waited for others to share their thoughts and ideas and compare them to his own. Family and friends were a big part of his life, and thankfully he shared part of it with me.

I'm proud to have Max Parker on my life list. My memory of him is powerful and warming to me and for that I will always be thankful.

Bill Lisowsky

We have known Max and Helen Parker - tears come to my eyes just thinking about there being no physical Max anymore - since we started attending meetings of the Arkansas Audubon Society about 30 years ago.

We are very lucky those two Hoosiers settled in Arkansas. First, they were official greeters at meetings and probably have the greatest rapport with most of the members. They held many AAS offices and accepted much responsibility. The breadth of their birding contacts went from mentoring children such as our son David when he was young to taking Edith and Henry Halberg to meetings and birding when the Halbergs could no longer drive.

They were diligent surveyors for the Arkansas Breeding Bird Atlas, spending several days away from home to cover remote areas. They had a chemistry with one another of respect and understanding.

Max was a quiet person with an open smiling face that reflected "FRIEND" in an unusual and calming way. He was a strong advocate of birding and a meticulous record keeper. The checklist is a testament to that. He was constantly thinking, asking questions, evaluating, and wondering how and why others interpreted data. He was calm, assured, detailed and generous in sharing the wealth of experience and knowledge he held.

Max was never anything but open and friendly to others. The Parker Award, named for its first recipients, Max and Helen Parker, is presented to recognize individuals who made strong contributions toward the goals of AAS.

Max is missed. The energy he expended throughout his life will always be a part of his family, community, birding, and the Arkansas Audubon Society.

Thank you Max. We are better for having known you. Your legacy will be a part of many of us.

Art and Martha Johnson

A mentor is simply defined as "an experienced and trusted advisor". For nearly 34 years, Max Parker was that and more to me and countless others. Knowing him, benefiting from his personal birding experience and friendship, made me want to become a better birder and a more gracious person. Max overlooked my shortcomings, helped see me through some tough days, and made many others more memorable than they had any right to be. I'm glad to have known him. I'm honored to have known him. I'm lucky to have known him.

Charles Mills

I want to mention something about Max Parker. The data that he handed over to me in fall 2007 was in perfect, logical order. This is a testimony to Max's skill, and how much he valued the data that everyone has been sharing. Because of his dedicated work as a volunteer, there is a good, clear record of changes in bird distribution and abundance in Arkansas since ,the publication of Arkansas Birds in 1986. Max was keenly aware that we required a scientific tool to help keep track of what's important about changes in the environment. So, while his legacy involves lots more than his function as curator, his curatorship was a critical asset, not only to the Arkansas Audubon Society, but to Arkansans in general, whether or not they are interested in birds.

Joe Neal