Mr and Mrs Baker, and "their" Cisticola (1 Viewer)

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Here's some additional info about the couple commemorated in ...

bakerorum as in:
• the (fairly) recently described ‘Kilombero Cisticola’ (or ‘Melodious Cisticola’) Cisticola bakerorum FJELDSÅ et al. 2021 (here):

Etymology. We name this species after Neil Baker and the late Liz Baker, in recognition of their long-lasting efforts to document and conserve Tanzania’s birdlife, which includes the exploration of the Kilombero floodplain (e.g. Baker & Baker 1990, 2002).

Today's Key to Scientific Names 'only' includes the same quote (or very close to ... note, my red):

bakerorum
"We named this species after Neil Baker and the late Liz Baker, in recognition of their long-term efforts to document and conserve Tanzania's birdlife, which includes the exploration of the Kilombero floodplain." (Fjeldså et al., 2021) (Tom Schulenberg in litt.) (Cisticola).

As far as I can tell it's a commemoration of: Neil E. Baker and Elizabeth 'Liz' M. Baker (1949–2017), of Iringa, Tanzania, Authors of (for example) Important Bird Areas in Tanzania, 2002 (for Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania and Birdlife International), as well as many other books and Papers, articles, etc., etc.

Re. 'Liz', the "the late Liz Baker', see (for example); Ignas Safari and Wolfgang Goymann (2018), footnote on page 1:

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Baker (1949-2017), a leading African ornithologist and cordial mentor of our work and the coucal project. It was a privilege to know Liz and we deeply miss her.

[here]​

Or here (on p.23 – In Remembrance):

Liz Baker (1949-2017)
Liz was a remarkable ornithologist, conservationist, and friend, who was best known for her life's work on birds and phenomenal knowledge of Tanzania's wildlife and ecology. In 1985, Liz and her husband Neil began the Tanzania Bird Atlas, an ambitious effort to collect geo-referenced records of birds from volunteer observers all over the country. This incredible project greatly advanced scientific understanding of the distribution, behaviour, and conservation needs of birds in Tanzania. During her lifetime, Liz trained and inspired countless Tanzanian researchers and wildlife lovers, many of whom are passionate scientists, conservationists, and politicians today. Liz also made a monumental contribution to elephant conservation. In the 1980s, Liz and Neil worked with Tanzania's Director of Wildlife, Mr. Costa Mlay, and elephant scientists to develop Tanzania's seminal proposal to CITES to ban all international trade in elephant ivory. The proposal passed at the CITES conference in 1989, and the trade ban came into effect in 1990. This amazing effort led to the recovery of elephant populations in Africa for the next 15 years. We remember Liz for these achievements and for showing us how much richer a human life is when lived in connection with the natural world.

Also see the following text from the Southern Tanzanian Elephant Program (Facebook page, from October 2017), also told/quoted here:

“We are deeply sad to share the news of the passing of Liz Baker, a remarkable ornithologist, conservationist, and friend. Liz is best known for her life’s work on birds and phenomenal knowledge of Tanzania’s wildlife and ecology. In 1985, Liz and her husband Neil began the Tanzania Bird Atlas, an ambitious effort to collect geo-referenced records of birds from volunteer observers all over the country. This incredible project greatly advanced scientific understanding of the distribution, behaviour, and conservation needs of birds in Tanzania. During her lifetime, Liz trained and inspired countless Tanzanian researchers and wildlife lovers, many of whom are passionate scientists, conservationists, and politicians today. ..."

Re. Mr Baker himself (a k a Mr Birding Tanzania) see, for example/s; here, here, here, ... (or elsewhere, he's fairly easy to find).

A Photo of him (in the Field, from 2016) = here (at the very end of the long Birding Trip Report).

Well, that's all I could find on the Bakers.

Enjoy!

/B

 

[l_raty]

Elizabeth 'Liz' M. Baker (1949–2017),

Elizabeth Mary Baker (1949-2017) according to an obituary in Afr. J. Ecol. : https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aje.12510

 

[l_raty]

Neil E. Baker

He signed a paper in Scopus in 2019 as Neil Edward Baker : Short Communication: The Mascarene Martin <i>Phedina borbonica</i> in Tanzania with comments on other records from mainland Africa | Scopus: Journal of East African Ornithology

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

To me it looks like a "NEIL EDWARD BAKER" was still alive in Tanzania, in late February 2022 ("28/02/2022" ) at least according to here (on p.19).

Also see this Paper; The Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia in Tanzania (2020), by "Mr. Neil Edward Baker, Tanzania Bird Atlas, Tanzania" (which also incl. his Telephone number and an e-mail-address).

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

And ... !?!

He became a 'New Member' of BirdForum, in "Jan 12, 2021" (here).

Thus, no (further) need "to carry coals to Newcastle"