Date: 7/24/26 6:48 am From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: [CALBIRDS] passing of Guy McCaskie
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From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul=
<verizon.net...>
Date: Fri, Jul 24, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Subject: [CALBIRDS] passing of Guy McCaskie
To: <calbirds...> <calbirds...>
Guy McCaskie passed away from natural causes on July 22, just 11 days short
of his 90th birthday. Truly the end of an era. Guy was the leader in moving
birding into the modern era. He made countless advances in field
identification and in our knowledge of West Coast vagrancy patterns and he
discovered a plethora of migrant and vagrant traps. First moving from
Scotland to Lake Tahoe, he soon settled in San Diego in the early 1960s,
where he would remain to the present. He quickly turned California birding
on its ear. He was extremely active statewide, with a particular passion
for the San Diego area and for the desert from the Salton Sea north to the
Death Valley region. He found more California state firsts than anyone. He
has the highest California bird list. But far more important were his
myriad of contributions to Western birding and field ornithology through
his many publications, teaching fellow birders in the field, and in setting
high standards for careful observation and documentation. His influence
especially during the latter 1900s extended far beyond California to all of
North America. There are not enough superlatives that can be said.
Many more tributes, including those with more details of Guy's life and
contributions, will undoubtedly follow in the days and weeks ahead.
Plans will be made to spread Guy's ashes at the Salton Sea on a date later
in fall when temperatures have cooled, followed by an informal get-together
that same day, probably at Cattle Call Park in Brawley. Further details
will be posted in the future when plans are firm. Per Guy's wishes, there
will not be a formal funeral or celebration of life.
The family welcomes cards and letters, but please no phone calls.
All birders in California and the West should go outside today and tip your
binoculars to Guy. He showed us the way.
