Theodore Cross, bird photographer, author, publisher, and founder of Birders United, died in Sanibel, Florida, on Sunday, February 28. He was 86 years old.
A native of Wellesley, Massachusetts, Ted Cross was a graduate of Amherst College and Harvard Law School. He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a naval officer in the South Pacific.
After a long and successful career in professional publishing, Cross became an avid birder. He traveled the world from the far reaches of Siberia to the atolls in the mid-Pacific Ocean to photograph God’s majestic creatures. His goal, which he thought eluded him, was to take the perfect photograph of the reddish egret.
Cross published two critically acclaimed books of his bird photography: Birds of the Sea Shore and Tundra and Waterbirds, which was published a few short months ago. The esteemed Harvard University biologist Edward O. Wilson said of Waterbirds, “It’s a masterpiece. I do not exaggerate when I say that the back-jacket photo of Great Blue Herons is a candidate for the most beautiful illustration of birds in existence, photo or painting.”
All of us at Birders United are extremely saddened by the passing of our leader and dear friend. He will be deeply missed.
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Theodore Cross, the founder of Birders United and the author of Birds of the Sea, Shore, and Tundra, has authored a new book which is available from W.W. Norton Company. Cross’ photographs include birds from four continents. From the tundra of eastern Siberia to the tropical islands of the South Pacific, Cross has captured elegant and unusual birds—from auklets and egrets to gannets and sanderlings—in peak action, be they courting, landing on a perch, plunge diving, or engaged in aerobatics.
The 179 color photographs in this 344-page book are accompanied by gracefully written field notes and fascinating accounts of the birds’ habits and habitat.
You can obtain more information or order the book by clicking here.
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Mr. Cross’s photography is as rare as his subject matter, profound passionate life affirming images, patiently captured in a fleeting blink of an eye. The depth of his photographic vision and insight is reminiscent of “William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence”. Future generations will stand in awe of his artistry as we view John James Audubon’s art today, sans the death of the subject. Roger Tory Peterson gave people the gift of bird watching without killing the subject of our inquisitiveness. Mr. Cross is sharing with us enlightenment in the twilight of our global ignorance and perhaps the last days of their species. The wetlands, estuaries and islands of our planet are under siege. Of the 32 largest cities in the world, 22 are located on estuaries. Mr. Cross has traveled so far to share his vision of this world, the least we can do is wish him good health and see the wonders of life. I wrote on 12/18/09 after hearing Mr. Cross on the radio and viewing his work on the internet. The loss of his brilliant insight into this life we all live, is a lesson we can all learn from. Thank You Mr. Cross I'm tearfully saddened at your loss.
Mr. Cross was a visionary who saw how a powerful bird-watchers lobby in England was able to influence national policy, and he thought someone should try to galvanize bird lovers in this country to effect political changes in favor of bird conservation. So he created Birders United. Let's hope that his legacy continues.
I had the pleasure to meet Mr. Cross at his book signing last fall and have since written a review of Waterbirds, which I highly recommend for all lovers of waterbirds–birders, researchers, photographers, and casual naturalists. Beyond the impressive collection of images among the 344 pages we can read about a person who discovered personal meaning in the natural world at mid-life, pursued his new love with passion, and ultimately developed a concerted effort to defend the birds and habitats he dearly loved. Although I wish we got that chance we talked about, to spend some time together at the tern colony we had planned to visit in June, I will be forever buoyed by my brief encounter with the sparkling spirit and soft voice that was Ted Cross.
It has been my great pleasure over the past 17 years to accompany, and assist Mr. Cross on his birding trips to Louisiana, and south Texas. While accompanying Mr. Cross on these trips I have learned, seen and experienced things that otherwise I would have never known, things such as the brilliant red lour’s, bright orange feet, jet black beak and the beautiful white flowing plumage, that are only worn by the snowy egret early in the mating season, and even then are seemingly brief at best. It has been one of the great blessings in my life to have had Ted Cross as a friend!! Ted said it best with the opening line of his latest book “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”-John 9:25
Thanks Ted for so many things we will miss you tremendously Boyd, Cindy, Anna, Cole and Kate