Keith Russell is an American

ornithologist Ornithology, from Ancient Greek ὄρνις (''órnis''), meaning "bird", and -logy from λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study", is a branch of zoology dedicated to the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related discip ...

birder Birdwatching, or birding, is the observing of birds, either as a recreational activity or as a form of citizen science. A birdwatcher may observe by using their naked eye, by using a visual enhancement device such as binoculars or a telescope, ...

science communicator Science communication encompasses a wide range of activities that connect science and society. Common goals of science communication include informing non-experts about scientific findings, raising the public awareness of and interest in sci ...

, and conservationist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a leading advocate of bird-safe glass and other methods for reducing mortality of migrating

songbird A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 5,00 ...

s in urban environments. He is currently the program manager for urban conservation for Pennsylvania

Audubon The National Audubon Society (Audubon; ) is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation of birds and their habitats. Located in the United States and incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such org ...

. Russell grew up in Mount Airy, a neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia, and graduated from

Germantown Friends School Germantown Friends School (GFS) is a coeducational independent PreK–12 school in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States under the supervision of Germantown Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of ...

in 1973. He attended

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

and graduated with a B.S. in biology in 1978. He earned an M.Sc. in zoology from

Clemson University Clemson University () is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university near Clemson, South Carolina, United States. - The blue-shaded pattern denotes university property. This shows Clemson University is ''out ...

in 1981. Russell worked as collections manager for the Exhibits Department at the

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas. It was founded in 1812, by many of the leading natur ...

from 1982 to 1992. He was the assistant editor for the landmark publication ''The Birds of North America'' (1992–2003), edited by Frank Gill. Russell has coordinated the Philadelphia Mid-winter Bird Census for more than three decades, for which the

American Birding Association The American Birding Association (ABA) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1969, dedicated to recreational birdwatching, birding in Canada and the United States. It has been called "the standard-bearer for serious birding in North America." ...

awarded him the

Ludlow Griscom Award The Ludlow Griscom Award for Outstanding Contributions in Regional Ornithology is an award bestowed by the American Birding Association upon individuals who are determined to have "dramatically advanced the state of ornithological knowledge for a ...

for Outstanding Contributions to Regional Ornithology in 2016.

Publications

*Russell, K. 1973. Breeding birds of the upper Wissahickon. ''Cassinia'' 54: 10–14. *Russell, K. 1979. Birds of the Wissahickon Valley. ''Cassinia'' 57: 6–9.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Keith American naturalists American ornithologists Scientists from Philadelphia African-American biologists Living people Cornell University alumni 1956 births 21st-century African-American academics 21st-century American academics 20th-century African-American academics 20th-century American academics