John Hobbs (ornithologist)

John Nelson Hobbs (1923 – October 31, 1990) was a British-Australian career police officer and amateur ornithologist, best known for his involvement with the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union.

John Nelson Hobbs
Born1923
London, England
Died31 October, 1990 (aged 66-67)
Dareton, New South Wales
Known forinvolvement with Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union

Early life

Hobbs was born in London, England in 1923.[1] During World War II, he served as a gunner on tankers in the Atlantic Ocean.[2] After the war, he joined the Metropolitan Police Force in London.[2] In 1952, Hobbs emigrated to Australia and joined the NSW Police Force.[1]

Career

Hobbs served as a New South Wales police officer until 1980, based in a succession of country towns, including Dareton, Finley, Buronga, Katoomba, Kyogle, Nowra, and Narrandera.[3] During this period, he developed an amateur interest in ornithology and made detailed studies of local birdlife, including the article "The birds of south-west New South Wales."[4] Hobbs' interest in ornithology also extended into his law enforcement career; he diligently prosecuted illegal bird trappers and shooters in the districts where he was serving.[3] Fellow ornithologist A.K. Morris later described Hobbs during this period as "a large blond police officer with a Kentish accent, bright blue eyes and a wry sense of humour."[3]

In 1980, Hobbs retired to Dareton in the south-west of the state, where he studied reed-warblers and small passerines.[3] He served on the Records Appraisal Committee of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (RAOU) from 1975 to 1989,[2] as well as contributing prolifically to the RAOU's Nest Record Scheme.[3] Hobbs published his ornithological research in Australian Birds, The Australian Bird Watcher, British Birds, Corella and Emu.[1]

Death and legacy

In October 1990, while on a birding trip to Central Australia with James Allen Keast and others, Hobbs suffered a heart attack.[3] He died on 31 October 1990, near Dareton, New South Wales.[1] He was survived by his wife Shirley and four sons: Peter, Michael, Bruce, and Gregory.[1] Hobbs is commemorated by the J.N. Hobbs Memorial Medal, awarded annually from 1995 for major contributions to amateur ornithology.[5] The medal was initially awarded by the New South Wales branch of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (now BirdLife Australia), before being upgraded to a national award four years later.[5]

See also

References
  1. Ian Rowley (1991) "Obituary: J.N. Hobbs" Emu, 91(3): 194 - 194.
  2. "Hobbs, John N. (1920 - 1990)". Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  3. Morris, A.K. (December 1991). "Obituary: John Hobbs (1920-1990)". The Australian Bird Watcher. 14 (4): 152–153.
  4. Hobbs, J. (1961). "The Birds of South-west New South Wales". The Australian Bird Watcher. 61: 21–55. doi:10.1071/MU961021.
  5. Birdlife Australia. ""J.N. Hobbs Memorial Medal"". Birdlife Australia. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
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