Fort Myers Area Loses A Wildlife Observer

I was very saddened to recently hear of our loss of John A. Dougherty, with too many of us missing the privilege of meeting him.

The image above was photographed at Sanibel Lighthouse in October 2012.

It was with extreme regret that I learned the news of John Dougherty's passing while visiting with Stan Damon, Ruth Woodall, and Ken Hodgson this past week. Although I never met John, what I read of him in recent years highlighted attributes of human nature I strive to emulate. After a quick stop at Sanibel Lighthouse on 15 October I continued on to Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge with images taken on that day in memory of John. A friend of the Dougherty family, Jane Gieryic, informed me of some additional details about John that I did not know. John was a pharmacist and owned his own pharmacy in upstate (Morrisville) NY. He always had an interest in photography, but only in retirement had the time to devote to it. He was passionate about his hobby and concentrated on birds. John always had a stack of pictures that he freely circulated to whoever wanted one. He was a snowbird and lived on Fort Myers Beach, FL just a few blocks from the spot where people gathered nightly to witness the scarlet ibis leading a flock of white ibis to their roosting spot for the night. John also shared his pictures over the internet. He is greatly missed. Members of the local Caloosa Bird Club enjoyed his company and pictures. A small gathering of birders in central New York near Morrisville and Hamilton, NY purchased several bird books to be put in the Morrisville Public Library in his memory after he died.

The Osprey above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Wood Stork above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Osprey above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The juvenile White Ibis with Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover with Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal with Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Blue-winged Teal above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Wood Stork above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Wood Stork above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Short-billed Dowitcher with Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Short-billed Dowitcher with Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Bald Eagle with Great Egret above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover with Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Belted Kingfisher above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Belted Kingfisher above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Double-crested Cormorant above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Bald Eagle above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Willet above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Ding Darling NWR in October 2012.