Did you know that former President Jimmy Carter had a bird life list of more than 1200 species? I had just finished watching the service for former President Carter on TV this morning (4 January 2025) and then went to Facebook, where I came across this interesting article by Julie Zickefoose. I loved learning that he kept a bird list and such an impressive one.
"It was probably August 2004. Jimmy Carter was writing an article called “The Remarkable Rio Grand Valley“ for the Sept/Oct 2004 Bird Watcher’s Digest. He called to speak with Bill about it. As it happened, Bill was out on the big tractor, mowing part of the meadow. I was out on my little tractor, mowing the lawn. The kids knew they could come out and get me if they needed anything. The phone rings, and Liam, 4 1/2, answers. Jimmy Carter asks, “May I speak with your daddy?“ And Liam replies, “I don’t know where he is.“ Former President Carter laughs and asks, “May I speak with your mommy, then?” And Liam answers, “I don’t know where she is either.“
Classic Liam. Both tractors are roaring away just outside, but in the clutch, he has no idea where we could be. Jimmy Carter laughs and says that’s OK. He’ll call back later. When he does, he relates the story to Bill, who is both mortified and highly amused. President Carter thought it was funny. He’d been on a few tractors in his day. The only president who’s ever called our home, and we were…nowhere to be found.
President Carter had a life list of more than 1200 species. Only Rutherford Hayes, Franklin Roosevelt and his cousin Teddy Roosevelt had such a passion for birds, but I’d be shocked if those three had a life list like that. He was kind enough to provide a cover blurb for Bill’s 1997 book, Bird Watching for Dummies.
I am proud to say that Jessica Vaughan, Dawn Hewitt and I have spent the last 7 months completely updating and rewriting this book, and the new edition is due out in Spring 2025. I’ve little doubt that, had he been able, Jimmy Carter would have blurbed it again. He was one of a kind. Fly high, President Carter. You are loved."
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