John Disney (ornithologist)
Henry John de Suffren Disney (22 September 1919 – 26 March 2014),[1] better known as John Disney, was an Australian ornithologist of British origin.
Early years
[edit]Disney was educated at Cambridge University. He collected birds in Newfoundland and northern Finland. During the Second World War he served in the Royal Air Force.[2]
Africa
[edit]Disney spent many years of his career in Africa, first as Science Assistant to the Director of the Kaffrarian Museum, King William's Town, South Africa 1946–1948. He then worked at a cotton research station in East Africa 1948–1962.[2][3]
Australia
[edit]In 1962 Disney moved to Australia to become Curator of Birds at the Australian Museum, a position he served in until his retirement, after which he was a research associate at the museum.[2] In 1975 he led a team of zoologists and ecologists to Lord Howe Island to study the endangered Lord Howe woodhen in its environment, in order to devise a management plan to prevent its extinction. At the time there were no more than 32 woodhens on the island. In 2019 there are over 250 birds.
References
[edit]- ^ "Henry Disney". Death notices. Sydney Morning Herald. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Walker, Rosanne (24 May 2006). "Disney, Henry John de S. (John)". Encyclopedia of Australian Science 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ^ Disney, H.J. de S. (1993). "The odyssey of a Belgium double-barreled .410 shotgun pistol No. 103 with detachable shoulder stock" (PDF). Australian Zoologist. 29 (1–2): 43–47. doi:10.7882/AZ.1993.003.
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