A Special Tribute to Dave Reid
the IPA Birdman
By Emory Anderson
Dave Reid, whose name long-time readers of this newsletter will recognize, passed awayon May 2 at the age of 81 after a surprisingly short battle with cancer. He was the author of many articles about birds and birding on Cape Cod that were routinely included in is-sues of the IPA newsletter.
In 2007, my wife Geri, who was the editor of the newsletter at that time, asked Dave,whom we had known as a friend for many years and were aware of his great interest inbirds, if he would be willing to write an article about birds for the newsletter. Dave kindlyagreed, and his first article was published in the 2007 fall issue of the newsletter. Since reader feedback indicated great appreciation for that article, he agreed to continue writing articles, some of his own choosing and others based on requests. Over the next 18 years,Dave authored a total of 62 articles, all except three being about birds. The three exceptions were about chipmunks in the 2019 fall issue and about foxes vs. coyotes and squirrels in the 2023 summer and fall issues respectively.

He had agreed to write the non-bird articles because he had run outof bird topics. His very last article, again on birds (The robin in winter), was published in the 2024 winter issue just several months before his death.
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​At the IPA annual meeting held on July 28, 2019, I had the honor to present Dave with IPA’s prestigious Order of the Turtle award in recognition of his then 13 years of service to the IPA via his very educational and entertainingbird articles. This was an award established in 2007 by the Board of Directors to honor individuals, mainly outside the IPA membership, who had made significant contributions to the mission of the IPA. Previous recipients of the award were John Klimm (2007), former Barnstable Town Manager, and Rob Gatewood (2007), former Director of the Town’s Conservation Division; EdEichner (2008), water scientist formerly with the Cape Cod Commission’s Water Resources Office; Tim Simmons (2009), former restoration

ecologistwith the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program; Dr. Ken Wagner (2011), President of Water Resource Services; Evelyn Steele (2018), widow of John Steele, former director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst-tution, who provided valuable organizational advice when the IPA was updating itself as a non-profit, charitable organization; she and her late husband were also strong financial supporters of the IPA. Emory and Geri Anderson were jointly given the award in 2022. Prior to his death, Dave lived in Centerville with his wife Claire. Geri and I became friends with them in the 1970s while we were all members of First Lutheran Church in West Barnstable where Dave, at different times, served as usher, communion assistant, treasurer, and web designer. Following service in the US Army during the Vietnam War, he received a college degree in accounting and subsequently worked in finances for various businesses and churches throughout the country. Dave was an avid birdwatcher, and he and Claire travelled all around the world to see different species of birds.He was also a faithful brother at Mariner’s Lodge in Cotuit where he served as Master twice. Very proud of his Scottishancestry, he learned to play the bagpipes as an adult and was a founding member of the Highland Light Scottish Pipe Band.The IPA is fortunate to have benefited from Dave’s avian experience and enthusiasm over the past 18 years. We conveyour sincere condolences to his wife Claire and family. Here is a compilation of his articles: Emory D. Anderson.