Dedication

The Florida Breeding Bird Atlas II is dedicated to Rick West, who diligently led the BBA II, and to the many volunteers who contributed their efforts to the completion of the project.

Special Acknowledgement of the Illustrator

Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1939, Diane Pierce is a professional artist specializing in illustrations of Florida birds. Diane graciously donated the use of her beautiful artwork, composed of pen-line drawings, to the Florida BBA II project, by granting permission to reuse the illustrations she prepared for the BBA I species accounts and preparing 26 all new illustrations for species added to BBA II. In addition, Diane allowed for the use of the lovely BBA II cover showcasing three posturing Swallow-tailed Kites, the FOS’s logo bird. 

Ms. Pierce’s artwork has also been featured in many scientific journals and popular magazines, and in numerous books including the National Geographic Society’s Field Guide to the Birds of North America, So Cranes May Dance, An Introduction to Ornithology, Endangered Birds, and the 1996 edition of A Birder’s Guide to Florida.

The Florida Ornithological Society enthusiastically thanks Diane for her dedication and generosity to the Florida ornithological community

Diane Pierce would like to thank the following individuals and organizations

Herbert Kale, Ornithologist for the Florida Audubon Society, worked with me on the first 27 initial drawings in 1992 for BBA I. He critiqued the sketches to improve the art for anatomical accuracy and then I was able to “ink” the final versions. In 1995 and 1996, I submitted more sketches to Herb, as the other artists who had planned to participate were unable to be part of BBA I.

Fred Lohrer at Archbold Biological Station offered input on another set of drawings that assisted me to be as anatomically accurate as possible. Bill Robertson, Glen Woolfenden, and Reed Bowman also offered comments and I relied on their books: Greenlaw, Pranty, and Bowman 2014. The Robertson and Woolfenden Florida Bird Species: An Annotated List. FOS, Special Publication No. 8. and Robertson and Woolfenden. 1992. Florida Bird Species: An Annotated List. FOS Special Publication No. 6. I was able to see and sketch scrub-jays at the nest on the scrub lands at Archbold, helped by Ruben Yosef. I learned a lot by visiting Archbold and was able to use study skins that provided me with anatomical details.

In 1985, Bill Robertson got me permission to visit Bird Island on the Dry Tortugas to sketch the noddies and Sooty Terns nesting there. National Audubon’s Sandy Sprunt III put me in a blind where I could watch and sketch Roseate Spoonbills in Florida Bay.

I would send negatives and vellums to Ann Morrow in Tallahassee, who also provided me with backgrounds on many species and packets of species accounts; that was very helpful. I also worked with Katie NeSmith and Susan Cerulean who provided a lot of encouragement.

My husband and life partner, Richard Carson Huxtable, helped in all ways possible, driving me all over Florida on research trips, handling shipping and mailing, and later even framing some of the original art.

Florida Audubon Society staff was aware that, even though I suffered  from pain in my arm, I was going full steam on the BBA I artistic project. 

They found  the Steinburgs, Alan and Sue, in Miami, who purchased the

original drawings, providing me critical financial support. Meanwhile, I donated the reproduction rights for all the sketches to the Florida Audubon Society for use in the BBA I.

In spring 2023, I drew 26 additional sketches for the BBA II species accounts of birds that were not included as nesters in Florida in BBA I. Many of these are exotic species now reproducing in our state and accepted to the FOS Records Committee Checklist as part of Florida’s avifauna.

I was helped in this effort by Bill Pranty, particularly for the psittacines and other exotics. Adam Kent sent references for the iconic Black Rail, a true native, and also critiqued many of the designs at the sketch stage, making helpful suggestions. My new friend FOS President Ann Paul offered encouragement and assistance and helped to connect me to other key ornithologists who would provide assistance. Andy Kratter of the Florida Museum of Natural History sent me skins to allow accurate anatomical interpretations.

There were many others that I perhaps should have mentioned here who made my participation in the BBA I and II more meaningful. I hope they know that I appreciate their assistance.

It meant a lot to me to meet and interact with these scientists who have been working on the bird life of Florida. I enjoyed this project immensely. Thank you for the opportunity.

– Diane Pierce, November 2023