Olin Sewall Pettingill Jr. (1907–2001): The Architect of Modern Ornithology
Olin Sewall Pettingill Jr. was a transformative figure in 20th-century biology, serving as a bridge between the rigorous world of academic ornithology and the burgeoning public passion for birdwatching. As a researcher, educator, filmmaker, and author, Pettingill did more than study birds; he codified how they were taught in universities and how they were discovered in the wild by amateurs.
1. Biography: From the Maine Woods to the Ivy League
Born on October 30, 1907, in Belgrade, Maine, Sewall Pettingill developed an early affinity for the natural world. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Bowdoin College, graduating in 1930. His academic trajectory was solidified at Cornell University, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1933 under the mentorship of Arthur A. Allen, the first professor of ornithology in the United States.
Pettingill’s career was defined by two major institutional pillars:
- Carleton College (1936–1953): He served as a professor of zoology in Minnesota for nearly two decades, where he developed the pedagogical techniques that would later inform his world-standard textbooks.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology (1960–1973): Pettingill returned to his alma mater to serve as the Director of the Cornell Lab. Under his leadership, the Lab transformed from a small university department into a world-renowned center for bird research, public education, and conservation.
Between these appointments, he was a frequent visiting professor at the University of Michigan Biological Station at Douglas Lake, a place that remained central to his field research for over 35 summers.
2. Major Contributions: Professionalizing the Field and the Hobby
Pettingill’s contributions to biology were three-fold: pedagogical, geographical, and cinematic.
Pedagogical Standardization:
Before Pettingill, ornithology instruction was often localized and inconsistent. He developed a systematic methodology for teaching the subject, emphasizing that students needed to understand birds as living organisms within an ecosystem, not just as taxonomic specimens. His "Laboratory and Field Manual" became the blueprint for ornithology courses across North America.
The "Bird Finding" Methodology:
Perhaps his most significant contribution to the general public was the creation of the "Bird Finding" guide. Before Pettingill, birders relied on word-of-mouth to find specific species. Pettingill applied academic rigor to the hobby, creating detailed, mapped guides that told enthusiasts exactly where to go, when to be there, and what they would see. This effectively birthed the modern era of avian tourism.
Natural History Cinematography:
Pettingill was a pioneer in using film as a tool for biological documentation. He understood that visual storytelling could garner public support for conservation in ways that data alone could not. His high-quality color footage of rare species provided some of the first glimpses into the life histories of birds in remote habitats.
3. Notable Publications
Pettingill was a prolific author whose works remained in print for decades.
- The American Woodcock (1936): His published doctoral thesis remains a foundational monograph on this elusive shorebird, detailing its unique mating displays and life history.
- A Guide to Bird Finding East of the Mississippi (1951) & West of the Mississippi (1953): These twin volumes revolutionized birdwatching. They were the first to provide precise directions to birding "hotspots," a concept now central to apps like eBird.
- Ornithology in Laboratory and Field (First edition 1939; major revision 1970): For over 40 years, this was the definitive textbook for college-level ornithology. It was praised for its comprehensive coverage of anatomy, physiology, and behavior.
- My Way to Birds (1992): An autobiography that serves as a history of the development of American ornithology in the 20th century.
4. Awards & Recognition
Pettingill received the highest honors available to a naturalist and ornithologist:
- The Brewster Memorial Medal (1948): Awarded by the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) for his work on the American Woodcock and his contributions to avian literature.
- The Ludlow Griscom Award (1982): Awarded by the American Birding Association (ABA) for his outstanding contributions to excellence in field ornithology.
- Honorary Doctorates: He received honorary degrees from Bowdoin College, Colby College, and several other institutions in recognition of his educational impact.
- Arthur A. Allen Award (1974): Given by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for his service to the field.
5. Impact & Legacy
Sewall Pettingill’s legacy is visible in the modern structure of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He oversaw the construction of the original Lyman K. Stuart Observatory and helped establish the Lab’s "Library of Natural Sounds" (now the Macaulay Library), the world's premier archive of animal audio and video.
His influence also persists in the American Birding Association. By providing the tools for amateurs to find and identify birds reliably, he helped create a constituency of millions of birders who now form the backbone of conservation funding and citizen science. In the academic world, his textbook trained the generation of biologists who would go on to lead the environmental movement of the 1970s.
6. Collaborations
- Arthur A. Allen: Pettingill was Allen’s protégé and later his successor. Together, they helped establish Cornell as the "Mecca" for bird study.
- Walt Disney: In a surprising cross-disciplinary collaboration, Pettingill served as a photographer and consultant for Disney’s True-Life Adventures series. His footage contributed to Academy Award-winning documentaries like The Living Desert (1953) and The Vanishing Prairie (1954).
- The American Ornithologists' Union (AOU): He was a long-term leader within the AOU, serving as its president from 1954 to 1955.
7. Lesser-Known Facts
- The Disney Connection: Pettingill spent months in the field, often in grueling conditions, to capture a few minutes of film for Disney. His work on the Falkland Islands for the film Islands of the Sea (1959) involved living in a remote shack for five months to film penguins.
- Eleanor Pettingill: His wife, Eleanor, was his constant research partner. She traveled with him on almost every expedition and was an accomplished naturalist in her own right, often handling the logistical nightmares of mid-century international field research.
- A "Maine Man" at Heart: Despite his world travels, Pettingill remained deeply tied to Maine. He spent his final years in Wayne, Maine, continuing to watch birds until his death at age 94.
- The Woodcock "Dance": Pettingill was one of the first researchers to scientifically describe the "sky dance" of the American Woodcock, using a combination of patient observation and early audio recording technology to map the bird's spiraling flight.