Guess Eleanor Birchett

Guess Eleanor Birchett (March 28, 1881 – January 30, 1979) was an American self-trained ornithologist and naturalist. She was known as "the Bird Lady of Tempe".[1] In 1989 she was inducted into the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame.

Guess Eleanor Birchett
Born
Guess Eleanor Anderson

March 28, 1881
San Antonio, Texas, United States
DiedJanuary 30, 1979
OccupationSelf-trained ornithologist and naturalist
AwardsArizona Women's Hall of Fame (1989)

Biography

Guess Eleanor Anderson was born on March 28, 1881, in San Antonio, Texas. Anderson originally traveled to Tempe, Arizona in 1903 to visit her sister. She soon met Joseph T. Birchett and married him in 1904.[1]

She was a charter member of the Tempe Woman's Club and served as its vice president in 1915.[2]

Birchett began studying ornithology in 1940. She is estimated to have banded 5,000 birds in her 30 years as a self-trained ornithologist. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service designated her home as a federally-recognized bird sanctuary from 1940 until 1970, and Birchett ran educational programs for children there.[2][3] She wrote for regional publications such as Western Bird Banding Magazine. Birchett was also active in founding the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, and she a charter member of the Tempe Garden Club, William Bloys Post #2 American Legion Auxiliary, Tempe Historical Society, and the Tempe Art League, and served on the Tempe Beautiful Board.[4]

Birchett died on January 30, 1979. She was inducted into the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame in 1989.[1]

References
  1. "Guess Eleanor Birchett". Arizona Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  2. "Guess Eleanor Anderson". Tempe History Museum. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  3. "Women Working for Wilderness". AZWild.org. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  4. ""Guess" Eleanor Anderson Birchett (b. 1881, d. 1979)". Arizona Women's Heritage Trail. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
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