Edward Wilson's Antarctic Notebooks

Dr. David M. Wilson, PhD. (Essex), FZS, was born in 1963. Having an early career in the theatre, he moved on to study at the United World College of the Pacific and the Universities of York and Essex, where he trained as a philosopher. He is also a trained Counsellor. With a strong interest in Aboriginal cultures, he also has a wide range of ornithological and natural history interests. These have led to ten years of working on Expedition cruise ships, where he is in increasing demand both as an ornithological field guide and as an historian. He boasts numerous explorers and ornithologists on his family tree, which add a uniquely personal flavour to many of his talks. Not least amongst these is his great uncle, Dr Edward Wilson, who died with Captain Scott and his party on their return from the South Pole in 1912. David spends much of his time working to promote our historic Antarctic heritage and is recently retired as Chairman of the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, UK. He is also the producer of several books (Cheltenham in Antarctica: the Life of Edward Wilson, Reardon Publishing, 2000; Discovery Illustrated: Pictures from Captain Scott's First Antarctic Expedition, Reardon Publishing 2001; and Edward Wilson's Nature Notebooks, Reardon Publishing 2004) and has also produced a CD of historic Antarctic expedition songs and poems (The Songs of the 'Morning': a musical sketch, Reardon Publishing 2002). All the royalties from these works are donated to support Antarctic heritage projects.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christopher J. Wilson Dip Eco (Cork), FZS is the great nephew of Dr Edward A. Wilson, who died with Captain Scott and his party on their return from the South Pole in 1912. He is widely travelled, having spent time on all the continents of the world and has completed eight full seasons in Antarctica having first travelled to that Continent in 1999 on the Antarctic Circumnavigation. Born in the UK, he was educated in both UK and Africa, was a London policeman for 16 years and moved to Ireland in 1981. He completed a Field Ecology Diploma at University College Cork in the mid 1990s. Currently he is self employed as an Environmental Consultant based in County Wexford, Ireland specialising in field survey work (particularly birds). A highly respected ornithologist with over thirty-five years of bird ringing experience, in Ireland, UK and Australia, he includes in his scientific accolades the organisation of staff and volunteers in numerous ornithological surveys of national and international importance. Before taking early retirement in 2007, Christopher worked for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, for 16 years, serving as warden of Ireland's premier wildfowl reserve, 'Wexford Wildfowl Reserve'. He regularly contributes to a wide number of wildlife magazines, makes radio and television programs and featured in a half-hour television wildlife documentary on his work as a wildlife warden. He is an accomplished photographer contributing to numerous wildlife books. His own publications include: 'High Skies - Low Lands, An Anthology of The Wexford Slobs and Harbour' (1996); 'Wildfile - A Guide to Irish Wildlife' (1997); 'Wildlife Quiz and Amazing Facts Book' (1999)- with a second edition (2002); 'Edward Wilson's Nature Notebooks' - published in November 2004 and 'The Lepidoptera of County Wexford' (2009). Christopher lectures extensively on birds and wildlife and is the current chair of the Wexford Naturalists' Field Club. He states that his personal motto of "Birds are my Passion, Wildlife my Nature" actively describes his interest, love and passion for our environment and its biodiversity.