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'''Storrs Lovejoy Olson''' (born [[April 3]], [[1944]] in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]) is an American biologist and ornithologist from the [[Smithsonian Institution]]. He belongs to the world's leading [[paleornithology|paleornithologists]].
'''Storrs Lovejoy Olson''' (born [[April 3]], [[1944]] in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]) is an American biologist and ornithologist from the [[Smithsonian Institution]]. He belongs to the world's leading [[paleornithology|paleornithologists]].


An appointment with [[Alexander Wetmore]] in 1967 led him to his main research field of [[paleornithology]] and to his work on [[Ascension Island]] and [[Saint Helena]] where he made remarkable discoveries in the 1970s. In 1976 he married [[Helen F. James]] who is a paleornithologist by herself. Olson described several subfossil birds from the Pacific, or the Atlantic Islands like the [[Nēnē-nui]], the [[Giant Hoopoe]], the [[St. Helena Crake]], and the [[Bermuda Night Heron]]. In 1982 he discovered subfossil bones of the long ignored and controversal [[Brace's Emerald]] on the [[Bahamas]] which gave evidence that this hummingbird is a valid and distinct species. In November 1999 Olson became notable for his open letter to the [[National Geographic Society]] where he criticised Christopher P. Sloan's claims about the dinosaur to bird evolution which referred to the fake species [[Archaeoraptor]]. In 2000 he helped to resolve the mystery of ''[[Necropsar leguati]]'' from the [[World Museum Liverpool]] which appeared to be an albinistic specimen of the [[Martinique Trembler]].
An appointment with [[Alexander Wetmore]] in 1967 led him to his main research field of [[paleornithology]] and to his work on [[Ascension Island]] and [[Saint Helena]] where he made remarkable discoveries in the 1970s like the [[Giant Hoopoe]] and the [[St. Helena Crake]]. In 1976 he met his future wife [[Helen F. James]] who is a paleornithologist by herself. Together they became notable for their pioneering research work on the Hawaiian islands from the 1970s to 1990s where they found and described the remains of 32 new extinct bird species, including the [[Nēnē-nui]]. In 1982 he discovered subfossil bones of the long ignored and controversal [[Brace's Emerald]] on the [[Bahamas]] which gave evidence that this hummingbird is a valid and distinct species. In November 1999 Olson became notable for his open letter to the [[National Geographic Society]] where he criticised Christopher P. Sloan's claims about the dinosaur to bird evolution which referred to the fake species [[Archaeoraptor]]. In 2000 he helped to resolve the mystery of ''[[Necropsar leguati]]'' from the [[World Museum Liverpool]] which appeared to be an albinistic specimen of the [[Martinique Trembler]].


He is currently curator of birds at the [[National Museum of Natural History]].
He is currently curator of birds at the [[National Museum of Natural History]].

Revision as of 15:57, 27 July 2007

Storrs Lovejoy Olson (born April 3, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American biologist and ornithologist from the Smithsonian Institution. He belongs to the world's leading paleornithologists.

An appointment with Alexander Wetmore in 1967 led him to his main research field of paleornithology and to his work on Ascension Island and Saint Helena where he made remarkable discoveries in the 1970s like the Giant Hoopoe and the St. Helena Crake. In 1976 he met his future wife Helen F. James who is a paleornithologist by herself. Together they became notable for their pioneering research work on the Hawaiian islands from the 1970s to 1990s where they found and described the remains of 32 new extinct bird species, including the Nēnē-nui. In 1982 he discovered subfossil bones of the long ignored and controversal Brace's Emerald on the Bahamas which gave evidence that this hummingbird is a valid and distinct species. In November 1999 Olson became notable for his open letter to the National Geographic Society where he criticised Christopher P. Sloan's claims about the dinosaur to bird evolution which referred to the fake species Archaeoraptor. In 2000 he helped to resolve the mystery of Necropsar leguati from the World Museum Liverpool which appeared to be an albinistic specimen of the Martinique Trembler.

He is currently curator of birds at the National Museum of Natural History.

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