Dear Liz and Family, All of us in the Santa Cruz birding community were saddened to hear of Todd’s passing. We’ve included here the email from Elizabeth Van Dyke who first let us know via Monterey Bay Birds –the listserve that Todd founded many years ago. We wanted you and your family to see the many tributes that proceeded to roll in.
First, to be published in The Albatross: Todd Newberry Fondly Remembered
Our hearts were saddened to learn that Todd Newberry passed away on February 9, 2026. Not only was Todd a respected Professor of Ecology and Biology at UCSC, where he inspired generations of students, he also influenced countless individuals who attended his walks and talks. Many became life-long birders as a result of Todd’s enthusiasm and philosophy. Todd, along with Gene Holtan, authored a delightful book entitled The Ardent Birder – On the Craft of Birdwatching, which is now out of print, but available at some local public libraries.
This archived story published on Hilltromper provides insight into this legendary educator’s philosophy of birding. Todd will be missed by us and the entire birding community.
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Here is Elizabeth’s email:
On Sun, Feb 15, 2026 at 3:25 PM ‘Elizabeth Van Dyke’ via mbbirds <[email protected]> wrote:
If you have not heard yet, Todd Newberry, a legend in the birding and other communities, passed away on Monday, February 9, 2026.
I had the honor of being the Conservation Officer way back when Todd was President of the Santa Cruz Bird Club. He kindly and generously shared his time, knowledge and philosophy with many in the community. As I write this and hear the birdsong in my yard, I thank Todd for opening the doors to understanding each of these voices.
He was a founding faculty member in biology when UC Santa Cruz opened in 1965.
If anyone has a Todd story I’m sure others will appreciate hearing about it.
Here is a link to the UC Santa Cruz Regional History Project titled “Todd Newberry: Professor of Biology”. It is an oral history by Randall Jerrell with contributions by Irene Reti.
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And here are the many remembrances:
I had a similar experience to Gary’s more than 15 years ago. I joined a hike with Todd at the Arboretum and Todd soon advised us that a song we were hearing belonged to a California Thrasher. We waited quietly until the thrasher appeared and then disappeared back into the shrubbery. Then the moment that I have remembered ever since happened. Todd pulled out his Sony Walkman and played a slowed down version of a California Thrasher’s song that he had recorded in the past. I was astonished by the nuances that we hadn’t been able to hear. What a wonderful teacher he was, ready to enrich the moment we were experiencing. It has become a powerful reminder to me ever since about the power of slowing down and listening. Rest in peace dear Todd!
Barbara Riverwoman
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Thank you to everyone for sharing their experiences with Todd. Mine were somewhat different though equally impactful. I knew Todd as a teacher – he was a world renowned invertebrate biologist and I got to take several field classes from him including invertebrate biology while at UCSC as well as several other fantastic courses. I recall him writing in large letters across the black board in preparation for a visit to the intertidal at Natural Bridges “ESCHEW VISTAS” He wanted us on our knees with faces up close to really see the little critters attached to the rocks. But I realize that this is the same approach he took to birding, that everyone has shared so eloquently on this listserv – something along the lines of pay attention and spend time actually seeing what you are seeing. I am a better, more observant birder because of what he taught me about viewing the intertidal and will be forever in his debt for how he helped me see our natural world.
Brad Keitt
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My fondest memory of Todd was during a mid-spring day (I forget which year) when I attended a walk he was leading at Waddell Creek. Olive Sided Flycatchers had just returned for the summer and were singing up a storm on the high cliffs above us. It’s a pretty distinctive song, and everyone could hear it and understand its mnemonic (quick-THREE-beers); but Todd stopped the group to tell us about what we were NOT hearing–the urgent pip-pip-pip call, and another call that I think I have never heard to this day. This, then, served as a springboard for a foray into bird names and why seemingly invisible traits (like the olive sides, or the red belly of the woodpecker) make it into bird names but other, more visible traits, do not. And so on. I was utterly charmed by the asides. It was an illustration of how bird identification could (and should) serve as a springboard for a whole host of other queries which make our lives richer. It was birding in its most expansive–and most human–sense. I have never experienced a bird walk like that again–ever.
Shantanu Phukan
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I count myself lucky to have crossed paths with Todd Newberry. Circa 2010 my introduction to Todd was through Watsonville Wetlands Watch docent training where he taught a Thursday evening class on Birding. It was my initiation into a journey of learning both the science and the art of observing our avian friends. One fond memory of Todd happened just over a year later when my wife and I signed up for a bird walk around Watsonville’s wetlands as part of the Monterey Bay Birding Festival. During the walk Todd was calling out birds he was hearing along the Struve Slough trail. I was in awe of his ability to identify birds from their songs and calls. When I commented on his expertise, he pulled out a Sony Walkman and proceeded to playback a Song Sparrow song he had produced. He discussed the intricacies and importance of bird songs and calls. He then played a slowed down playback of the same Song Sparrow song, to demonstrate the complexity of the notes and cadence that are unique to that species; each song and call communicating information that is essential to the survival of that species. All the while Song Sparrows popped up surrounding us with these curious sparrows. These were formative experiences under the thoughtful mentoring of an Ardent Birder.
Thank you Todd Newberry for the lasting legacy that lives on in our community of ardent birders.
Good birding, Gary Martindale
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Thank you, Elizabeth, for letting us know about Todd’s passing. When I first began to bird about forty years ago, Todd was such a great mentor. The many bird walks and Christmas counts with him were always such fun as well as very instructive. I so admired his ear for birds but soon realized I would need several more lives spent in birding to become anywhere near as accomplished as he was. I am still struggling to learn even with such a mentor as Todd. The app Merlin has been a big help too and when I use it I am always reminded of Todd’s neighborhood merlin that perched atop the church tower near his home that he delighted in reporting on frequently.
Birding has been a huge part of my life. Thank you, Todd, for introducing me and many others to the delights of birding.
Madeline Spencer
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I did not know Todd, but from reading all of your lovely notes I really wish I had.
I reached out to Bookshop Santa Cruz when I didn’t find his book on their website. They responded with the explanation that the publisher is out of stock and it is no longer in print. They gave an alternative website to use should you not want to use Amazon.
Kim Butts
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We too are saddened to hear of Todd’s passing. We have cherished memories of joining him on many birding outings be they to Jetty Road, Moonglow, Waddell Creek, and especially the UCSC Arboretum where we were regulars at his Saturday morning walks. We never tired of his stories even if we had heard them many times. He would always encourage participants to take away one key memory of the walk even if it wasn’t of a bird. One memory at the Arboretum stands out: A rising sun shining through the fog backlighting a dew covered spider web. Don’t remember what birds we saw that day, but we’ll always remember that spider web. We will miss the Ardent Birder. Thanks Todd for all the times we shared together.
Rich Griffith and Margaret Perham
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I too am saddened to hear of Todd’s passing. And as others have expressed, Todd was my birding mentor. I was fortunate to join many of his bird trips and to listen to his wonderful stories. Todd always said it takes just one bird to make a birders day, still holds true today. His book The Ardent Birder brings so many memories to mind. Time to pick it back up and read anew…
Thank you Todd for sharing your birding knowledge.
Anna Kopitov
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I just learned of Todd’s passing and I am very sad about it.
I loved birding with Todd and absolutely loved his sense of humor. More often than not, the stories he would share with us on one of his walks had tasty nougat of birding information buried in them.
He was an excellent instructor and really brought some extra fun to the sport.
He will be sorely missed, Nickie Z
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Thank you, Elizabeth, for letting the bird community about gentle-spirited Todd.
I like to take you up on the story telling:
A long time ago I went to one of his talks @ the UCSC Arboretum. I was early – so I meandered around the Botanic Garden ~ just watching birds ~ when I saw a man starring @ a bush. I walked up to him & asked what he was watching & he’s said “Birds”. I admitted I love doing that, too. So we had this delightful exchange of quirky bird behavior stories, peppered w/lots of laughter. I told him that I was excited to hear Todd Newberry’s talk, although I was a lousy birder, because I tend to get lost in just observing their behaviors. His replied that my observation trend made me a good birder. We parted ways. Encouraged by his remark, I went to the talk & almost keeled over when the speaker was introduced: He was the man with whom I had just exchanged funny feather vignettes & his talk was excellent.
Many years later I got to tell him how grateful I was for his gift of setting me free to be a ‘quirky’ birder. He belly-laughed & said ”Good for you”. He was a Mensch through & through, gifting us so much of his bird passion.
A Chirpy Thank You, Todd, for sharing so generously with us. ~~jane mio
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Like many others, I’m very sorry to hear the news.
Todd was one of my first birding mentors. As David noted, he was also a phenomenal teacher. Here are paraphrased, four birding wisdoms that I learned from Todd:
It’s not just a name with wings or feathers. Make a little bit of effort to really observe and maybe learn a little about the bird’s life history. At minimum, note what it’s doing, you may be in for a fun surprise.
• Birds live in the moment. Most have a very short life. Keep in mind that small perching birds (passarines), can complete a full life cycle in 12 months. That includes, birth, growing to reproductive maturity, breeding, and then passing on like Todd.
• There’s nothing wrong with going outside (chasing) to see X bird species. And when you miss X species and instead see Y species, enjoy it. Every time you go birding, be open to an “Audubon Moment”, whatever it may be.
• As Lorrie and Larry recalled, Todd would tell us: When you first arrive at a birding destination; Stop, look around, and listen. Settle in for a few minutes to just absorb where you are, and what the natural environment around you looks, smells, and sounds like. As some point in your birding walk, stop in one place again. Listen and observe unobtrusively to the side for some 15 or 20 minutes. Give the birds a chance to grace you with that amazing “Audubon Moment”.
And one story because Todd also had a great sense of humor. Less folks think that Todd not particularly grounded…
At one point we were chasing a bird with Todd, trying to look into some thicket or reeds, and the skulky bird would not appear. After a few minutes, Todd muttered something about throwing a firecracker into the bush to flush the bird! Never mind that this came from a man with doctorate in marine biology from Stanford University. A full professor of biology at UCSC, that for decades would routinely win teaching awards from students. As the gentleman that he was, Todd would never have thrown a firecracker, but his saying it in the moment, broke the tension, and reminded us of the fun craziness of what we were doing.
Rest in peace Todd, many of us have wonderful memories of you. Pete Solé
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Wally and I arrived at Merrill College in 1968, and Todd and Louise were among our first friends here. We were not birders then, and I don’t know even if Todd was actively birding . But we went on one of our first bird walks with him about 20 years later at the Arboretum and were quickly hooked. He showed us many of his favorite places and patiently answered our questions, often by posing others, as the wonderful teacher he was.
My favorite memory took place at the Arboretum years later.Early one morning I was walking down a path, partly hidden by trees. As I came around a corner, there stood Todd – with a strip of red felt on the top of his head. He looked a little surprised to see me, and I was very surprised by the red fabric he was sporting. What was he doing? Imitating a Ruby -crowned Kinglet
to see if he could get it to show its crown! Apparently once he’d seen this happen to a redheaded student so, always the scientist, he was conducting his own experiment.
Here’s to Todd, an Ardent Birder indeed!
Lois Goldfrank
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Thank you for sharing about Todd’s passing.
He was a wonderful friend, and I will cherish my memories with him on bird walks, especially up at the UCSC Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
With caring regards, Linda Brodman
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I was lucky enough to go on one of the last walks I believe that Todd lead for the bird club.. It was at Waddell Creek and it was a listening walk. Although I had my binoculars Todd did not have any and I barely used mine as he pointed out the songs of the birds along that walk. It stands out to this day as one of the best walks I’ve taken as I learned to listen and not just look. I bought the Ardent Birder after that walk. I got it on Amazon and felt guilty because Todd didn’t receive any royalty from buying a used book. I contacted him and offered to pay him and he said it didn’t matter. It was reading the book and enjoying and learning about birds that counted.
Larry Corridon
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I too am sad to hear this news, I knew Todd from his trip leading and learnt much from him. In addition to all the above I would like to mention that this listserver was created, managed and hosted by Todd for many years. Everyone who can read this owes him a debt of gratitude, MBB (Monterey Bay Birds) has been not only a source of bird information and bird news, but it has helped create the wonderful and inclusive birding community that flourishes in our counties.
I want to share an anecdote that for me epitomizes Todd. Todd and I were admiring the beauty of a Cinnamon Teal, and he told me a story about doing the same with Louise, his wife. She said to him “avert your eyes, they are too beautiful for us mortals”. I never met her, but wish I had, her sense of humor would have appealed to me (I am a Brit). We shared a laugh over this story, Todd knew I would appreciate the anecdote.
Phil Brown
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About 10 years ago, Todd was leading a bird walk for docents at Año Nuevo State Park. I was delighted at the opportunity to learn from a master, eager to learn which birds we might see while guiding a tour. He was surprisingly (to me at that time) casual about needing to identify everything. “You can always figure that out,” he counseled, and instead encouraged us to enjoy the ecosystem and it’s greater ecology. I think of that periodically, and sometimes give myself permission to not identify whatever flits by when I’m on a walk (you know how tempting/addictive that is). “It’s a bird,” I declare, and let it disappear into the landscape.
Lorrie Klosterman, Berkeley and Santa Cruz
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I am very sorry to learn of Todd’s passing. I have fond memories of him, and a great respect for his natural history and biology knowledge. I loved his keen curiosity to learn more and his desire to help others learn, too. Todd was a past president of the SCBC and led many Club field trips over a number of years. I recall his regular Father’s Day field trips, when every bird was an honorary father. And his field trips on Super Bowl Sunday when the bird species tally sought to beat the game score. I heartily recommend his book “The Arden Birder.” It has so many great insights and is a fun read.
David Suddjian
Littleton, CO