Ross James was Associate Curator of Ornithology at the Royal Ontario Museum before retiring in 1997. He continues to make significant contributions to the scientific study of birds and bird conservation in Ontario.
Ross is the author of numerous scientific and popular publications, including the Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Ontario (1991), which is the authoritative guide to the status of birds in Ontario. He co-authored with George Peck two volumes in 1983 and 1987 of the Breeding Birds of Ontario: Nidiology and Distribution. His fieldwork took him all over Ontario and to the United States and Central America.
Ross’s expertise is sought by federal and provincial committees dealing with threatened and endangered birds and their habitats.
Ross is a great resource to the Ontario Field Ornithologists. He regularly contributes articles to Ontario Birds and OFO News and is a principal referee of articles submitted to Ontario Birds. He is a charter member of the Ontario Bird Records Committee, having also served several years as Secretary. An authority on vireos, Ross authored the Yellow-throated Vireo account and co-authored the Blue-headed Vireo account in the Birds of North America series.
Ross James (left) receiving the Distinguished Ornithologist Award from presenter George Peck (right) and OFO President Jean Iron at the Annual Convention in Burlington on 17 October 1998.