Ken Abraham is respected worldwide for his knowledge of waterbirds, particularly Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, Brant, Snow Geese, Black Scoters and Marbled Godwits. He is the Ontario government’s representative on international committees overseeing the management and conservation of waterfowl and shorebirds.
Ken obtained his doctorate in 1980 from Queen’s University on the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of the Snow Goose in northern Manitoba. This led to a job as District Biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) at Moosonee. Ken was responsible for an immense area of the Hudson Bay Lowland and northern coast. He is currently Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Scientist at the Ministry’s office at Trent University in Peterborough. Every summer Ken returns to the Hudson Bay Lowland to lead MNR’s studies of waterfowl, shorebirds, wetlands and climate change.
Ken is a great resource to OFO, authoring several articles in Ontario Birds and OFO News. His most popular article of international interest is “Cackling Goose, not new to Ontario” in the February 2005 issue of OFO News 23(1):2-6 and on the OFO website here. Ken has published over 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals such as the Auk, Condor and Wilson Bulletin.
Ken Abraham (right) receiving the 2006 Distinguished Ornithologist Award from past president Jean Iron at the OFO Annual Convention in Ottawa on 30 September 2006. Photo: Ron Pittaway