Remember Gladys?

This article was written by Larry Stone, co-author of a 2010 biography about Gladys Black (see below), now available for order!

Adored by a generation as “Iowa’s Bird Lady,” Gladys Black’s regular newspaper columns in the Des Moines Register and other newspapers introduced thousands of people to the wonders of birds.

Gladys lured her devoted readers not with text book descriptions, but with charming, often folksy anecdotes and reports of her own experiences.

Equally at ease in the presence of scientists, neighbor kids, college students, experienced bird watchers, bureaucrats, politicians, or news media, her message was always the same: protect our birds and their environment.

Gladys was not bashful about sharing those views – and she did not hesitate to criticize those whom she believed were harming the environment. She chastised farmers for excessive use of pesticides – “Poisons!’ She scorned government officials whose policies she believed were destroying wildlife habitat. And she lectured politicians on the importance of conservation.

Although she berated some hunters as “slobs,” Gladys was not opposed to hunting . . . EXCEPT to dove hunting in Iowa. Her successful opposition to mourning dove hunting earned Gladys the disdain of many hunters who lobbied in favor of a dove season.

In her home town of Pleasantville, Gladys earned the reputation of an outspoken, no-nonsense woman with a single focus: teaching people about birds and conservation. Housekeeping, landscaping, fancy clothes, or a shiny car were not priorities.

Gladys was a study in contrasts. Although trained as a public health nurse, she smoked for much of her life, and didn’t want to waste time worrying about her own health. She loved young people, and doted over the offspring of friends and acquaintances, even though she and her husband never had children of their own.

Gladys bought a hunting license every year to support the work of the Iowa Conservation Commission (later Iowa DNR), although she frequently argued with agency officials about conservation programs and priorities.

She appeared to live in poverty in a ramshackle house, but her home was filled with fine pieces of antique furniture and other furnishings. Gladys lived frugally, but had enough money to belong to a number of conservation organizations, and to help a few young friends pay their college bills. Although some dismissed her as an eccentric recluse, Gladys was not afraid to speak out in public about her passion for conservation. She regularly spoke at public meetings, wrote letters to the editor, gave slide programs to service clubs, and called radio talk shows.

She often corresponded with friends, as well as with strangers whom she knew only through their letters or phone calls. People all across Iowa regarded her as an expert to whom they could pose birding questions or share their own experiences. She sometimes fielded a dozen or more phone calls a day, patiently answering queries or recording the observation of fellow bird enthusiasts.

When Gladys died in 1998, the state lost not only an ardent ornithologist, but also a mentor who had touched dozens – no, hundreds – of lives. This book is our attempt to share some of those stories of Gladys, and to help make the case that the name “Gladys Black” belongs on the honor role of Iowa conservation legends.A new book, Gladys Black: The Legacy of Iowa's Bird Lady, recognizes Gladys's lasting impacts on conservation in Iowa, while sharing colorful stories of her life, her friends, and her adversaries.

Larry Stone and Jon Stravers researched and wrote Gladys Black: The Legacy of Iowa's Bird Lady, with support from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and the Iowa Ornithologist's Union.

The 150-page book, with many photos of Gladys and her beloved birds, is $20, including tax. Shipping is $3. To order, call Larry Stone at 1-888-807-1828, or visit Larry's website.