Guy McCaskie, who many called the father of California birding, passed away on July 22, 2026.
Here are a few rememberances of Guy:
"Guy was beyond a giant in the birding field; his knowledge, experience, and willingness to share were unparalleled. Many of us accompanied Guy on his trips around the Salton Sea, or attended WFO conferences with him. To be in his presence was both humbling and inspiring." -- Ron Cyger
"The Salton Sea was synonymous with Guy McCaskie. Among the many moments for which he will be remembered is his discovery of California’s first Ross's Gull there in 2006-an extraordinarily unlikely find that reflected his remarkable field skills and deep knowledge of birds." -- Susan and Frank Gilliland
"Guy played a pivotal role in the founding of the California Bird Records Committee and Western Field Ornithologists. He will be missed by many!" -- Chris Dean
"Guy was always willing to mentor and share his knowledge with other birders. We will never forget the first time we ever met Guy: It was pre-dawn, near Fig Lagoon, and Guy drove up just as a Black Rail started calling. He kindly asked us to join him birding the Imperial Valley for the day. We had a fantastic time, including a flyover Magnificent Frigatebird at Wister Unit, and we learned a lot about birds and how to bird the Salton Sea." -- Mark and Janet Scheel