With considerable sadness, we pass along the news that Scott Mills passed away recently. Scott was well known to many in South Sound Bird Alliance for his numerous and varied bird identification classes and field trips. In recognition, the SSBA awarded him the Environmental Educator of the Year in 2019. He was also a leader for Westport Seabirds for 25+ years, showing people from all around the world their first albatross, storm-petrels or Dall’s Porpoise. In addition to his skills as a teacher and a leader, he also made many scientific contributions and was a talented artist, working in many mediums.
Scott developed his passion and fascination for the natural world as a child growing up in West Virginia and Ohio, and those qualities only increased throughout the years. He met his future wife, Lisbeth Dole, at Ohio State Univ. in Columbus. After marrying in 1971, they headed west in their green VW bug for the summer. After both Scott and Liz earned their MS degrees at Ohio State, Lt. Mills had a brief stint with the Army in San Antonio. Following his discharge, they headed west again, this time for good, moving to Tucson where they lived for 25 years. During that time, Scott earned a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, and both Scott and Liz were very involved with The Nature Conservancy and Tucson Audubon Society. He authored at least 14 scientific papers, covering a diverse range of subjects, such as foraging habits of kestrels (also the subject of his dissertation), aspects of Five-striped Sparrow biology at the northern edge of their range, and the effects of desert and riparian habitat conditions on bird populations. He conducted field work throughout southern Arizona on numerous threatened and endangered species, in central Texas on Golden-cheeked Warblers and Black-capped Vireos, and projects on the east coast. In addition to his work as an environmental consultant, Scott held positions at the University of Arizona, and at The Nature Conservancy. He loved sharing his knowledge and stories from those experiences with others throughout his life.
He also found time to create works of art: watercolors of SE Arizona birds (his Elegant Trogon is a collector’s item), pencil sketches, jewelry in silver and wood, wood carving and even embroidery. As an artist, his eye for shape and posture reflected throughout his work. His birds were very real, as if they could jump into life. His passion for flight also extended to model aircraft, with 250 models in his collection. Gardening was another passion, from the challenges of rearing xeric plants in Tucson to the comparative ease of cultivating fuchsia and dahlia varieties in the maritime Northwest. Regardless of location, his gardens always held suitable habitat for birds and other wildlife.
He is survived by his wife, Lisbeth (Liz) Dole Mills, his brother Jeff Mills of Salem, WV, and Jeff’s family. His legacy, as an educator, a scientist, an artist and a friend, will continue to live in all of us.
Gathering in remembrance of Scott Mills
Sunday, February 22 from 9 AM to mid-day
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
The South Sound Bird Alliance is hosting a memorial gathering and bird walk to commemorate the life of Scott Mills. Everyone is invited to gather in the auditorium room inside the refuge visitor center at 9 AM on Sunday 22 February to share stories and memories of Scott, to be followed by a bird walk out onto the dike and boardwalk in celebration of his life and his love of Nisqually.
Donate to the Scott Mills Education Fund
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