Author Biography: David Hancock (listed in 1st person)
I am a graduate biologist in wildlife management and ornithology. I have almost continuously maintained a collection of animals for research, writing and photography since the age of 12. I have reared many deer, cougars, bears, seals etc and thousands of birds including some of the rarest species kept in captivity. I was the first person to establish a captive breeding facility for the endangered peregrine falcon and many of the techniques so developed inspired the massive captive breeding program for this species that has resulted in the birds wild reestablishment across North America. I provided some of the early breeding stock for the Cornell Project. I bred bald eagles and conducted studies on wild birds.
I have kept and reared a major collection of alcids and received a contract from the New York Zoological Society to supply the birds for their new aquatic bird house. Even earlier in the mid 1950's I had a unique collection of very hard to keep grouse.
My entire vocation and avocation has focused on conservation, through research into wild creatures and the study of native cultures and the interpretation of this knowledge to the public through writing, photography and books. I have written hundreds of articles, several books, produced several films and my current publishing company (Hancock House Publishers) has published many hundreds of other people's books on the above topic.
In recent years I have returned to wildlife research and avicultural
conservation interests. At present my facilities house birds ranging form cranes, grouse to turacos. I have also started a project studying the Urban Bald Eagles of Greater Vancouver.
I am a member of AAZPA, CAZPA, Wilson, Auk, Condor, Ibis, TWS, WPA, APWS, etc. etc. We have membership in over 50 scientific and conservation organizations. I play an active role in the WPA and am involved in advising on their international publishing program. We have recently co-published The Pheasants of the World with the WPA; Cranes: their Biology & Conservation with the USFWS and most recently The Southern Forest in cooperation with the USFS. Our speciality is books on raptors. Several other wildlife and avicultural publications are just released and some 40 or more are under development. I am a member of the SSC CBSG and the Turaco TAG. For the NA Turaco TAG I have conducted a NA private sector survey of the breeders and this was recently expanded into an international survey of the captive turacos.
The prime funding organization of the Hancock Wildlife Research Center is Hancock House Publishers and it specializes in the publication of books on natural history, popular science, technical and popular titles applicable to aviculture, animal husbandry and conservation.
My own research falls into two categories. First, I am interested in the ontogeny of development in tetraonids, other galliform chicks and in the musophagidae the turacos.. Second, I am interested in general world conservation and the role that aviculture and public education can play in conservation.
Recently I have been a consultant to the USF&WS Attwater's Prairie Chicken Recovery Plan, the Sharp-tailed Grouse Reintroduction Project of the Upper Columbia Tribal Council/University of Eastern Washington, and have published a series of papers on the world status of grouse and their aviculture.
I am available for consultation on galliform reintroductions, bald eagle nesting, aviculture and habitat evaluation. The Hancock Wildlife Research Center's facilities are also available for use on related conservation related projects. Hancock House Publishers is available for consultation on publication of conservation and science projects.
My day to day business is the operation of Hancock House Publishers Ltd, a Surrey based publisher of regional histories and nature books and finding time to study eagles.
Susan Lansonius:
Susan Lansonius is an author and professional illustrator.
She has illustrated
The Story of Eagle
Spirit of Pow Wow
She has written and illustrated:
Emily Moonshine and Sister Goose
Susanne Lansonius had her first illustrations published in the Girl Scout magazine when she was twelve years old. Since then her drawings and paintings have appeared in many galleries, and have been published in countless books, magazines, and newspapers.
After graduating from the Budapest University of Fine Arts with a degree in painting, she moved to Sweden where she continued to participate in numerous workshops and courses at the Stockholm University and local colleges. As a full time artist, her work included portrait painting, theatre costume design, book and magazine illustration, and commercial illustration.
After moving to Canada she continued to paint portraits in oil and pastel, and to work as graphic designer and illustrator for companies such as Evergreen Press, the Vancouver Sun newspaper, and Woodward's and Eaton's department stores, among others.
She has taught figure drawing, costume history and design, and commercial illustration, both in Sweden and in Canada.
Susanne's artistic collaboration with Hancock House Publishers includes several book illustrations, and one children's book written and illustrated by her. She lives in Langley in beautiful British Columbia, and continues to paint landscapes and people. |
