Patrick and his mother, Ruth, attended the WENAS campouts almost every year, and led field trips (especially the owling trips).
Photo by Sherry Hagen,
2003 Wenas Camp Out
I am very saddened to report the death of Patrick Sullivan on September 19, 2007. It is a great loss to his mother, his friends, and the birding community. Patrick fought a lifelong battle against bipolar disease, and it finally defeated him. He took his own life two days after he had returned from the Washington Ornithological Society convention at Ocean Shores. He was 35 years old.
Patrick began his birding with Bob Ramsey when he was only eight. Bob had a junior naturalist program at Snake Lake Nature Center, and Patrick was his star student. As Patrick’s knowledge of birds grew, he became an outstanding birder. He was in demand as a leader of field trips for Audubon and WOS. He was in his element when he was birding.
In recent years he shared his love of birds through his photography, which he posted on his website. Patrick will be sorely missed by the birding community.
Remembrances in Patrick’s name may be made to
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
100 Brown Farm Road
Olympia, WA 98516
Nisqually was always one of Patrick’s and Ruth’s favorite birding spots. –Dennis Paulson
Patrick Sullivan Young Birders’ Fund
With the approval of the committee overseeing its management and the Board of the Washington Ornithological Society, the year-old Young Birders’ Fund has been re-named the Patrick Sullivan Young Birders’ Fund. Established and supported by Andy Stepniewski’s generous contribution of royalties from sale of A Birder’s Guide to Washington, this fund supports scholarships to young birders in Washington.
Patrick epitomized the development of a young birder utilizing knowledge and skills from camps and classes to become a role model of learning and giving back to the birding community. Leading field trips and writing detailed trip reports were some examples of his helping others find birds across the state.
Financial contributions to the Patrick Sullivan Young Birders’ Fund can go directly to:
Washington Ornithological Society
12345 Lake City Way NE #215
Seattle WA 98125
Wenas Audubon Campout 