Nature Done Wright

The other night, when my wife Patty and I got word that our dear friend Stiles Thomas was in failing health, I scribbled down some thoughts …

Stiles Thomas has been, without a doubt, one of the most influential people in my life, and in the lives of so many others. Stiles had a true gift: He not only loved birds and nature, but he created a ripple effect. He taught us to love them as well.

Stiles was funny, and kind, and generous, and genuinely interested in others.

His love of nature was measured not in the number of birds he saw but in all the birds he helped – most notably bluebirds and barn owls but so many other birds – including rescuing Great Blue Herons, Red-shouldered Hawks, and baby Mallards that found themselves stuck in a local church courtyard.

Stiles loved nature so much that he spent 25 years leading the efforts to save Allendale’s Celery Farm and make it into a nature preserve.

He started the Mount Peter Hawk Watch in the 1950s – the oldest all-volunteer hawk watch in America. He started the Hook Mountain Hawk Watch. And he helped re-energize the State Line Hawk Watch.

Stiles invented the Celery Farm’s Sunday morning “Hour on the Tower.”

He introduced so many of us to Belize and brought us to love the wonderful nation and its people. 

One side of Stiles that not everyone may be aware of was his love and devotion for his wife of more than 75 years, Lillian (not to mention their three terrific daughters).

Stiles used to leave a raw chicken egg in his driveway for a local Red Fox, and he invited me to watch one morning.

As we sat in his kitchen, I noticed a banana on the table. He had carved a note into the skin:

“Stiles Loves Liliian,” complete with a heart with an arrow through it. Timeless love.

One time in Belize, Stiles was standing on a mountaintop, looking for a raptor called a kite that zipped around like a flying saucer and soared like an eagle.

He announced he was so happy that he wanted to fly, and then flapped his arms and jumped into the air. Flying may have been the only thing that Stiles couldn’t do.

A true legend with a great legacy.