In memory of Kenton Dean Wohl

With great sadness we share the news of the passing of Kenton Dean Wohl.

Conservation of birds was always at the heart of Kent’s 38-years of service and was instrumental in the development of Alaska’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Nongame Migratory Bird Management office where he directed a complex, statewide program focused on marine and coastal birds. Kent led several international migratory bird programs and initiatives for the USFWS, including the U.S.–Russia Environmental Agreement, the U.S.–Japan Migratory Bird Treaty, at the East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership, and at the Arctic Council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Group and its Circumpolar Seabird Working Group, later to be renamed the Circumpolar Seabird Expert Group (CBird).

Kent was involved with CAFF starting in 1993 when the 2^nd annual meeting was held in Fairbanks, Alaska, and he served as Chair of the CBird group during their first meeting in Sacramento, California, the same year. In 2003, Kent served one term as Chair of CAFF ending with a biennial meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.

Kent’s enthusiasm and unselfish teamwork approach made him an important driving force in the first years of CBird. He made everyone feel welcome and included in the group. His skill as meeting facilitator was brilliant and his ability to summarize long discussions into a few short bullet points at the end of a long day was impressive. The CBird group was fortunate having Kent as the first Chair; he was crucial for the final products the group produced in the first years of its existence, which contributed to building the CBird group’s positive reputation in the Arctic Council system and wider.

Kent was always willing to try new adventures and loved meeting with CBird colleagues from around the Arctic. Kent’s wife Priscilla said, “He never came home from a meeting without a story to tell; Aevar (Petersen) feeding him fermented shark and "Black Death" (a.k.a. Brennivin) in Iceland or discovering Oiva Toikka glass birds in Finland. Kent was very proud of the work of CAFF and the establishment of the Circumpolar Seabird Working Group.”

A loyal friend to many all over the world, Kent supervised, guided, and mentored many young biologists, graduate students, and volunteers, which he counted most as dear friends and learned colleagues. Kent prioritized providing his staff with the resources they needed to achieve conservation of marine birds, employing creativity to accomplish that end goal.

In addition to his professional career, Kent loved boating with friends, family, and colleagues, especially in Prince William Sound, Alaska. He achieved his Coast Guard Captain’s license and loved the ocean and was continually fascinated with birds. He loved nothing better than to walk a beach, look at birds and pick up shells.

We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Priscilla, and daughter, Marissa, and his long-time friends and collaborators.

-- Robb Kaler, David Irons, Aevar Petersen, Grant Gilchrist, Hallvard Strøm, Mia Rönkä, Courtney Price