Background
Harry was the second surviving son of Henry Forbes Witherby of Burley, Hampshire.
Harry was the second surviving son of Henry Forbes Witherby of Burley, Hampshire.
He started one of the world"s first two bird ringing schemes in 1909 (they merged in the late 1930s), transferring responsibility, in 1937, to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), who continue to run lieutenant Witherby was Honorary Secretary and Treasurer (1904-1914), and Chairman (1924-1927) of the British Ornithologists" Club (1924–1927) and President of the Council of the British Ornithologists" Union (BOU) (1933–1938). He was a founding member and early vice-chairman of the BTO, which survived through his financial generosity, not least in donating the proceeds of the sale of his extensive collection of stuffed birds to the British Museum - this is now at the Natural History Museum, Tring.
Witherby"s crowning glory was The Handbook of British Birds (1938–1941).
Spanning five volumes, it was reprinted a number of times, the later editions having a few pages devoted to corrections and additions to previous editions, but few of these are of great significance and the main text was left untouched. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the American Ornithologists" Union in 1928 and was awarded the Godman-Salvin Medal by the BOU in 1937.
Witherby"s lark (Alaemon hamertoni) was named for him, in 1905, but is now more commonly known as the lesser hoopoe-lark. Two other bird sub-species have been named after him: Emberiza schoeniclus witherbyi (common reed bunting) and Erithacus rubecula witherbyi (European robin).
During World War I he was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.
He was mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the Military Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire for his service as an intelligence officer in Dunkirk.
Zoological Society of London.