Biographical entry Chandler, Leslie Gordon (1888 - 1980)

Summary

Leslie Gordon Chandler was one of Australia's earliest bird photographers. He participated in Australia's first bird-banding scheme in 1912, using his skills as a jeweller to design metal bands that were not injurious to the birds' legs.

Details

Born Malvern, Victoria, 11 January 1888. Died Mildura, 25 January 1980. Jeweller 1903-15;15th field ambulance 1915-18; gassed 1918, discharged medically unfit 1919; took up a block at Red Cliffs as a soldier settler 1921 and established a vineyard there; had a travelling portfolio of nature photographs from 1922; published articles in a large number of journals and newspapers; nature correspondent, Sunraysia Daily. Member, Bird Observers' Club from 1907, Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union from 1910 and Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria from 1914; foundation member, Sunraysia Field Naturalists' Club 1949; foundation member, Mildura Historical Society. Involved in having the Hattah-Kulkyne area declared a National Park in 1960. His nom-de-plume was 'Oriole'.

Published resources

Book Sections

• Kloot, Tess, 'Chandler, Leslie Gordon (1888-1980), Journalist, Ornithologist and Encylopaedist', in John Ritchie (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 13, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1993, p. 401. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130445b.htm. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Chandler, Leslie Gordon', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1463814. Details

See also

• Robin, Libby, The Flight of the Emu: a Hundred Years of Australian Ornithology 1901-2001, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 2001, 492 pp. Details