| Place a Classified | Subscribe today | July 10, 2009 |
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It's for the birds
POCATELLO — Chuck Trost is as avid of a bird enthusiast as you’ll find.
A school project at his Harrisburg, Penn., junior high more than 60 years ago turned the 73-year-old on to his life-long passion. The one-time Idaho State professor has visited 23 countries since his retirement, mainly to bird watch. “All bird nuts are a little crazy,” he said. Trost earned his undergraduate degree at Penn State, his masters from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles — all in zoology.
As a professor at ISU, he taught ornithology, animal behavior, comparative anatomy and physiology in his 32 years at the school. Now Trost spends his time traveling whenever he can, and fulfilling his role as president of the Portneuf Valley Audubon Society, which is made up of 250 members.
His main area of interest in bird study is the magpie, calling himself “the defender of the bird most people hate.” His interest in magpies peaked in the ’70s when one of his students did a presentation on the black-and-white bird. The bird lover took some time out of his travels to sit down with the Journal for 20 questions.
Let the questions begin: ISJ: What’s your favorite food?
CT: Vegetarian meals. I eat a lot of salads. I’m not a strict vegetarian because I eat fish and chicken, but I don’t eat much red meat. ISJ: If you could have dinner with one famous person, who would it be?
CT: John James Audubon. He was the first bird nut. ISJ: Who inspired you the most?
CT: Mr. Knorr, my junior high biology teacher. ISJ: If you could return to any age, what age would you be and why?
CT: 73. I’ve figured it out and I’m enjoying the hell out of myself. ISJ: What was the last good book you read?
CT: “The Galapagos.” It’s a Smithsonian publication by John Kricher. ISJ: What’s your favorite sport? CT: Bird watching. I also mountain bike, hike and cross-country ski. ISJ: What was your favorite vacation? CT: The one I just got back from. I went to Big Bend National Park in Southwest Texas. It has huge mountains and it’s on the Rio Grande. I saw a Colima Warbler there. It’s a beautiful bird. ISJ: What was the best day of your life? CT: The day I retired from ISU. Or the day I was hired there. I can’t decide. ISJ: What’s the worst day? CT: Something to do with basic training in the Army. ISJ: What’s in your refrigerator? CT: Thai food from Lava Hot Springs. ISJ: What’s under your bed? Article RatingReader CommentsSubmit a CommentCommenting RulesWe encourage your feedback and dialog. All comments are subject to deletion by our Web staff.
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