A Good Birding Companion. Maris P. Apse 1942-2016

Sunrise at Long Point Tip

It is with heavy heart that I write this post.  Just as I sat down for supper this evening, I received a call my friend Pete Chapman  indicating Maris Apse had died.  It was just last Monday I talked to Maris at the Lambton Wildlife Meeting and we talked about recent birds and the upcoming season.  He talked about chasing Gyrfalcons on the Toronto waterfront, as well as our experiences looking for the Heerman's Gull.

I first met Maris over twenty years ago at Rondeau Park.  He always stopped for birding on weekends in May.  I never really knew Maris at first, but he seemed to be a regular visitor and eventually I got to know him. We became good friends.
He taught school in Oakville and was keen on nature and birds.
Upon retirement he and his wife Penny built a house in Beach 'O Pines at Grand Bend.

We spent many times doing Christmas Bird Counts, doing OFO field trips, and in the summer, butterfly counts.

In July 2007, along with Heather Campbell and Diane Salter, Maris and I spent four days at the Tip of Long Point.  It was a lot of fun.

In recent years, Maris always helped me in my section of the Rondeau CBC, Wallaceburg CBC and some others.  It was always a joy to have him along on these or any outing.

Maris and Penny were so friendly and I always enjoyed their company.  When my father died, they came down from Grand Bend for a visit even though they had never met him.  That really meant a lot to me.

I do not know what else to say, but there is now a big void in my hobby of birding/nature.
You will always be remembered, Maris!