The Birdman of Koshkonong: The Life of Naturalist Thure Kumlien

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Thure Kumlien, a Swedish American settler, studied birds and plants around Lake Koshkonong, Wisconsin, during the mid- to late 1800s. While not as renowned as contemporaries like John Muir or Aldo Leopold, Kumlien shared their deep knowledge and respect for the natural world. His work left a lasting impact on Wisconsin writers such as Walter Havighurst, Lorine Neidecker, and Sterling North. Born in 1819 to a wealthy family in Skaraborg, Sweden, he received a solid education and pursued his passion for collecting specimens. He attended Uppsala University, where he studied under Carl Linnaeus, and traveled to the Baltic Islands for his research. In 1843, Kumlien and his wife, Christine, were among the first Swedes to emigrate to Wisconsin. His expertise in natural history quickly gained recognition, and he sent specimens, including bird skins and nests, to museums and collectors in Europe and the Eastern U.S., including the Smithsonian. Kumlien also taught languages and science at Albion Academy, mentoring young Edward Lee Greene, who would become a notable botanist. He contributed to the University of Wisconsin by preparing natural history exhibits and eventually became the first curator and third employee of the Milwaukee Public Museum.