Robert Deshan Camp

An avid field scientist and fauna expert in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (1908-29), Camp did early brown pelican banding, as well as bird, animal, snail and unionid collecting, helping pin down south Texas baseline range and population estimates. He also hosted numerous ornithologists visiting the Brownsville area, including Pearson, Pemberton, Bent, de Laubenfels and Friedman. As well, Camp served as U.S. deputy game warden (1920-29) and as Cameron County warden for the Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission (1925-26). Importantly, he was also involved in the early days of the leasing of coastal rookery islands to Audubon and worked as the first Texas sanctuary warden, protecting Green Island in the Lower Laguna Madre.