George Waterston (1911–1980) was an ornithologist and conservationist in Scotland. He was Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Scotland. He lived at 21 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh where he co-founded what was the Midlothian Ornithologists' Club and is now the Scottish Ornithologists' Club.[1] He was their President, Secretary, Treasurer and Hon. President at various times. He was also one of the founders of the Scottish Arctic Club with its Waterston Arctic Library, now held by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
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George Waterston is probably best known for his interest in Fair Isle which he first visited in 1935 as a young man. He had great plans for the island, but these were interrupted by World War II. Whilst a prisoner of war, he laid plans for a bird observatory and birdwatchers' hostel, but also for other aspects of island life, e.g. a marketing scheme for the island's products, including Fair Isle knitwear. In addition, he, along with John Buxton and Peter Conder, conducted ornithological work in prisoner-of-war camps. [2], [3]
He bought the island in 1947 and sold it for the same sum of money to the National Trust for Scotland in 1954.
George Waterston tried to encourage other conservationists, among them Donald Watson, the wildlife artist; the Art Gallery at Waterston House is named after him.
Two bird-related centres bear George Waterston's name:
Brown, P and Waterston, G. (1962). The Return of the Osprey. Collins.