Bob Beck

Bob Beck (September 2, 1944 – May 24, 2008) was a zoologist and conservationist known for his work in saving Guam's indigenous native birds. From 1982 to 2003, Beck dedicated his efforts to protecting species such as the Mariana crow, rufous fantail, Guam flycatcher, Guam kingfisher, and Guam rail, also known as ko'ko' in Chamorro. These birds faced threats of extinction due to the non-native brown tree snake and habitat loss. While the rufous fantail and Guam flycatcher are now extinct in the wild, Beck's conservation efforts led to an increase in the captive and wild populations of the Mariana crow, Guam rail, and Micronesian kingfisher. Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Beck graduated from Hagerstown High School in 1962 and obtained a bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in zoology.