GEOH-002. Lydia Thompson interviewed by Betsy Bean, September 23, 2013.
Lydia Thompson discusses her early life in Natchez, Miss., and her father's influence on her dedication to birds and the environment. Thompson discusses Operation Plover Patrol, which she founded to educate and raise awareness for Wilson's Plovers. She discusses various studies and tracking programs that she has been involved with, including Seaturtle.org, the College of William & Mary's whimbrel tracking, and banding birds.
Thompson discusses the filming of the major motion picture Glory on Jekyll Island in 1988 and the environmental implications of that process. She discusses the monetizing of conservation movements and the public's reception to her education and outreach efforts. Thompson talks about cleaning up the Andrew's Island Causeway with the Audobon Society, the dwinding bird populations on the south end of Jekyll Island, how dogs on the beach affect migratory birds, and the importance of empathetic communication in environmental outreach. Thompson also discusses the conservation plan for Jekyll and the implications of the 65/35 clause. She talks about getting the Georgia coast recognized as a birdwatching destination in the late 1990s and efforts to make the beach more accessible to those with disabilities.
For more information, please see the Russell Library Finding Aid for the Georgia Environmental Oral History Collection:
http://purl.libs.uga.edu/russell/RBRL345GEOH/findingaid