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Natural Wonders

July 21st, 2026

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I’m reading from one of the 10 books that Fran Hamerstrom authored, My Double Life, Memoirs of a Naturalist

It’s been awhile since we’ve been on adventures with Fran. You can find my previous readings online under -podcasts -archives.  Great stories are always guaranteed to be found in her books. 

From the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame (wchf.org) about the Hamerstroms;

Married in 1931, the Hamerstroms forged one of the most remarkable wildlife ecology teams. Research fellows under Aldo Leopold, the Hamerstroms have become best known for their work with prairie chickens at the Central Wisconsin Game Project near Neenah and the Prairie Grouse Research Unit in Plainfield. Their work was the basis for the conservation effort which saved the prairie chicken from extirpation in Wisconsin.

Together and individually, the Hamerstrom published over 100 professional papers and many reviews of ornithological literature. Frances also published 10 books. Frederick was a highly skilled technical writer and editor. He edited the books that Fran wrote – the last one only two days before his death. He also edited technical papers for several journals and was the Principal Referee for Raptor Research.