Mike Blackbird, Pilchuck Audubon Society board president

Published 1:47 pm Monday, July 13, 2009

This story is part of a series on aptly named people. Read more and take a quiz on some famous aptonyms here.

Q: How did your name direct your hobby?

A: It didn’t at all. I just gravitated to birds. My wife and I, when we lived in Santa Barbara, when we were much younger, we discovered these white-tailed kites that were nesting. They are exceptionally beautiful birds and at one time endangered. It’s a member of the falcon family. Very streamlined.

A lot of birders are called to birding by what’s known as “the seminal bird,” something they all of a sudden see that piques their interest, and it goes from there.

Q: Would you change your name if you could and why or why not?

A: Heavens no. When you’re a kid, a name like Blackbird means you’ll suffer the traumas of childhood, and I don’t think back longingly about it. But as an adult, I think it’s distinctive. I don’t run into too many Blackbirds, though I have run into some, and it’s a strong name.

It’s not like, “I have the name Blackbird so I’ve gotta join the Audubon Society.” That isn’t how it happened. I didn’t give it a lot of thought. It has had more impact on people who meet me than it ever did for me personally.

And now I’m 6 foot tall and weigh 230 pounds and nobody picks on me anymore.

Q: If you could choose another career, what would it be?

A: One thing is that having spent a career in sales when I retire soon, I’m going to be spending more time as an advocate for Pilchuck. We view ourselves as the environmental conscience for Snohomish County, so as an advocate, I will be essentially a salesman.

Q: How do you know when someone has picked up on the fact that your name is an aptonym?

A: Many people say “That’s fitting.” Or they ask if I did that on purpose, and I often tell them it’s an aptonym, and then I generally have to explain what an aptonym is.

I never had heard the term before about three or four years ago and someone from your organization told me what it was, and I said, “Well, that’s cool. Now I have something to tell people.”

Q: How do people react to the combination of your name and hobby? Do they get it? Any funny stories as a result?

A: If they ask if I changed my name on purpose, I remind them that the executive director of the national Audubon society is a fellow by the name of Flicker, and that a Whatcom County Audubon guy is named “Woodcock,” so I guess the same questions could be asked of them.

Blackbird also is a sales manager for a health care company called Cardinal. His e-mail address is: mike.blackbird@cardinal.com.