Lenwood Ballard Carson

Lenwood Ballard Carson was an American naturalist and bird writer whose work helped introduce readers to the birdlife of Kansas. Project Gutenberg identifies him as L. B. Carson (Lenwood Ballard), 1895–1968, and his best-known books, Introduction to Our Bird Friends, Volume 1 and Volume 2, present bird profiles in an easy, approachable style.

An in memoriam published by the Kansas Ornithological Society says he was born on August 31, 1895, in Oregon City, Oregon, and grew up in Montgomery County, Kansas. He later lived in Topeka, worked for many years in banking, and remained deeply involved in ornithology and conservation alongside his professional career.

That same memorial describes him as a charter member of the Kansas Ornithological Society, an early member of the Topeka Audubon Society, and the founder and longtime editor of the Topeka Audubon News. He died on May 19, 1968, while still revising his bird booklet—a fitting final note for a writer remembered for sharing careful observations and encouraging others to look more closely at the natural world.