We go to great lengths commemorating soldiers who have died fighting wars for their countries. Why not do the same for the naturalists who still sometimes give up everything in the effort to understand life?

Why not indeed? Because, really, is there a difference between the men who stormed the beach at Normandy and dudes who go to Peru looking for cool birds?

I mean, okay, blackbilled sapsuckers don't usually chase after you with bazookas. Cuplet ferns are utterly useless at planting land mines. And maybe scarlet tanagers won't invade Poland, but is that any consolation to a dude who finds himself underneath one in his best tweed coat?