About 100 people gathered at Sunset Lake in Oak Bluffs Saturday for the unveiling of a statue dedicated to beloved Island naturalist Gus Ben David, who died last year at 81.

Work to dedicate a statue to Gus Ben David, the renowned Vineyard naturalist who died last year, is underway in Oak Bluffs. The select board voted last week to approve a statue of an osprey created by Barney Zeitz to be placed at Sunset Lake.

The Island community turned out Monday for a memorial gathering in memory of Island naturalist Gus Ben David, the original director of Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, who died July 4 at 81.

Augustus (Gus) D. Ben David 2nd, the Vineyard’s famed wildlife specialist and former director of Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, died on July 4 at his home in Edgartown after an extended illness.

To raise a golden eagle, according to Gus Ben David, you need a way of life and time. But even he didn’t know how much time he would give to Chameli, his 40-year-old longtime educational partner.

Each spring, Gus Ben David makes sure he has a large group of hens in various stage of motherhood. He’s not doing this because he loves chicken eggs and baby chicks, though. He’s maintaining a roster of foster moms.