Have you always been into birds? Or the outdoors?
I have always been an outdoor person. Some of my first memories are of camping trips with my family. My mother grew up camping as a vacation and passed it on to us. Our main thing to do after setting up camp was fishing but we would go swimming, hiking, boating (rowing and canoeing), and searching for snakes! I noticed birds and admired them on these outings, but they were not why I was there.
My introduction to birds came later in life and literally changed my life. I got a temporary job to create a conservation directory for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s North American Wetland & Waterfowl Office (NAWWO). After the directory was finished, I was eventually hired permanently for web and graphic design projects. These projects involved working with pictures of waterfowl, thus I got good at identifying ducks, geese and swans. NAWWO grew and became Bird Habitat Conservation. I started working with Duck Stamps and the Migratory Birds program and my knowledge of birds grew.
Being able to identify birds changed my relationship with the outdoors. When I go fishing, swimming or boating, I am also bird watching. Hiking changed the most. It used to be just as much about the miles and difficulty as the view. Now it is all about the view, especially the birds.
Does your family enjoy birds too?
One of the side effects of bird watching is how it affects your family. My eldest is probably the most into bird watching but all have upped their game. After years of pointing out birds on vacations, family get-togethers, random outings and even trips to the grocery store everyone is on board. My mother, brothers, aunts and friends will text pics to me to help with their IDs.
How did you get started with photography?
My father was the family photographer. His background was as a librarian and historian. He was big into photography because there were not many images of our ancestors and he wanted to make sure future generations had a window into the past. I became his defacto assistant and that expanded to me taking photos of everything. This only exploded with the development of digital technology, which meant the cost of actually developing photos disappeared.
I got more into bird watching and working with photos for work; and soon came to the realization that I am much better at IDing birds from a picture than in the field. That led to me taking a camera everywhere because you never know when a new bird may come into your life.
What has being in the Migratory Bird Program taught you or inspired you about birds?
MB has not only introduced me to bird watching but also allowed me to share it with everyone I know. Note: I do not consider myself a birder. This may be because my mentors are at the top of the field. I love going out with my coworkers and I am amazed by their birding skills. I am never going to be able to id 50-100 birds based off songs nor wing beats and size as a bird flashes into view. But I do love birds, and I have settled in a space that fits me all because of them.
What’s your favorite bird?
Hooded merganser. Just think they look cool.
