I've been fascinated with the natural world since I was a kid volunteering at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Studied natural resources at U. of Michigan and Cornell University, accidentally became obsessed with birds when I failed a quiz at the former, and studied them more formally at the latter. Peace Corps-Bolivia. Teaching high school Biology & Enviro. Sci. for the past 20 years.

Formative courses and influential teachers:
Natural History of Terrestrial Vertebrates (Terry Root)
Woody Plants (Burt Barnes)
Spring Wildflowers (USDA)
Tropical Ecology and Sustainable Development (School for Field Studies)
Entomology and Integrated Pest Mgt. (John Witter)
Limnology & Stream Ecology
Ornithology (David Winkler)