Some readers—possibly relatives of our writers—suggested starting a series of interviews with them. Who are these writers, and why do they contribute to the site without pay and with no real benefits (I’m still waiting for groupies to show up when I’m out birding)? We thought they deserved a proper introduction, so we started this series to find out.
Your Birding History And Future
How long have you been a birder, and how did you get into birding?
I may have been a birder all my life and didn’t know it. I’ve looked at, listened to, and read about birds from as far back as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories involve birds. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl that appeared on the fence post at dusk one night, then disappeared – I never saw it fly in or out. I would stare at vultures and pick out which were Black and which were Turkey. I didn’t know their names, though, and my knowledge was from North American books. So I would call our Tropical Mockingbirds “roadrunners”, for example. It was only when I was in my 20s that I learned about this strange thing called birding.
Has your attitude towards birding changed with time – for example, did it get intense, do you focus on different things now, etc.?
My discovery of birding involved photographing birds I didn’t know and trying to figure out what they were on the internet. When I saw the list of birds of Trinidad & Tobago on Wikipedia, I was entirely flabbergasted by the sheer number of birds I literally grew up around and never saw. Thus, the first few years involved a lot of twitching and documenting everything. Over time, my focus shifted considerably to a place of respecting them more than anything. I may twitch a sighting if I feel like it. That’s come back to bite me in the butt, however.
What were the ornithological highlights in your life so far?
To continue from my previous answer, I have been asked to co-author a photographic guide to the birds of Trinidad & Tobago – that is to be published in 2027 by Bloomsbury. While reviewing the species list, I couldn’t help but recall several instances of rare bird sightings I could have (and should have) twitched but opted against. Had I pushed the pedal to the metal for those, I may have had fewer missing links in my image library. I would say that’s my highlight, even though it is yet to happen. After that is released, there may be another, similar publication in the works – the details of which would be released in due course.
What are your plans for the next few years, as related to birding? For example, trips planned?
As long as I’m breathing, I’ll be appreciating birds, wherever I am. In 2026, I’m leading a few trips in the Caribbean, and by mid-year, I’ll be back in Africa doing back-to-back tours in Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. I’m hoping to make it to Patagonia before the end of the year, too, so I’m keeping fingers crossed for that.
If you had to make a living off birding, what kind of activity would you try?
Somehow, I do make a living off birding – I offer birding tours to various destinations.
Your Life As A Non-Birder
What do you do for work?
I go birding. Well, I also try to make a positive difference in the world in whichever way possible. Activism is something that I also do because I have no choice. I cannot sit by and look at the world burn and say nothing.
Is there any link between your work and birds/birding?
Sometimes I tend to use the lessons learned in the natural world to speak to another issue, for example, the link between Trinidad and continental South America, which I have written about recently in a local newspaper in response to our government’s intentions to sever ties with nearby Venezuela, as well as the wider Caribbean Community. I often direct people to birds as a form of therapy and an accessible form of reconnection to nature.
What’s your favourite thing to do outside of birding?
I am a hobbyist musician – bass guitar is my machine of choice to transcend. When birding is your life and your job, it can be difficult to get time away from work, and that is where music plays an invaluable role. When I’m playing music, nothing else exists.
How does your personal environment (e.g., partner, children, etc.) regard your interest in birds and birding?
My wife manages an eco-lodge in Trinidad, so we live in a very birdy place when we are in T&T, with over 170 species recorded on the property. I may have written about my new backyard on this blog before. She is also a closet birder and wildlife artist.
Birding General Info And Advice
What are some of your birding tips for beginners?
Concentrate on the common birds. Spend time observing and appreciating them. Birding is about the birds; however, how you choose to enjoy them is entirely up to you. Look, listen, photograph, record, smile, or simply be thankful to share a world with these modern-day dinosaurs.
How important are apps for your birding?
I’m tech-resistant and already have my hands full with binoculars and a camera, so I don’t use my phone much in the field unless I’m doing a survey. In which case, I’ll use eBird to record my sightings. I’ve tried Merlin, but haven’t had good experiences with it.
Do you have any favourite birding-related media (e.g., books, podcasts, websites, magazines, videos, etc.) you can recommend?
Have you ever heard of this birding blog called 10,000 Birds?
Are there any aspects of birding you would like to learn more about (e.g., bird families, birding destinations, people involved in birding)?
I’m always very interested in learning about the birds themselves and the stories they have to share. Sometimes the stories are in their physiology, sometimes in their sociology. Sometimes things happen in the field that are inexplicable, undocumented, and will remain part of the unspoken magic that is the natural world.
10,000 Birds
Why do you write for 10,000 Birds, other than for the fame and glory?
I didn’t know there were other reasons beyond fame and glory. Okay, there is the detail that I enjoy writing about birds and birding; this blog gives me a fine outlet for that creative itch.
What do you like and dislike about the site? What should change?
I understand that the “golden age of blogging” is long past us, and that we’re currently not in a golden age of anything – but I love the consistent contributions of writing. To have access to a community of writers and, more importantly, readers who appreciate what we put out is such a welcome whiff of fresh, cool air in the sea of AI slop.
In an ideal world, who would you want to contribute to 10,000 Birds as well?
I’d love to see some naturalist poets involved.
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