Who are our writers, and why do they contribute to the site without pay and with no real benefits? 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?
Nerd that I was, I started paying attention to birds when I was a pre-teen. We’re talking about the early 70’s here, in the San Francisco Bay Area. I still own my Golden Field Guide to the Birds of North America, © 1966. (OMG, I just noticed that I marked in the back of that book that I had seen the Golden Eagle and Varied Thrush!) Of course, back then, there weren’t any digital photography or apps, so I mostly put up a couple of bird feeders and kept a handwritten list of what I saw with my binoculars.
Has your attitude towards birding changed with time – for example, did it get intense, do you focus on different things now, etc.?
I continued to bird casually during my college years in Santa Barbara, California. But the pickings were slim in the desert city of Mexicali, Mexico, and I stopped birding during my early adult life. It wasn’t until 2013 that I realized I now live in a birding paradise here in Morelia. And since I found I was something of “a voice crying in the wilderness” back then, I felt the responsibility for finding the best spots, expanding knowledge of our local species, and encouraging others.
What were the ornithological highlights in your life so far?
In Mexico, it is SO easy to make scientific discoveries regarding our birds! There are few birders, and even fewer ornithologists, so a discovery awaits around every corner. My highlights include finding the world’s best site so far for seeing the Sinaloa Martin, Mexico’s westernmost spot to see migrating Hudsonian Godwits, and range expansions for many other species. Chasing vagrants is fun, but expanding knowledge is incredible.
Sinaloa Martin
Hudsonian Godwit
What are your plans for the next few years, as related to birding? For example, trips planned?
My life already involves a lot of travel, and my wife is not a birder, so I take advantage of work trips for birding in new places. Next February, we will be doing ministry work in the area around Cancún, but big birding will happen. And at 68 years of age, I’m starting to slow down a bit. So I’m improving the habitat of our little garden as fast as possible, in case that is what I’m limited to watching someday.
If you had to make a living off birding, what kind of activity would you try?
I don’t have the academic preparation for research work, so I guess I would be a guide, which I already do for free on occasion! But the dream would be to purchase, preserve, and improve prime habitat areas here in Mexico.
Your Life As A Non-Birder
What do you do for work?
I came to Mexico in 1983 to work with churches. Since then, I have worked with three and planted two more. I also composed and recorded 39 songs in the Mexican mariachi style. (You can hear them on YouTube by searching “Pablo Lewis”. That’s me in the charro suits.) Two years ago, we handed off our second church to younger pastors, but we are still helping there, and travel to where we are invited as guest speakers and, in my case, as a singer. As a side note, I am technically an American evangelical. Just so you’ll know, we don’t all hate the environment or humanity.
Is there any link between your work and birds/birding?
Not much! But birding is a great pressure release for this deeply introverted pastor! And traveling ministry has made it possible for me to bird in many parts of Mexico and the world.
What’s your favourite thing to do outside of birding?
I love to garden and cook. In recent years, I have mostly gardened for the birds, including on our half-hectare church lot, where I am doing what I can to create habitat.
How does your personal environment (e.g., partner, children, etc.) regard your interest in birds and birding?
Most people around me are, shall we say, bemused. My wife makes a half-hearted effort to act interested, but she does understand what a powerful force birding is for my mental and physical health. Our son has a mild interest in birds and, very occasionally, accompanies me. Our daughter can’t really understand any activity that doesn’t involve lots of talking. My grandchildren are a work in progress.
Birding General Info And Advice
What are some of your birding tips for beginners?
If you are a social creature, find other birders or a club. If not, feel free to find your very own sites and go off on your own. But birding buddies are great teachers and wonderful company, even for an introvert like me. And as Kenn Kaufmann once said, “Birdwatching is something that we do for enjoyment, so if you enjoy it, you are already a good birder. If you enjoy it a lot, you are a great birder.”
How important are apps for your birding?
eBird is the best! If it had been around when I birded in my youth, my official life list would be a good deal longer, as I can’t remember much of what, when, and where I saw back then. And Merlin is a wonder. I used it as a simple field guide for a couple of years. But when I finally tried the audio identification function, I thought, “What black magic is this?” However, anyone trying to use that function in less-birded areas like Mexico needs to know that Merlin’s ID functions are much less reliable away from Europe, Canada, and the United States.
Do you have any favourite birding-related media (e.g., books, podcasts, websites, magazines, videos, etc.) you can recommend?
If you find yourself birding in Mexico, your Bible will be Steve Howell’s A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. (Although we’re all waiting with bated breath for the updated version, after 30 years.) And in Michoacán, you need to set your Merlin to “all Mexico”, as the “west Mexico” version lacks many species.
Are there any aspects of birding you would like to learn more about (e.g., bird families, birding destinations, people involved in birding)?
I would love to improve my abilities at birding by ear. It’s embarrassing to be a musician and yet be so bad at that.
10,000 Birds
Why do you write for 10,000 Birds, other than for the fame and glory?
The downside to birding in the developing world is watching many of your favorite sites become avocado orchards or maguey plantations (for mezcal and tequila, which are having a moment). So I started contributing with the hope that it might bring some birders here, creating reasons for local landowners to conserve their properties. I also like writing. Plus the fame and glory, of course.
What do you like and dislike about the site? What should change?
This is absolutely not a complaint, but since the site became more active recently, I have trouble keeping up with so much content! And it is great to hear from people all over the world.
In an ideal world, who would you want to contribute to 10,000 Birds as well?
I would have absolutely no complaints about some content by Steve Howell. And if you know of some good material whose author only writes in Spanish, I would be happy to do the translation.
End
Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds – maybe an answer to a question we forgot to ask?
Come to southwestern Mexico! The endemics are great.
Cover Photo: ” I’m the old white guy” (Pablo Lewis)
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