Links and Resources
This section is still under construction, and I suppose it always will be, as the community of naturalists and conservationists continues to evolve. Throughout my career I have worked on an independent or freelance basis, but none of us really works alone, and I have been fortunate to be involved with many fine organizations, companies, and publications. In this section I list some of those entities (in no particular order) and provide links that may prove useful to others interested in nature.
I joined the National Audubon Society when I was nine years old, and have worked with the society since 1984 in various capacities, currently as a field editor for the prestigious Audubon magazine. Audubon was formerly considered mostly a bird organization. Today it addresses a wider array of conservation issues, but birds, wildlife, and their habitats remain important to its mission.
My current "home" organization is the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, headquartered very near my home in northwestern Ohio. Typical of the work done by the best bird observatories around the world, BSBO carries on projects in both research and education, all with the ultimate goal of contributing to the conservation of birds and other natural resources.
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History is headquartered in Jamestown, New York, birthplace of the great naturalist-artist Peterson. The Institute is important as an archive of RTP's papers, artwork, and photographs, but its major focus is on carrying on Peterson's work in nature education. Through its programs in educating teachers and providing educational materials, it has touched the lives of millions of students throughout North America.
The American Birding Association was founded in 1969, and I joined as a teenager just a couple of years later, so I feel almost like a founding member. I have no official connection with the ABA at the moment, but in the past I have served on their board of directors and have spoken at many of their conventions. ABA publishes two journals and a newsletter, all essential reading for serious birders.
The Ohio Young Birders Club is a new organization that is already helping to bring together a new generation of birders and naturalists across this state. Full membership is available for those in the 12 to 18 years old age bracket, while adults can join as supporting members. My wife Kim is the adult coordinator of this group, so I get to go along on some of their adventures.
