My Approach to Nature
 Kenn Kaufman in the field. Photo by Kimberly Kaufman.

I was fortunate to become enthralled by nature at a young age. Having concluded that the elephants and bears and whales in my picture books were unlikely to appear in our suburban Indiana neighborhood, I set my sights on wild birds, launching a fascination that has never waned. Pursuit of birds led me to notice other aspects of nature as well, and to travel around the world, ultimately seeing those elephants, bears, and whales in the wild after all. But I continue to be amazed and delighted by the diversity of living things that can be found even in everyday surroundings.

The pursuit of natural history is rewarding, exciting, and lots of fun, but it is more than mere recreation. Far from being an escape from reality, it is actually a connection to reality: an escape from the "unreal" elements that surround us in life.
My wife Kim took this photo while we were leading a field trip for the Ohio Young Birders Club.
Early on I considered a career as a professional biologist. But science usually demands a sharp focus on a limited set of subjects, and I wanted to look at all of nature, so I opted for life as a freelance naturalist and writer. This freedom came with a price; I lived below the poverty line until I was well into my thirties, and even today I have to keep initiating new projects rather than coasting along and expecting a paycheck. Still, I have been fortunate to be associated with several fine organizations, companies, and publications (most of them listed on this site under Links and Resources) that have allowed me to work regularly without sacrificing my independence.
Peregrine Falcon in flight I have traveled on all seven continents and have lived in seven states of the U.S., and today I live with my wife Kim in northwestern Ohio, a short distance from the renowned bird-migration hotspots of Magee Marsh and Crane Creek. Kim is also an accomplished naturalist, currently education director for the Black Swamp Bird Observatory and adult coordinator of the Ohio Young Birders Club (see under Links and Resources). Kim and I both wind up putting a tremendous amount of time and energy into communicating with the public, simply trying to get more people excited about the natural world. Much of the work that we do is unpaid, or pays very little, but it's not our goal to make money. We'd rather make a difference.
The world of nature is the real world

I am convinced that many of the worst challenges we face, both as individuals and as a civilization, could be solved by a greater awareness of the natural world. Problems and disagreements that seem insurmountable when viewed up close become more manageable when we step back and look at them from the perspective of a greater distance. Nature can give us that perspective, reminding us of the abundance and diversity that surrounds us, the connections among all living things, and the timeless cycles of rebirth and renewal in the natural world.
All photos, drawings, and text on this web site are by Kenn Kaufman unless noted otherwise. Copyrighted, all rights reserved.