Member since: January 01, 2016

I started birding after losing interest in rock climbing at age 12 due to a fear of heights. My uncle was involved in the reintroduction of Peregrine Falcons in our area of East Germany, and I guess that got me interested. I like being outside, and numbers and lists, and back then kept a tally of the breeding pairs of Red-backed Shrikes and Whinchats on my local patch as well as a list of rarities over the year. We've been in Philadelphia since 2016, and most of my birding now happens within the city limits. My local patch is FDR Park, but I like to explore other places few people go to, like East and West Fairmount Park, Pennypack Park, Tacony Creek and Poquessing Creek Parks, as well as other (maybe obscure) locations.
I've been leading walks for BirdPhilly since 2019, and since 2025, have been hosting a walk series with the Free Library to promote the birding backpacks. Since 2021, I have been the Editor of DVOC's Cassinia, and since 2017, I have been writing the Philly seasonal reports for PSO's PA Birds. I also organize the Philadelphia Breeding Bird and Mid-Winter Bird Censuses, and I am a regional coordinator for the 3rd PA Breeding Bird Atlas covering six counties in the SE region. And lastly, since 2021, I've been an eBird reviewer for Philly County.