About
A naturalist's life on Long Island.
I grew up in Miller Place and I've been walking these woods, beaches, and bays since I could walk anywhere. I'm 23. I lead programs across Suffolk County and write about what I find.
How it started
I was eleven years old when I watched The Big Year — the 2011 movie about three guys chasing a North American bird record. I walked outside with a pair of binoculars and never really came back in. What started as a kid's obsession turned into a career.
Today I work as a wildlife biologist and environmental educator. I lead the Young Birders Club at the South Fork Natural History Museum, run owl walks and winter sea-duck tours, and teach people of all ages how to read the landscape they live in.
In 2025 I dedicated the year to a Suffolk County Big Year and ended with 319 species — the new county record. Ninety-three percent of those birds I found on my own, rather than chasing other people's reports. That part matters to me. The full story's here.
What I tell young birders
Make it your own. Go out on your own, with a parent who is not going to be doing anything for you. Birding is a perfect antidote to screen time.
The Merlin app helps people get into the hobby — that's real. But for younger people, it makes the game a little too easy. The slow version, the one where you sit with a bird until you actually see it, is the version that sticks.
If you're just starting out, I also recommend the documentary Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching — it's free on YouTube and it's honest about why people do this.
Affiliations
Where you'll find me
Wildlife Biologist & Educator
Bridgehampton, NY
Environmental Educator
Brookhaven, NY
- Eastern Long Island Audubon Society
Speaker & Program Partner
Center Moriches, NY
- Quogue Wildlife Refuge
Program Collaborator
Quogue, NY
- Wildwood State Park
Park Ranger (2025 season)
Wading River, NY
Want to come out into the field?
I run public programs through SOFO and CEED, and I'm available for private walks, talks, and bookings.