Besides being an eBird fanatic, I'm a camera-toting naturalist, and I try to use artistic lighting and composition where possible. Technically, I'm a retired naturalist, but I continue to contribute data to citizen science programs like eBird and iNat. Most recently, I worked at the Montezuma Audubon Center in Savannah, NY. Prior to that I was the part-time naturalist and environmental educator at Bayberry Environmental Education Center until it closed.
Since 1974, Donna and I have been exploring the Great Outdoors, mainly in the Northeast U.S. and Mid-Atlantic regions, plus several extended cross-country trips and a trip along the Great Lakes' north shore. My nature skills were refined trying to identify what I photographed.
My outdoor life started as an amateur astronomer in high school, added physics and geology in college, then after moving to Rochester, NY, I added birding, botany, mycology and other natural sciences thanks to the Rochester Academy of Science. Nature photography is the thread that still holds them together. In the 80's and 90's I was a professional stock photographer, taught Adult Continuing Education classes and workshops on nature photography, developed two series of nature slide programs on ecology and birding, and led birding hikes, nature photography programs and family nature walks at the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage in southwestern New York. Many of my skills started in the early 70's as an assistant scout master and merit badge counselor in nature, botany, birds, wildlife, weather and related fields.
You can also find me on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northeastnaturalist
the northeast naturalist blog: http://northeastnaturalist.blogspot.com/
the Adirondack Naturalist blog: http://adirondacknaturalist.blogspot.com/
A Naturalist's Viewpoint: http://davespier.tumblr.com/
and a few more of my photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave_spier and https://picasaweb.google.com/113480357145545980499