After several years living in the south, I moved back to upstate NY in December 2004, and am currently living in Ravena. From December 2004 until February 2007 I worked as a Staff Ecologist for Audubon International, a small non-profit environmental organization based in Selkirk, NY. Due in part to financial reasons, I decided to follow a different career path, and am now working full-time for Stewart's Shops, and in their Manager Training program, with the eventual goal of becoming a store manager. I am currently working in their Ravena store. **Update** Being a store manager is not for me, and I have dropped out of the manager training program and am hoping to return to the environmental field as soon as I can!!! I grew up in Athens, where my family owns a 100 acre farm, and I attended Coxsackie-Athens High School (Class of 1993). I am really enjoying being back in the area again, close to my family, although winter was a bit of a shock after all those years down south! Prior to this move, I worked as a wildlife biologist in the Everglades for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, doing such things as wildlife surveys, prescribed burning, and exotic plant control. I have also worked for Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando and the San Antonio Zoo in San Antonio, Texas. At both of those I worked as an animal keeper in the bird department, working with a wide variety of birds from around the world, as well as a few reptile species. I attended SUNY ESF and Syracuse University, graduating in May '97, with a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Biology.
Some of my interests are wildlife/nature, gardening, hiking, travel, photography, history, genealogy, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars. I am a big fan of the 2005 NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles NFL team and of Canadian singer Avril Lavigne and the British group Mediaeval Baebes. My interests in history lie in the areas of ancient history, medieval/renaissance, and local (Greene County, NY ) history. I am also very interested in ancient Celtic culture and all aspects of Paganism. I collect all sorts of stuff, including coins, stamps, antiques, books, and items featuring wildlife (especially birds) and nautical/lighthouse themes.
I am particularly interested in birds, especially birds of prey and parrots, and am also very interested in bird conservation efforts taking place around the globe, especially in the Caribbean region. I belong to several bird and conservation related organizations, including the National Audubon Society, Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds, and the World Parrot Trust. I am also very interested in dinosaurs and other extinct animals, as well as mythological creatures like dragons.
I have a old dog named Rico who I got as a puppy back in 2000 when I was living in Orlando. He is a dachshund-chihuahua mix, and you can find a photo of him on my photo page. Finally, and best of all, I have a wonderful girlfriend named Jenny, who grew up in the Toronto area, and hopes to be living with me soon! We found each other thanks to the internet!
Well, that tells you a little bit about me and some of my interests. Thanks for stopping by, and please come again! If you have any questions or comments for me, please let me know. Have a nice day!
***NEW (July 2006)*** I have developed a short survey about the environment that I have sent out to various government officials, religious leaders, corporate CEOs, wildlife experts, and other people. As results come in, I am posting them on a blog I created for the project, which you can access by clicking HERE. I hope you will find it interesting!! As of April 2008, I have gotten back more than 340 responses, with more coming in all the time.
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