A lifelong interest in animals led to a birdwatching hobby at the age of 12 (thanks in large part to the Smithsonian). 2 college degrees in biology led to a career teaching the subject. For the last 10 years I've been a member of the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee, and with the classes I teach and the cameras I've owned, my interests have broadened to include anything that grows or moves, and can actually be identified without dissections!