Retired naturalist now living at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon after traveling and volunteering at wildlife refuges, national parks, and state parks across the United States for 7 years. Primary interest was birds but I have stumbled down an insect and arachnid rabbit hole in the past few years.

I prefer to take my photographs in situ and I don't collect. Many of my photographs are taken on National Wildlife Refuges or National Parks/Monuments where collecting (or using callback for birds) is prohibited without obtaining a special permit. As a volunteer, I am occasionally permitted to be in areas that are not open to the general public as well as be present on site before and after visitation hours. I generally note this in my observations for clarity.

Since I am living year-round at the North Rim, I'm excited to see what I can find during the winter months when the road is closed. (Public access only on foot by hiking or snowshoeing in from the Arizona or North Kaibab Trails with a backcountry permit.)

My purpose in submitting observations is to add to the growing pool of scientific data, help provide information on what species occur at locations where I am volunteering, and to increase my knowledge of the natural world around me.