My first memory of watching gulls is perhaps the most boorish “spark-bird” story of all time. I was between classes as an undergraduate, where I found myself pitching French fries to a flock of gulls in a parking lot. One fearless bird stood on the hood of my car, and that short encounter left an impression on me. The feeding continued for some days. Drawn by their bold approach, I started to pay more attention to gulls and seek them out in different places.

When I learned of Sabine’s, Ross’s and Ivory Gulls, a monomaniacal impulse was triggered in me and I began enlisting birders to take long cross-country trips and red-eye flights to “twitch” these species. The fact that they’re relatively large birds, out in the open, and often very obliging makes them even more rewarding to watch.

What aspect of Japan are you most interested in?

Japan must be the most alluring land mass in all of Asia. The wide range of ecosystems and climatic zones, on a relatively small island, is unmatched. Very appealing to many birders and nature lovers, including myself, are the spectacles of large bird congregations at such close range.

When not thinking about birds and pursuing nature adventures, I turn my attention to photography. Over the years I’ve become fixated on landscape photography, although I’ve found it is very difficult to focus on this pastime as birds are always in my peripheral.

Yes. Black Rail. I’ve heard tales of people seeing them in the flesh, but I’m not sure I believe them.

Many! The greatest birding adrenaline rush I’ve experienced is chumming a stubborn Slaty-backed Gull across state lines from Indiana into Illinois. The bird had been spotted the night before in Indiana waters, and I resolved to chumming it into Illinois. We relocated this fine Asian gem resting on an ice shelf the next morning. The only problem was it was sleeping a half mile out in Indiana. Some 15 birders stood in my shadow as I began lobbing fish parts into a frozen Lake Michigan. Much to everyone’s surprise, the gull took flight and made a beeline for us, landing directly where we were posted.  Immaculate views were had of what was the first record for Chicago.

Many people have influenced me as a birder, but more than any other single person is the late Wes Serafin. Wes had an encyclopedic knowledge of everything nature-related, especially birds. A great mentor and friend, his willingness to patiently instruct me in my early birding years greatly improved my field craft.

My wife is forever in awe by my passion for birds. She isn’t a birder, but she certainly appreciates and supports what I do. She finds my obsession with gulls to be eccentric, and for lack of a better word, suspect.

My twelve-year-old daughter’s fascination with butterflies has rubbed off on me in recent years. Taking her in the field to observe and study butterflies, as well as attending various workshops and festivals with her, has turned me into a closet lep-lover.