Introduction

Hello, my name is Austin Roe, I am currently a junior at Kansas State University studying Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation. During the Summer of 2017, I worked for the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP) bird crew. On the MOFEP crew, we conducted point counts in forest stands that are being harvested in different ways to see how they may affect bird populations. This is where I first started learning how to identify birds by both sight and sound. I have also helped mist net and band birds on the Konza Prairie. Most importantly, I am an avid eBirder.

A lot of people ask me, "Why would you count birds?" Which gives me the opportunity to inform them on how you can go birding anywhere and any time and how it can help to support conservation.

Birds are all around us and I think it's really fun to see how a species can be in two totally different environments during the same time of the year.

My long term birding goal is to go birding in all 50 states. So far I am up to six, and they haven't always been the most productive outings. So if you like my posts and have a great birding spot in your area that I should check out, don't be afraid to let me hear about it.

I encourage people to get out and go birding, but also to try taking a friend with you and teach them how to identify birds. You might be amazed at how much you can share with someone and how much you can learn by teaching them about birds that you might identify every day.

I also encourage you to teach a child about birding. It's always great to get young people interested in any outdoor activity, especially one that is educational and can help to get people involved in conservation.

If you are a birder, you may have heard of a birding big year. If you're not a birder or you haven't heard of a birding big year, it's a challenge that you can set for yourself, or to compete against other birders and try to observe as many species as you can.

So come join me as I try and live my Birding Big Life.