Ben

“There’s hardly a friend that I have that I haven’t brought to High Island.”

Ben has served in the past as President of Houston Audubon and is passionate about High Island

What's special about High Island?

This is first and foremost a nature sanctuary.  Secondly, it's a place where people can connect with nature. Anybody can appreciate the rookery. They'll always go away with an idea of conservation and the connection they made with the natural world, which you don't get to see as much in Houston.

How has technology changed in your time as a birder?

The main thing that's changed is cameras. 10 years ago, you might see 1 person out of 10 with a long lens. Now, there's 6 or 7. That's the number one thing that's changed. 

What advice would you give to someone new to birding?

Learn your birds from your yard out- There's no substitute for time in the field.  It's like fishing I call it T.O.W. (Time On the Water) You can read all the books, watch all the videos  but there's no substitute for that image that you have where you just know 

When you go to a new area, don't make the bird book your inventory of possibilities. Narrow it down and do your homework, and know the common birds before you get there.