Captain Bill
“I’ve been a pursuer of things all my life- a commercial fisherman, hunting guide, a fishing guide, a bird guide. I like finding things I guess.”
Captain Bill took us out on the Snow Goose to Eastern Egg Rock to view the puffins.
How did you get started birding?
I was 4 [years old] and my grandfather made me a bird feeder. I remember the first bird I ever identified. It was a Slate-colored Junco. I bird recreationally... I bird almost part of every day. You know, I've always been interested. I've always paid attention to em when I was a fisherman offshore. I've been a pursuer of things all my life. A commercial fisherman, a hunting guide, a fishing guide, a bird guide. I like finding things I guess.
Birding is...
An adventure!
Whats the best part of taking out young birders from Hog Island?
The enthusiasm! They grew up in an electronic age. They have so much more exposure. What were those bird books we had when we were a kid? Now they have phones with books on them. They're all linked together with it [technology] Some of these kids are pretty competitive. They're going to help the environment with that much enthusiasm.
Meghan
Meghan is Bill's first mate on the Snow Goose
How has birding impacted you?
I've always loved the ocean, and nature, and the educational aspect of that. I started out on a lobster boat in this bay. I didn't have the broader perspective. I enjoyed the scenery, and I loved it, but with the education, it broadens my perspective a ton. The different birds, the different habitats, the different groups- it's a much bigger picture of the harbor.
I interviewed Meghan next, Bill's first mate. She played a vital role in keeping everything running smoothly on our trip. Thanks to her, we caught and held fresh lobster!