You are here:

Birding/being an ornithologist

Advertisement

Expert: - 7/11/2005


Question
Hi!  I just have a quick question.  I love love love birds....I've had them my whole life and love watching the wild birds outside too.  I'm beginning to wonder if I've missed my "calling" all this time and really should be working with birds for a living.  What does it take to become an ornithologist?  Is it a good career?  I live in Los Angeles - I have doubts that this is a good place to study ornithology :)  Just wanted to see what you thought!

Thanks, Erin  

Answer
Erin - I can best answer this by having you go to my website at www.ornithology.com/careers.html because I answer all your questions in detail there. If you have any specific questions after you read that information, please e-mail me at rlederer@csuchico.edu and I'll be happy to answer. Roger Lederer

Birding

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.