Eric was born and raised in Corvallis, Oregon, where a love for birds developed early thanks to the influence of his parents and grandparents. By the age of ten, he had memorized The Sibley Guide to Birds, and soon after began using eBird—a tool that has shaped his birding journey ever since. He then lived for two years in McCall, Idaho before moving to Walla Walla, Washington. While there, he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Walla Walla University, deepening both his academic and field-based experiences.
Eric’s interests span a wide range of birding disciplines, including seawatching, pelagic birding, and the study of vagrancy patterns. He is an avid county and state lister throughout the Pacific Northwest and is especially drawn to underbirded or overlooked areas where uncommon species may be hiding. His birding has taken him extensively across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and he continues to seek out new landscapes and unexpected finds.
Eric has participated in numerous Christmas Bird Counts and even founded a new CBC centered around Hermiston, Oregon. Beyond fieldwork, he contributes to Oregon Birds magazine and remains an active member of both the Oregon and Walla Walla birding communities. Whether helping others discover beloved local specialties or chasing regional rarities, Eric brings enthusiasm, careful observation, and a deep love of Northwestern birdlife to every outing.
