An avid Michigan birder, Brendan’s ornithological journey began with a third-grade science fair project titled “What Birds Come to What Feeders?” Soon after, he joined the Oakland Audubon Society (now the Oakland Bird Alliance), logging his first eBird checklist at just 11 years old. After discovering a Varied Thrush in his backyard, flocks of birders descended on his home, thrusting him into the Michigan birding community. The following fall, at age 12, he spoke at the Detroit Audubon Symposium, discussing his top 10 tips for young birders.
During secondary school, Brendan expanded his birding experience, taking several trips across the United States and throughout Europe. To date, he has birded in six countries and 23 U.S. states, with experience in the Great Lakes region and the American Southwest.
In college, Brendan participated in numerous hawk watches and conducted morning flights, lake watches, and spectrogram analysis, among other activities. He simultaneously served as a board member of the Copper Country Bird Club, where he assisted with Kirtland’s Warbler monitoring, helped fund research projects, and led monthly bird walks focused on community engagement.
Brendan now lives in Oakland County, where he continues his passion for birding. Residing in his hometown of Clarkston, he welcomes anyone with a sense of adventure to join him in birding throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
