Marcus began birding in fifth grade when his mother was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone for several years and his walk to school each morning included toucans and oropendolas. He eventually graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and began his career as a wildlife biologist in 2007, working his way across the country in pursuit of new species and new experiences.
While he has worked with a wide variety of taxa, including endangered fish, island foxes, rodents, monk seals, Gila monsters, and rattlesnakes, he has always been drawn to avian research and conservation. After working with Spotted Owls for several years, he moved to southern California to work as a Golden Eagle biologist. There, he was lowered by rope from a helicopter into eagle nests to install remote cameras, band eaglets, and attach satellite transmitters. Eventually, he moved as far west as he could, finding himself on the island of Kauaʻi, where he worked to save the critically endangered ʻAkikiki and ʻAkekeʻe from extinction. Over the years, he worked with many of the endangered birds on Kauaʻi and Maui and spent four years at Upper Limahuli Preserve protecting one of the largest remaining nesting colonies of Newell’s Shearwater and Hawaiian Petrel.
Having recently returned to Maine to be closer to family, Marcus has spent his time working with Common Loons and falcons while slowly reacquainting himself with cold weather and Neotropical migrants. He has won two bird call competitions by imitating the call and flight display of the American Woodcock. Marcus enjoys all aspects of avian behavior and biology and strives to learn as many birds as possible by sound. He always looks forward to sharing memorable wildlife-watching experiences with others.
