About Me

“And I am my brothers keeper; and shall fight his fight; and speak the word of beast and bird; ’till the world shall set things right.” Edna Wheeler Wilcox

I decided that rather than try and think up a witty, captivating bio I would let Edna Wheeler Wilcox say it for me. Her poem neatly sums who I am, and what I believe in. Her sentiments pretty much describe what I do each day, in a variety of ways.

Juvenile Swainson's hawk by Pat Bumstead

The Boring Bits

I was born in northern Canada too many years ago to count – I remember flocks of whooping cranes flying overhead twice a year, for crying out loud. Growing up in the boreal forest region with a father interested in all beasts, birds and growing things in the forest, I naturally gravitated towards nature.

I’ve been a volunteer for nature my whole life, including stints at the wolf defenders, the local zoo, the bird sanctuary and a swift fox breeding facility. I currently share my life with my husband, a dog, a cat, three computers, an ipod and a blackberry.  Hard to say which of these is more important…

I’m also an ardent birdwatcher, and have been known to book holidays around bird watching opportunities. Even a trip to Las Vegas requires binoculars, and a very productive trip to the sewage treatment ponds – fantastic birding! I’m fortunate to have a tree filled yard, which is also filled with bird feeders, and therefore I have birds front and back every day of the year. As I often get rare species in my yard, I occasionally have a yard full of bird watchers as well.

My Writing

I’ve been a journal writer and dabbler in the written word for many years. In 1999 I jumped off the deep end and wrote my first book – Canadian Feathers: A Loon-atics Guide to Anting, Mimicry and Dump-Nesting. This ridiculously large book was followed by Canadian Skin & Scales (yes Canada does have reptiles and amphibians); The Art of Birdwatching; and in conjunction with biologists in Argentina, Carnivores of the Pampas. There is another book on the way – all I need is about 48 hours in each day to get it done.

I also have two websites: The Wild Carnivore and Simply Wild Canada.

This blog serves two purposes. It allows me to indulge myself, giving readers the benefit of my opinion on a variety of birdy topics, whether they want it or not. It also allows me to give birdwatching and the birds of Canada a greater presence on the internet. We have a huge country here, with a large variety of habitats, and a corresponding large variety of birds.

It seems to me we need more people speaking the word on behalf of the birds of Canada, so here I am. And now that you’re here, why not say hi in the comments section!?

Good Birding!

Pat Bumstead
Calgary, Alberta, Canada