Insider Info

With a doctorate in English from the University of Virginia, John Rowlett might not seem like a typical ornithologist. In fact, he's as typical as any birder, with a long-standing love of birds and nature and a passion for sharing his enthusiasm. He has, however, turned his literary abilities toward the subject of ornithology on more than one occasion, writing about nature and editing books.

To put himself through university, Rowlett and a friend created a nature tour company in 1976, taking groups of people to birding locales both nearby and around the world. He left in 1985 to help form a similar but larger venture.

"I'm involved in many, many tasks," he says from his home in Charlottesville, Virginia. "There are creative aspects, such as editing, production of text, itinerary writing and [designing] tours. Then there's dealing with a big group of people on tour."

Birders come from various backgrounds and their level of interest may vary. Part of Rowlett's job is to make sure that the spouse of the person who really wanted to go on the trip isn't too bored!

"There are 14 people on a trip, with two leaders. We have to make sure that everyone is eating well, that they're kept happy. There is a lot of psychology involved. Nothing could train you for that part of the job," he laughs.

While his main interest is ecology in general, the window to that interest has always been birds. Growing up in Austin, Texas, he began birding in 1952. A memorable trip to Mexico in 1959 dazzled him with the variety of colorful species.

"When I was eight years old, I had a teacher who was especially interested in birds. It was a nature and science class, something like that. The teacher focused on birds that year, using them to inform us about the natural world. Birds were a way of making alive what she had to say. It really appealed to me."

While Rowlett isn't making himself rich guiding tours and writing about birds, he says he has the luxury of doing something he really wants to do. "It's a passion. It's been a part of me for a very long time and it gives me grounds for exercising my imagination."

Ron Rohrbaugh, assistant director of education at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, very much enjoys his job. "One of the good things about it is that you get to work outdoors, if you're a field biologist," says Rohrbaugh. "And it's a lot of fun to teach people about birds."

Birds are an excellent tie-in to the study of the ecosystem. "From habitats and water or vegetation or massed crops, the health and behavior of a bird population can tell you a lot," says Rohrbaugh.

Beginning with a bird feeder in the backyard of his boyhood home, Rohrbaugh developed an early interest in birds into a full-time career. He got himself a bachelor's degree in wildlife and fisheries science in order to qualify as an ornithologist. This is typical for professional bird fanciers, he says.

"There aren't very many schools that offer ornithology degrees. Students usually get degrees in biology or ecology."

Jocelyn Hudon heads a museum ornithology program. Hudon earned a bachelor's degree in biology before receiving a PhD in ornithology -- specializing in bird physiology. His assistant, he says, has a bachelor's degree.

"I would suspect someone would have to have some biology background," he says. "As long as birds are in it, it's fine."

Hudon is working on Project Sapsucker, using volunteers to keep records of that species in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. "It's been successful to a point. But we're not gathering the number of people and data that we would have hoped. But we have dedicated people sending us data. These would be volunteers, who take their time to go to an area to observe birds."

He encourages anyone interested in ornithology careers to get involved in a project. It'll teach you a lot and you'll get to know the people who might have to work for you in the future.

"We've seen people volunteer their help and yes, we've hired some of them for a summer or a specific contract," Hudon says. "We do have opportunities for summer jobs, fieldwork for various projects -- and it does help to know the person, know the dedication they have and the interest they have in the subject."

He says ornithology is a valuable science, and one that draws a lot of interest. "There are all kinds of uses for people with an interest in birds," says Hudon.

But that doesn't mean there are lots of jobs, or much money to be made. "Biology is very popular and birds are a very popular subject in biology. The problem is there are quite a few people out there, and there are so few jobs," Hudon says.

But if you love it, stick with it.

"I'd say the keen people should keep on -- the ones that are really keen about birds. Yes, there are openings for keen people who will go out of their way to do well. But I wouldn't say this is the career of the future, because the jobs are just not going to be there."

Hudon notes that he's an ornithologist because that's what he's always wanted to be.

"For me, doing all the schooling, it's rooted in a deep interest going back a long time. I love birds, and I wanted to study birds. That's what got me interested in it."

Hudon says he remembers that interest as a young child. "I had a budding interest. There was something there."

Working as a research biologist at the Chicago Academy of Sciences, Mary Hennen knows her work is valuable. While a lot of her time is spent looking after the academy's huge collection of animal specimens, it's thanks to items in this collection that the peregrine falcon is making a comeback in the natural world.

"In the 1960s, the peregrine falcon was having a very difficult time of it. One of the things that scientists could check was the eggshells," says Hennen.

"We have 2,500 egg sets that include information on where and when those eggs were collected. So the thickness of the falcon shells could be tested for many decades into the past. It was discovered that pesticides were making the eggshells too thin and weak."

Thanks to Hennen's eggshell collection, the beautiful and speedy peregrine falcon is making a comeback. The bird is now found in many parts of North America where otherwise it surely would have become extinct.