Alan Macnaughton is a retired accounting professor, vice-president of the Toronto Entomologists’ Association, and a long-time moth’er from Kitchener who cottages regularly just north of the park. He has recorded 600 species of moths in the park, and he expects 80 to 100 should show up at this event – including sphinx moths and maybe silkmoths. He hopes to find a new species for Canada at the park – it could happen! His favourite spot at the park is the Pitcher Plant Marl, which provides a habitat for several unusual species.

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Alessandra is an avid birder and scientist who grew up in the Halton Region and was introduced to birding through the Hamilton Naturalist Club at age 13. In 2014 she started volunteering at Haldimand Bird Observatory where she learned how to band birds and educate the public about conservation and migration monitoring. Since then, her bird banding career has flourished having worked and helped train volunteers at many stations across Ontario, including developing a volunteer training program for Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory this past year. In 2022, Alessandra completed her Bachelors of Science at the University of Guelph with a focus on wildlife biology and conservation. Through her love of art, science, and birding, her goal is to teach all who will listen about the natural world. 

Alessandra co-founded Gyrkite Birding Tours with Kiah Jasper and together they lead birding trips, educational talks, and banding demonstrations across the province.

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Ankur Khurana has been captivated by photography since childhood, starting with a mini camera gifted by his father at age 7 that he used to capture insects in the abundantly diverse parks of New Delhi. Over time, his passion evolved from portraits, events, and landscapes to his true love—bird photography. Now an award-winning wildlife photographer and writer, Ankur’s work is deeply rooted in wildlife conservation. As a full-time Communications Specialist with Feather Friendly, he combines his imagery and writing to raise awareness about bird-glass collisions and promote sustainable solutions. You can see his work www.ankurkhurana.ca

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Ashley started birding at age 12 when her birding Dad (Marshal Byle), took her on the first of their annual trips to Point Pelee.  She learned to drive on Pelee Island, and later continued to go to Point Pelee with her husband and one time with a wee three-week old baby in tow. 

Ashley is an active Bruce County birder, who has attended many years of this Birding Festival. 

Other than birding, she likes to sing, play the piano, loves running and fitness, and enjoys reading and doing puzzles. Her favourite sports team is, of course, the Blue Jays.

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For many years Audrey was a presenter with the Monarch Teacher Network, leading workshops on the monarch butterfly and habitat development. She taught elementary school with the Bluewater District School Board for 25 years. Prior to teaching, Audrey had a career as a designer/weaver of wearable art and a founding member of Makers gallery in Owen Sound. Working with the Owen Sound Field Naturalists’ Publications Committee, she has helped update and revise guide books on Orchids, Ferns, Asters, Goldenrods and Fleabanes. She embraces the opportunity to travel, hike, ski, bike, canoe and explore this wonderful world with her husband and share her love and concerns for the natural world and monarch butterflies with the public.

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Beth Gilhespy has been a conservation professional for over 30 years.  In March 2024 she joined the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, a growing Ontario-based land trust, as its CEO.  From 2019 to 2024 she was Executive Director of the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy, which secures funds for Toronto Zoo endangered species conservation programs. Between 2004 and 2018 Beth was Chief Executive Officer of the Bruce Trail Conservancy, where she oversaw the preservation of more than 6,500 acres of land along the Niagara Escarpment. Beth also served on the Niagara Escarpment Commission from 2017 to 2019. Prior to her work at the Bruce Trail Conservancy, Beth worked for 15 years as a consultant specializing in the environmental impact of toxic chemicals. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in physical geography and geology from the University of Guelph. She is an avid hiker, traveler, fossil collector and self-professed landscape fanatic, and when not out exploring the land, is currently writing her second book on the geology of the Niagara Escarpment along the Bruce Trail.

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Local astronomers promote astronomy in our area by participating extensively in public outreach events as well as educating school-aged children at the Outdoor Education Centre near Wiarton. Brett and Frank have pioneered what they call electronically assisted astronomy. That is, they use modern technology to take photos of the night sky, and they combine these images in real time to show people what deep sky objects like galaxies look like in great detail, beyond what you would get by simply looking through an eyepiece on a telescope.

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Bob is a retired minister and former geologist. He has a B. Sc. and M. Sc. in geology (Western) and an M. Div. (Knox College), He worked in mineral exploration across northern Canada, and with the Ontario Geological Survey, with a specialty in glacial deposits. He was a minister at a presbyterian church in Hamilton for about 20 years. He has given talks and done guided beach walks under the title: “Every Pebble Tells a Story”, and is working on a guidebook with that title. He grew up with a very stoney beach at a cottage south of Goderich, which sparked his life long interest. He is a member of Huron Bruce Nature, and has leadership roles in two science and faith organizations. He is an avid birder and enjoys fly fishing. He and wife Lynne spend most of their time at their Bruce Beach cottage.

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Bruce is past president fo the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and is the Co-ordinator for the Grimsby Wetlands - a project of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club. He is an active naturalist who spends about 3 months a year camping in and exploring the Saugeen Bruce. Bruce is a frequent contributor to the Niagara Escarpment Views magazine and the Wood Duck, the monthly journal of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club. Bruce and his wife, Laurie, spend their best times exploring
the eastern waters and shore landscapes of Lake Huron.

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Dale is an avid birder and outdoor enthusiast who spends much of his time in outdoor spaces indulging in his passion for birds. Over the past few years, Dale has enjoyed guiding in places such as Point Pelee National Park and Algonquin Provincial Park, as well as The District of Muskoka. 

Dale's goal is to share his passion for birds and all things nature with people. Both to educate and inspire. He believes that birds connect us all. No borders, no fences - anywhere you are, you can watch birds. 

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David has been birding since he was a young lad growing up in the English countryside. His interest continued after his move to Canada in his late teens and was strongly reignited again after time spent in Central America.  Currently, David is a popular leader for the Owen Sound Field Naturalists, and with local birders, with a focus on the Beaver Valley. During the pandemic he started up a ‘Birding Beaver Valley’ Facebook group for ‘a few people who might be interested’ and it has grown into hundreds of members.  He co-established and guides for the ‘Boots, Birds and Breakfast’ birding and nature tour company in the Beaver Valley. 

David is also a lifetime botany enthusiast, professional gardener and plant health care specialist.  

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Dustin is a local Bruce County birder who enjoys nature and being in the great outdoors. He has been wandering the fields, forests, and Lake Huron shores around Bruce County for years, trying to find interesting birds that can be added to his Bruce County list. When he’s not chasing feathered friends, you’ll find him cheering on his kids at their sporting events or sneaking in a quick round on the golf course with friends and family.

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Emily Rondel is a naturalist, biologist and science educator with a particular love of birds.  Following a zoology degree, her Master's focused on community science applications for the study of Ornithology in protected areas.  She has worked as a bird biologist at Birds Canada, with a particular focus on Species at Risk (especially the Golden-winged Warbler), and urban bird populations.  In addition to research, Emily has been teaching people about bird identification and field techniques for over a decade in the field and in the classroom.  Emily has served on the board of the Toronto Ornithological Club for over 10 years, and is now its President.  She is on the volunteer committee of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, is a regional coordinator for the Toronto Region for the Atlas, and is an enthusiastic contributor to many community science programs. 

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Henrique is a birder and naturalist based out of Simcoe County, Ontario. He has had an obsession with birds for 15 years. His 9 years of working as a Park Naturalist in Algonquin Provincial Park have helped him develop skills of guiding and an interest in botany and insects. 

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James is a favourite local bird hike leader at Huron Fringe Birding Festival and with the Bruce Birding Club. He brings his trademark enthusiasm to every outing and shares his knowledge in an engaging and easy to understand way. James attributes a lot of success to his son Simon who is a keen finder of birds. James appreciates the importance of birding by ear and finding species by targeting habitats. James’s passion for birding truly comes to life in Bruce County — where, as he likes to say, “this is where it all counts.” His recent sighting of a Gluacous-winged Gull brought his county total to 292 species, with hopes of reaching 300 before he finally surrenders the chase. After all a lifer close to home is worth most of all!. James very much believes the old adage: You notice what you take the time to look for.

He serves as compiler of the Kincardine Christmas Bird Count and was a primary atlaser for several squares in the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. James received the Festival’s Norah Toth Award in recognition of his dedication to the Bruce Birding Club, his support of citizen science, and his long-standing commitment to the Festival.

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Jean is well known to Ontario birders; she was president of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) from 1995 - 2004 and edited OFO News for 14 years. Her special interests are shorebirds, grassland birds, gulls and bird identification. Jean loves the Hudson Bay Lowlands of northern Ontario and has spent many summers as a volunteer surveying shorebirds and waterfowl around James and Hudson bays for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Royal Ontario Museum. Jean is a leader for Quest Nature Tours and has visited French Polynesia, Svalbard - Norwegian Arctic, Belize, Guatemala, Galapagos among other exotic locations. 

In 2016 Jean was named a Distinguished Ornithologist by OFO.

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Jeannine Kralt is a Field Naturalist based in Grey County, and a dedicated volunteer for the Owen Sound Field Naturalists and the Peninsula and Sydenham Bruce Trail Clubs. Raised in Canadian Shield Country, she developed a deep appreciation for the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Huron in adulthood. An avid life-long hiker, she is particularly interested in botany, geology and nature connection. Jeannine regularly leads interpretive hikes for people of all ages, and documents some of her outdoor adventures through her blog, Saunter Nature. She enjoys taking a closer look at the world around us and aims to help nature be more accessible.

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Jenna grew up on the north Bruce Peninsula. She left to get a degree in wildlife biology and scientific illustration and returned to work for Parks Canada in Tobermory in ecological research and nature interpretation. Her passion is learning about, teaching and preserving traditional Metis skills and knowledge. Jenna recognizes that Metis art forms capture her people’s history and nature and that traditional art forms such as beading and moccasin making help keep her culture alive. She likes to use her illustration and communication skills to record knowledge and teach others about nature and history. As an artist, it is her wish to create art that simply inspires others and hopefully, captures the Metis spirit.

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Jeremy is a career birder, visiting from the Point Pelee area, Canada’s premier migration birding hotspot. He loves helping others to find birds and understand the ecology behind the birds we see. 

Jeremy operates a tour company called Pelee Birding, based in his home locality of Point Pelee, and plans on someday expanding with tours abroad. He represents Swarovski Optik as a Field Tech, and has much experience with a wide variety of popular birding optics and bird photography. He has worked birding and ecology contracts with Birds Canada, conservation authorities, and ecological consulting companies for over a decade, and has visited the Bruce region many times. An active community member and volunteer in organizations like Ontario Field Ornithologists, Essex County Field Naturalists’ Club, and Holiday Beach Migration Observatory, Jeremy regularly contributes time and data to citizen science projects like eBird and Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. He also previously held Ontario’s Big Year record, for the most bird species identified in a single year in Ontario, between 2017-2022! 

Spending time with Jeremy will surely add some highlights and insight to your birding journey. 

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John has an eye for detail and has used it in his hobby of wildlife photography these past 35 years. He started off specializing in bird photography but his interests have broadened and now include the wonders from the world of macrophotography (dragonflies and spiders) to astrophotography (sun and moon to far off nebulas). His photos have graced the covers of a number of magazines and books including Ontario’s second Breeding Bird Atlas. John lives in nearby Grey County and is an active member of the Saugeen Field Naturalists. 

John is a practicing rural physician in the town of Mount Forest.

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Originally from Cayuga, Ontario, Kevin has been living in Grey County for the last decade. With over 25 years of work experience in Ontario and Alberta, he has spent a lot of time eating dirt with wet-feet in many different forest types across Canada.  He has been happily employed by Dufferin County since 2024, when he was hired to be their new County Forest Manager. 

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Kiah is a 23 year old birder who has grown up with the Bruce Peninsula as his backyard. His keen interest in photography sparked his more serious fascination with all things avian. Kiah is the winner of the 2018 Canadian Geographic wildlife  photographer of the year (under 17).  He is currently an eBird reviewer for 5 counties and is an active Ontario birder. Kiah is on the Board of the Ontario Field Ornithologists and the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC). In 2022 Kiah broke the Ontario Big Year record for most birds spotted in a calendar year, with 359 species seen across the province.  Kiah runs Gyrkite Birding Tours with Alessandra Kite, leading birding outings across the province.

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Mark Peck is the President of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) and the coauthor of “A Field Guide to Birds of Ontario” and “Bird Eggs- A Young Naturalist Guide.” In addition, he has contributed as an author and photographer to numerous websites, popular articles, scientific papers and other books. He is also an enthusiastic contributor to several citizen/community science programs. For 41 years Mark Peck was a Collections Specialist in Ornithology at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) until his retirement in 2024.

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Marshall received his first field guide to the birds when he was just four years old. Today, with almost 70 years of experience, he still loves to bird and to share the wonder of birds with others. You may enjoy his humour and unique way of enjoying the wonders of nature.

Marshall covered the same squares for all 3 Breeding Bird Atlasses. He is currently on the Board of the Friends of MacGregor Point Park. He has been a leader for the Huron Fringe Birding Festival for many years.

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Mindy Buckton is a front-end developer with a master’s degree in Musicology and a deep-rooted passion for the natural world. Born and raised just a stone’s throw away in Southampton, she spent ten years in Victoria, BC, where she pursued graduate studies and deepened her connection to the outdoors. Now back on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula, Mindy is an avid bird and nature photographer with a special interest in native orchids, local plants, and wildlife. She brings rich botanical knowledge, a sharp eye for detail, and a love of slow, observant hikes. When not working, she can be found at her off-grid family cottage on the upper Peninsula, enjoying morning coffees with the resident snakes.

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Paul got started birding at a young age. When his dad was looking for a little more of a connection with his son, he took Paul to a local conservation area with some bird seed. That day, a Black-capped Chickadee landed on Paul’s hand and a birding monster was born. He has continued to watch birds since then.

Paul has become a well-known North American birder, but still only calls himself, “pretty good.” He is a board member of the American Birding Association.  He  starred in the CBC documentary 'Rare Bird Alert'. Everything he does in the birding world is to promote it to a wider audience, change the way people view birding, birders and to promote bird conservation.

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Pete’s interest in nature spawned from summers spent exploring along the Thames River in London, Ontario as a boy. He developed this keen interest in nature in general, and birds in particular, over the years with help from mentors in McIlwraith Field Naturalists. He is self-taught in the identification of birds by sight and sound and has finely tuned his skills since 1969 with annual trips to Point Pelee National Park. He is a life-long educator who loves to work with people of all ages to extol the wonders of avian life, leading many field trips over the years for various nature clubs and organizations. He also takes part in many citizen science projects, predominantly the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas and Christmas Bird Counts. 

After retiring from a long teaching career, he has pursued many interests in natural history. He worked with the Wildlife Preservation Trust Shrike program building and installing loggerhead shrike cages for their captive breeding program.  He also became a consultant and field biologist for a number of environmental companies and agencies, working on wildlife projects in Ontario and Quebec. He leads bird hikes every spring at Point Pelee. Currently he is a guide for Quest Nature Tours which allows him to travel the world learning even more about birds and wildlife and imparting knowledge to those who accompany him. He is very pleased to lead trips for the Huron Fringe.

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Scott Taylor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado Boulder and the Director of the CU Boulder Mountain Research Station. Scott’s research is focused on using natural avian hybrid zones and recent avian radiations to understand the genetic bases of traits involved in reproductive isolation, population divergence, and speciation, and the impacts of anthropogenic change, including climate change, on species distributions, interactions, and evolution. He studies chickadees, redpolls, house wrens, rosy finches, and other bird species. Scott grew up in Inverhuron, ON, attended the University of Guelph as an undergraduate, did his PhD at Queen’s University, and completed a Postdoctoral Fellow position at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. As an undergraduate student Scott worked as a naturalist at Macgregor Point Provincial Park and Rondeau Provincial Park across 5 years, eventually acting as the Head Naturalist at Rondeau Provincial Park for one year. 

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Sue's interest in nature blossomed while living on the edge of Sibbald Point Provincial Park for 38 years. Her daily walks through the park prompted her to compile a list of wildflower finds, each year looking for something new. She eventually started taking the Park staff on flower hikes each year and encouraged mapping the rare ones to ensure their locations were protected. Sue also began guiding wildflower hikes for the local Georgina Naturalist Club and various other organizations. 

Moving to Kincardine in 2017, she joined the Huron Bruce Nature Club, has served on its executive and has been the Hike and Outings organizer for the last six years. Continuing her passion for wild flowers she now keeps a record of her finds in the many places she walks and hikes in the South Bruce and Bruce Peninsula.

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Tim has always loved nature and wildlife. Even when working as an audio engineer in the film and television industry his favourite projects were the many award winning nature documentaries he worked on. Tim has spent countless hours birding in Bruce County. When he first started birding he "discovered" several great birding locations. He has worked for Birds Canada since 2017 and now some of his fieldwork locations are the exact spots he "discovered" years earlier.

In addition to his Birds Canada work, Tim presents to nature clubs about Algonquin Provincial Park, and Nature Photography. He also leads tours for the Point Pelee Festival of Birds, The Huron Fringe Birding Festival, the Ontario Field Ornithologists, as well as some private tours. Tim has recently signed on with Eagle-Eye Tours and looks forward to showing people some amazing wildlife in some stunning locations around the world!

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One of the original Huron Fringe Birding Festival leaders, a self taught photographer, Willy spent 35 years as a full-time photojournalist at The Owen Sound Sun Times. During his tenure as chief photographer, he oversaw the transition from black and white to colour then finally to digital. His newspaper photographs won over 100 provincial and national awards. In 1990, Willy was named Ontario News Photographers’ Association Photographer of the Year. His photography has appeared in national and international magazines, newspapers and books including the Globe and Mail, New York Times and National Geographic. His work is in both public and private collections. Willy’s life long love for the Niagara Escarpment and Bruce & Grey Counties has led to his commitment through his photography, to protect and interpret this special part of Canada for you to enjoy. Now photographing/writing for several publications including the Looking Back page in ON THE BAY magazine. Willy has spent the last 4 years photographing the Orchids, Ferns, Asters, Goldenrods and Fleabanes for the updated Owen Sound Field Naturalists field guides. Willy’s lifelong love for Bruce & Grey Counties along with expeditions to polar regions has led to a commitment through his photography to interpret these special parts of the world for you to enjoy and help to protect.

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