I became “track aware” as a youngster while living in the Seattle area but really got serious about tracking in the late 1980′s after moving to Rancho Penasquitos, a community of San Diego. We live close to the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, home to a healthy ecosystem containing a rich variety of species where my fascination with tracking blossomed.
With the help of many others dedicated to conservation and enthralled with tracking I formed Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve Tracking Team in the early 1990′s and that eventually led to the founding of the San Diego Tracking Team, a network of colunteer based tracking teams in San Diego County, documenting track and sign data every quarter throughout the county.
In August of 2006, after over 21 years of service, I took an early retirement from American Airlines where I was a Boeing 767 Captain. This has opened new possibilities for me in that I am now able to pursue tracking not just as an avocation but as my primary work.
My experience as a tracker/naturalist combined with my skill as a pilot provides a combination of expertise unique in the world of field biology.
As a tracker:
- Self learning eventually augmented by Tracker School and Wilderness Awareness School Kamana Programs, 1988-1996
- Founder of tracking teams in San Diego, early 1990′s, SDTT in 2000
- Earned Track and Sign Level 3 in February 2006
- Attained Tracker Level 3 certificate in March 2007
- Track and Sign Level 4 in October 2009
- Devised training programs for tracking team volunteers early to mid 1990′s
- Constructed original tracking team protocols for volunteer based data collection.
- Have conducted numerous habitat and corridor assessment projects to gauge wildlife presence and movement via track and sign documentation and remote camera data. Results of this work and that of SDTT has greatly impacted land use planning decisions in San Diego County.
- Coaches tracking students toward attainment of tracker certification
As a pilot:
- Began flying at age 15, private license at 16, commercial license at 17.
- US Naval Aviator; carrier-based jet pilot, active duty 1975-1982, Navy Reserve 1982-1996. Navy instructor pilot, post maintenance check pilot.
- American Airlines pilot 1985-2006.
- Nearly 20,000 hours total flight time.
Great Combination of Skills
As a tracker with extensive field experience and an experienced pilot sensitive to the needs of field researchers as they work to gather data from collared study animals I can provide your research effort a safe, efficient method of airborne data collection.
On the ground, with a team of certified WTI associates we can provide excellent tracking courses and workshops designed to prepare you to attain tracker certification under the world recognized Cybertracker Conservation evaluation system (cybertracker.org).
We are also equipped to provide wildlife tracking expertise in planning and research projects.
