I am a retired land use planner who was fortunate to work for enlightened municipal councils that appreciated the need to protect ecosystems. This meant that as part of a team, I was involved with the assembly of Parrott's Bay, the Owl Woods on Amherst Island, Sand Beach (Long Point/Big Marsh) on Amherst Island, and seeing the transfer of a portion of the Camden East Alvar to the Nature Conservancy of Canada for long term stewardship and protection.

When it comes to species identification, I consider myself a neophyte.

I am currently a member of the Land Conservancy for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington and the Kingston Field Naturalists, and I volunteer at the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee.