I am a retired food scientist living west of Toronto, Ontario. I bought my first SLR in 1975 (a Minolta SRT 101) and have had a knack for taking a good snapshot, if not usually great art. I have always enjoyed nature and spent many hours as a child exploring the stream & woodlands near our house (before the days when kids have to be kept on a short leash and suffer from Nature Deficit Disorder). I accumulated university degrees in Marine Biology & Microbiology, but spent most of my working life working for 2 multinational food companies. With more free time away from the Rat Race, I bought my first DSLR and recently discovered the challenges and pleasures of photographing birds which is among the best ways to relax for a few hours.