Michael Retter

Joined: Feb 9, 2015 Last Active: Mar 27, 2024 iNaturalist

Michael L. P. Retter is the editor of North American Birds (the continent's journal of ornithological record published by the American Birding Association), author of the ABA Field Guide to Birds of Illinois, and a tour leader for BRANT Nature Tours. He was raised by three previous generations of central Illinoisans to have a deep appreciation of nature. In 2002 Michael received a B.A. in Biology from Illinois Wesleyan University, where he also studied classical voice as a music minor. He is a past Chair and current member of the Indiana Bird Records Committee and helps review eBird records from Illinois, Indiana, and Mexico. During college, Michael took regular road trips with friends into Mexico during holiday vacations and has been tourleading there ever since. He is currently putting his knowledge of the area's birds to paper by writing an upcoming Princeton identification guide to the birds of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. Michael runs QBNA, the continent's email list and informal club for LGBTQ+ birders. In that capacity, he has helped organize and run four biennial group meetings, inducing one to Chiapas, Mexico.

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