Erik Bruhnke’s love of birds began in childhood, watching chickadees outside his window. A graduate of Northland College in Wisconsin with a degree in Natural Resources, Erik has spent his career combining science, teaching, and adventure in the field. He taught field ornithology at Northland College for three semesters before devoting several years to avian research across the United States.

From breeding bird transects in Michigan and atlas surveys in Minnesota and Wisconsin, to vegetation and cavity-nesting studies in North Dakota and Oregon, Erik has explored a wide range of habitats. A passionate raptor enthusiast, he has counted migrating hawks at the Corpus Christi HawkWatch in Texas and led three seasons as the official counter at New Jersey’s famed Cape May Hawkwatch. He also spent six years interpreting migration for visitors at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Minnesota.

Erik’s photography has earned national recognition, and his writing has appeared in Birder’s Guide, BirdWatching Magazine, and Bird Watcher’s Digest. Beyond guiding, he leads field trips and speaks at birding festivals across North America. When he’s not birding, you’ll likely find him hiking, cross-country skiing, or experimenting in the kitchen.