Web Site Introductory Comments
This site is new and under construction so it will likely have deficiencies over the next year. My goal is to get it organized and useful with several write-ups and images, mostly on my birding. My son, Matt Bowker, has developed this web site for me and within the context of his full-time job and family, continues to make it better. This will take time.
About Me-A Brief Autobiography
I grew up in Pemberton, NJ. My visits to my grandparents place in NW Lousiana got me ingrained in nature. I spent the entire day, often with cousins, chasing herps (lizards, snakes, frogs, and salamanders). There was not much chasing snakes, a fear programmed into me by the adults because of Massauguas on the wooded property. It would take years to overcome this fear created by adults. Not having the ability to travel far from home, I rarely encountered a reptile in NJ. Yet, I lived right at the edge of the Pine Barrens. My one encounter with a Black Racer snake on a railroad track was one of fear and going the opposite direction. I did see what were likely numerous species of frogs along this same railroad track. I also enjoyed the excitement when I caught snapping turtles at our local fishing hole along Rancocas Creek. My latent interest in 'herps' was there.
When I entered college at Jacksonville University in Florida, I only wanted to stay out of going to Vietnam. This did give me some motivation for my studies. However, my first biology class was almost a failure. The teacher was not very motivating nor was I a very motivated student. I would have failed if I had not been rescued by Professor Ted Allen taking over. He had an understanding of this class situation for me and many of the other struggling students and gave me a kind 'D'. Dr. Ted Allen became a long time friend and was a positive influence on me as I moved up the ranks in biology. My second mandatory biology class went much better and piqued my interest enough to send me on to the advanced courses. The education environment was perfect for me where close interactions outside the classroom gave me the encouragement to pursue a major in Biology. In 1973, I received a Bachelors in Biology. I also gained another long-time Herping friend, Bruce Jones, an enthusiastic young man that I enjoyed going road-riding with in central Florida looking for herps. We trained each other in learning about herps.
I worked for several months at Ionac Chemical Company before leaving to start my career at Lousiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge. My undergraduate grades were not strong enough to get me a teaching assistant job when I first arrived so I took one course: herpetology under Dr. Rossman. I also worked two jobs to pay for housing and food. Through my great enthusiam for herps, I impressed Dr. Rossman and received a teaching assistant job for the spring of 1975. I stayed in Kilgore, Texas, worked various construction jobs socking away money to make living at LSU easier when I returned.
Recent Articles
Herpetology of Vekol Wash
11/12/2021 12:00:00 AM
The Drylands Institute Survey (DIS) did an extensive survey of the herps (reptiles and amphibians) of the Vekol Valley and surrounding mountain ranges. Since I have not focused of herps, the ones I list will be a small fraction of what they found. Additionally, without pitfall traps or night riding in key months, one cannot expect to find much diversity compared to the techniques used by DIS.
Birds of Vekol Wash
Birding Wisconsin
I made this trip from May 14-19th. With the help of my friend, Shawn Miller, that lives near Madison, it became one of my top 10 bird trips of all time. What a difference it makes when you go with someone that knows the area, where to find specific birds, and what times to search?