John Walch
'Birds and Bugs' presentation
John combined his passion for nature and his enthusiasm for photography into a profession. After working and in many cases, living in different countries throughout for many years, it was the allure of once again living in a small Wisconsin town with nature at his doorstep, that brought him to Algoma.
Gurmit Walch
'Birding in Costa Rica'
Panel Discussion
Gurmit's interest in birding started after she and John moved to Algoma in late 2017. An
attorney by training, Gurmit lived a fast-pace life in Malaysia and then as an online educator in Phoenix, AZ before moving to Wisconsin. John's interest in bird photography motivated
Gurmit to learn about birds around Algoma.
Jacob Woulf
Lake Michigan Bird Observatory
Motus Coordinator
Panel Discussion
Wildlife and conservation have been passions of mine for a very long time, both recreationally and for my career. I graduated from UW-Green Bay in 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in Animal Biology and in 2022 with a Master's degree in Environmental Science and Policy.
During my graduate work, I tracked movements of Double-crested Cormorants as they were in Northeast Wisconsin during the breeding season. I transitioned nicely into this new role as Motus Coordinator for Lake Michigan Bird Observatory to help expand the Motus network throughout Wisconsin. The Motus Wildlife tracking System is an international collaborative research effort that uses radio tags attached to organisms and radio towers that detect these tags to track movements of organisms as they move across the landscape.
In my free time, I enjoy wildlife photography, trail camera monitoring, and basically any
outdoor activity.
Lake Michigan Bird Observatory
Motus Coordinator
Panel Discussion
Wildlife and conservation have been passions of mine for a very long time, both recreationally and for my career. I graduated from UW-Green Bay in 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in Animal Biology and in 2022 with a Master's degree in Environmental Science and Policy.
During my graduate work, I tracked movements of Double-crested Cormorants as they were in Northeast Wisconsin during the breeding season. I transitioned nicely into this new role as Motus Coordinator for Lake Michigan Bird Observatory to help expand the Motus network throughout Wisconsin. The Motus Wildlife tracking System is an international collaborative research effort that uses radio tags attached to organisms and radio towers that detect these tags to track movements of organisms as they move across the landscape.
In my free time, I enjoy wildlife photography, trail camera monitoring, and basically any
outdoor activity.
Samantha Brooks
Research Education Group, Inc. (REGI)
'Winged Wonders'
Samantha is from Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from the University
of Central Missouri in 2020 with a degree in Wildlife and Natural Resource Conservation. She served an AmeriCorps term at a state park in Maryland
where she found her passion for working with non-releasable raptors and using them for educational programming to connect people with the natural world!
She joined the REGI team in May of 2022.
Cinna Smallwood
Research Education Group, Inc. (REGI)
Cinna is serving their second term on our Education Team as an AmeriCorps member at the Raptor Education Group, Inc. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a degree in Wildlife Education, they became Corps to create an AmeriCorps position so they could remain at REGI. They love everything avian and enjoy sharing their knowledge with the public, hoping to inspire people to love and appreciate wildlife.
Research Education Group, Inc. (REGI)
Cinna is serving their second term on our Education Team as an AmeriCorps member at the Raptor Education Group, Inc. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a degree in Wildlife Education, they became Corps to create an AmeriCorps position so they could remain at REGI. They love everything avian and enjoy sharing their knowledge with the public, hoping to inspire people to love and appreciate wildlife.
REGI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of injured or orphaned native bird species and public education of wildlife issues. Founded in 1990 by Marge and Don Gibson, REGI was initially focused on educational programming and field research on avian species, but quickly grew to address the need for a rehabilitation center in the area, especially for raptors and swans. Today, REGI takes in anywhere from 800 to over 1,000 patients each year and provides educational programs to hundred of people.