Pete Bacinski, Sanctuary Director
Pete grew up in Lyndhurst, NJ, with an interest in natural
history since early childhood. He attended Pace University in
New York City, receiving a B.S. in biology. This was
followed by as M.S. in biology, specialization entomology, and
an M.B.A. in marketing, both from Fairleigh Dickinson
University.
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Pete began volunteering for New Jersey Audubon in 1971,
leading his first field trip for the organization in 1973.
He has been a tour and workshop leader for over 25 years, as
well as a member of three winning World Series of Birding teams.
Pete was a member of the New Jersey Bird Records Committee for
eleven years and was a regional field notes editor for Records
of New Jersey birds for eight years. He established and
directs the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory for NJAS and is
co-compiler and voice of the Voice of New Jersey Audubon rare
bird alert for the state of New Jersey. Pete has also been
a steering committee member and regional coordinator for the
Birds of New Jersey atlas project and currently writes a weekly
column in the Newark Star Ledger entitled "Seen in New Jersey."
Pete’s favorite natural history interests are birds,
butterflies, wildflowers, ferns, insects, “herps”, and mammals.
Other interests include classical music, American history,
audiobooks, weather, public speaking, travel, and photography.
Pete currently resides in Atlantic Highlands.
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Scott Barnes, Senior Naturalist
Scott Barnes began birding at the age of twelve and has been
an avid naturalist ever since. Encouragement and learning came
from his parents and many birders, including members of the
Urner Ornithological Club and staff of New Jersey Audubon
Society.
An interest in travel and natural history has led Scott
from northwestern Alaska to the desert southwest to Trinidad and
Tobago in search of plants and animals. He cut his birding teeth
at Sandy Hook, where he is the Senior Naturalist for the Sandy
Hook Bird Observatory.
Scott is the Region 3 Editor for Records
of New Jersey Birds, compiles the Sandy Hook Christmas Bird
Count, is the current Chair of the New Jersey Bird Records
Committee, and has led tours for the NJ Audubon Travel Program
for over five years.
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Patrick Belardo, Associate Naturalist
Patrick credits his father with encouraging his interest
in birds, bugs, and anything else nature-related. He's
been actively involved with NJ birding since 1999 and has
traveled to observe nature in California, Arizona, Texas,
Belgium, and Costa Rica.
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Since 2006, he has led birding trips to Island Beach,
Barnegat, and Hunterdon County and dragonfly and butterfly
walks in Morris County. He also leads the Beginner
Bird Walks at Sandy Hook. Patrick sees nature as a
constant learning experience and looks at his trips as a way
to share his enthusiasm and learn alongside the
participants. When not leading trips, Patrick participates
in NJ Audubon's Grasslands Breeding Survey and Piedmont Survey.
He's Treasurer of the Urner Ornithological Club and writes a
nature blog in his spare time. He's also a member of the
SHBO World Series of Birding Team led by Pete Bacinski.
Patrick lives in Piscataway.
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Rob Fanning, Associate Naturalist
Rob has been leading trips for SHBO since 2004, to the
Allendale Celery Farm, Garret Mountain, DeKorte State Park
(Hackensack Meadowlands), Overpeck Park in Bergen County, and
Brigantine/Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
A life-long resident of northeastern New Jersey, Rob graduated
from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a BA in Environmental
Studies. He has been associated with the Fyke Nature
Association, which co-manages the Celery Farm Natural Area in
Allendale, NJ, for many years. He is a former Board
Member for Fyke and leads field trips and maintains the
checklist of birds for the Celery Farm.
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Rob got hooked on birds after going on birding walks with Fyke
and the Lorrimer Sanctuary of NJAS around 1988, though he says
that he read about and watched birds “for as long as I can
remember.” He has been a participant in the NJAS World Series
of Birding six times. |
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Linda Mack, Associate Naturalist
Linda's interest in birding began more than twenty years
ago during a Cape May Weekend. She is a member of the
New Jersey Audubon Society's Board of Directors, an
Associate Naturalist, and Co-Bookstore Manager at Sandy Hook
Bird Observatory. She is a trustee and field trip leader
for the Monmouth County Audubon Society and past President,
Program and Conservation Chair. Linda has a special
interest in seabirds and other coastal species; she co-leads
pelagic birding trips off New Jersey with See Life Paulagics.
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Linda has traveled extensively throughout North America
studying birds and natural history, with multiple trips to
Arizona, California, Florida, Montana, Texas, and Utah.
Her infectious enthusiasm and willingness to share knowledge
are well known. She has co-led NJAS tours to Arizona,
Nebraska, New Mexico, the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, and is a
regular leader on SHBO field trips including day trips at
various Monmouth County sites, long weekend trips
to coastal Massachusetts, the Adirondack Mountains, and Bombay
Hook, as well as the Cape May Spring and Fall Weekends. |
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