My interest in birds began at an early age, around six or seven. I grew up in Iowa, close to the Minnesota border. We had a 2 acre pond on our farm, and several acres of wildlife habitat, I spent much of my free time hanging out there, just watching and sketching the birds. I began taxidermy in 1983. I studied through a correspondence course supplied by the Northwestern School of Taxidermy in Omaha Nebraska. I did all birds, animals and fish into the early 90’s. I refined my skills to only birds shortly after this time.