Young Birders Profile...
Spotlight on Jacob Bowman, age 14

Golden Wings - What year did you start birding?
Jacob Bowman - 2003

GW - What (or who) got you interested in birds?
JB - My uppergrade school teacher, Mr. Aaron Hershberger. He took the pupils out to Killbuck Marsh, and I’ve enjoyed birding ever since.

GW - Do you have a favorite bird, and if so, what is it and what makes it your favorite?
JB - The Sandhill Crane. Hearing the musical trumpet-like call of the Sandhill Crane has always been a thrill for me.

GW - Other interests/hobbies besides birding?
JB - I like to be around horses and I help my brother train them when I get the chance. I also go along to horse sales.

GW - Who have been your mentors or heroes in birding?
JB - Robert Hershberger has taken me birding a lot, and I’ve always been amazed at what Samuel Weaver could find in Killbuck Marsh!

GW - Do you have a job somewhere?
JB - I work for my Dad at our family business, Bowman Leather. We make show and training harnesses and other leather specialities. I also work in the office part-time.

GW - What is your dream job?
JB - I’d like to work in our shop as long as I can and take care of the office. I’d also like to be an auctioneer.

GW - What is your favorite book?
JB - I really like reading Lewis B. Miller books. My favorite is The Branded Oak.

GW - Do you have a favorite place to bird?
JB - I always enjoyed birding Killbuck Marsh. It’s about 17 miles from my house so I can get there on my bike.

GW - Do you have any pets, and if so, what are they?
JB - Yes. I have a Boston Terrier named Dottie and she stays in the shop where I work.

GW - Are any other members of your family or any of your friends birders?
JB - I’m the only one in my family that goes birding, but there are quite a few other boys in the area that go birding.

GW - Have you attended any birding conventions?
JB - I went to the Sparrows of Ohio Symposium last fall. That’s the only one so far, but I hope to be at the first annual Ohio Young Birders Conference this spring! (Jacob was the winner of the OYBC essay contest and won a scholarship to attend the symposium.)

GW - What would you say to someone to convince them to be a birder.
JB - Birds are one of God’s creations. Surely you couldn’t ignore them, and once you notice them, you can’t help finding out how amazing they are.

GW - Where do you go to school?
JB - I have been out of school since I was 14 (eighth grade) as many Amish are. Before that I attended South Mt. Hope School

GW - What bird would you most like to see?
JB - I have been trying for several years to find a Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow or a LeContes Sparrow, but haven’t succeeded yet.

GW - Birding seems to be very popular among the Amish. Why do you think that is?
JB - Amish don’t have TV’s or watch movies, so for entertainment, we enjoy doing outdoor activities, such as birding, hunting, and fishing.

GW - Do you think that being Amish makes birding different for you?
JB - Birding with my bike usually isn’t a problem, but for trips to places farther away, I would have to hire a driver and that can be a problem.

GW -I understand that you really like to sketch birds. What is your favorite bird, or group of birds, to sketch?
JB - I like to sketch hummingbirds in flight. It’s easy to draw their wings because they’re almost invisible.

GW - If you could go birding anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why?
JB - I’d probably go to the Alaskan Islands to look for Asian rarities.

GW- Do you keep a like list, and if so, how many birds have you seen so far?
JB - I do keep a list and so far I have seen 244 (Ohio only).