Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Lyon.
Hi Sean, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a kid, I was always fascinated with wildlife, and especially birds. In fact, the first word I ever spoke was “Bird!” This interest continued to grow throughout my teenage years, and during a gap year after high school, I moved to Costa Rica and volunteered with the Macaw Recovery Network.
Few colleges offer opportunities for bird research, but by putting together my own major (Interdisciplinary Studies of Biology and Business) and working with an agricultural development organization, I studied birds in farming communities in Tanzania. My first glimpse of a career in bird work came after college, when I volunteered at the Field Museum in Chicago, eventually being hired as full-time staff in the Bird Collections. I was at the Field Museum for three years, and during a bird research conference in Anchorage, Alaska, I felt a strong pull toward centering my career in ornithology. That’s when I decided to pursue graduate school, which is what brought me to Los Angeles for a Master’s in Avian Ecology.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road from a childhood interest to a long-term career is anything but smooth, no matter who you are! For bird research, that is no exception. I have often encountered pushback, even from well-meaning people, saying, “It’s great that you love birds, but there’s no money in that,” or “Birds can always be your hobby, but not your career.” So one struggle has been finding a community of people who are also enthusiastic about birds and see a way forward into a career in ornithology. On the other hand, there are academic struggles, like most colleges (my undergraduate institution included) offering no courses that focus on birds. There’s a hefty dose of creativity that I drew on in order to involve birds in my undergraduate experience.
Also, there are financial challenges in pursuing a dream like this! With a degree in two sought-after fields (biology and business), there were always opportunities for me to step away from birds to pursue more lucrative career paths… and they looked really appealing when funds were tight! There is a lot of unpaid work for people starting their careers in museums, and it took some great sacrifices (and the immense support of generous friends) for me to stay in museums long enough to have paid work. So between the social, academic, and financial obstacles, I have spent years getting established in my career field, and I am an outlier in this regard. For many folks (in bird research and anywhere), the struggles on this road are too powerful, and they can’t pursue what they love. So I feel very fortunate to be here!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work in ornithology (the study of birds), with a focus in bird research. I am specialized in museum specimen collections, where I have spent much of my professional life. In Los Angeles, I am known for working on the historical ecology of LA’s breeding bird community, which has been the focus of my Master’s research. The background in museum ornithology, avian ecology, and international fieldwork is what sets my work apart.
I believe that museum collections, which hold bird data from decades and centuries past, are best leveraged when brought into conversation with other forms of ecological data, especially field observations, behavioral studies, genetic methods, and theoretical modeling.
Additionally, I lead guided local bird tours through my website, www.
Anything else that you want to share with us today?
These days, as people increasingly spend time indoors and in front of screens, birds offer us a great reminder of the wonderful natural world that exists all around us, even in the midst of the city. I hope that you are inspired to take a fresh look at what’s outside your window or the birds that you see the next time you’re taking a hike! Thanks so much for the chance to share my work with you, VoyageLA!
Pricing:
- Bird walks range from $70 for one hour to $100 for two hours and upward for custom trips.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.seanclyon.com
- Other: www.birdwalkswithsean.
com
Image Credits
Ryan Contreras, Caroline Hays, Anna DeSocio
