Ned Steel is the man! A retired teacher from Cocoa High in Cocoa, Florida, he was a Vice-President of the Indian River Audubon Society from 1971-1972 term through the 1976-1977 term. He birded with Allan and Helen Cruickshank and provided information for the Birds Of Brevard County, which
I consider to be the Bible for birding on Brevard County, Florida.
1.How did you encounter your spark bird?
While driving to work at KSC back in 1966, I kept seeing what I thought were Blue Jays without crests. Bought a field guide (Peterson) to ID these strange "Blue Jays" Found out they were Scrub Jays and I remember being amazed that there were so many other bird species.
2.Who was the person to get you into birding?
Allan Cruickshank-being on Allan's field trips was always magical.
3.You have an all-expenses paid 14 day trip to go birding, where are you going and why?
Somewhere in East or southern Africa-lots of easy-to-see birds plus bunches of other critters.
4.What would you consider your greatest birding trip?
Either Borneo or Madagascar. Many more species in Borneo but so many endemics in Madagascar. Kenya, Panama & Costa Rica were great too-hard to decide.
5.Why do you bird?
Being outside among the wonders of Nature and the challenge to find & ID new/seldom seen species.
Thank you Mr. Steel for your time and for all of your efforts in protecting wildlife and for the work you have done in introducing so many people to nature and the amazing animals that call it home.
