Leader Details

Van Pierszalowski Van's childhood was split between Cambria, CA, and Kodiak Island, AK, where he worked on his father's commercial salmon fishing boat for 8 years. After earning a degree in Anthropology from UC Berkeley, he embarked on a successful career as a songwriter and musician. His unique blend of folk and rock earned him appearances on television shows like Conan, CBS News Sunday Morning, and Last Call with Carson Daly. Now residing in Los Angeles' Highland Park neighborhood, he's fallen in love with the region's diverse habitats, jaw-dropping vagrant birds, and its vibrant and supportive birding community. Van lives and breathes birding. He is constantly exploring, both on sea and land, up and down the (best) state of California. Recently, he made an exciting discovery, spotting the first state record of Crested Caracara since 2016 at Ballona Wetlands in LA County.