Trip Leader: Todd Easterla

Todd has been an avid birder since early childhood, learning his birding skills from his father, Dr. David Easterla, Naturalist Professor, Northwest Missouri State (Emeritus) and co-author of the Birds of Missouri. As a child, Todd and his family spent 8 summers in Big Bend National Park Texas, where his dad did research. Todd and his brother spent their days exploring the vast area, much of which included identifying and learning about birds and other wildlife. In May 2024, during a family reunion in Big Bend, Todd found Texas's first Crescent-chested Warbler on the same trail he would accompany his fathers during birding walks. Todd has been a California birder for 40 years, birding and leading field trips. He holds many first county records in various California counties, and two California first state records, Common Ringed Plover in Davis, Yolo County (08/19/2011) and the Yellow-browed Warbler in Markleeville, Alpine County (10/24/2019). Last year, 2024, Todd broke the California Big Year record with 504 confirmed NIB (non-introduced bird species) and 520 WIB (with introduced bird species) on the official California State list.