No scientific background at all (in fact science was one of my least favorite subjects at school) but I do find the natural world endlessly fascinating. Birds would be my first love but I'll watch anything and If I can get a decent photo I'm doubly happy.
I've been involved with Tiritiri Matangi Island (bird reserve in the hauraki gulf,auckland) since the planting days in the mid-eighties and have been a regular vollie there since 1994.