I recently had the thought that it would be interesting to update our customers on some of the accomplishments of our former employees. Here is information from Nathan Tenney—enjoy!
“I wasn’t a birder when Eric Moore hired me to work at Jay’s Bird Barn (now The Lookout) in 2014. At 16 years old, cashiering at the Bird Barn was my first job. Eric Moore was a close family friend and had employed my older brother and my mom before hiring me.
Working with people like Eric, Ryan Crouse, Larry Thomas, and Bonnie Pranter, it didn’t take long to fall in love with birds and birding. I spent my lunch breaks reading The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of North America and interviewing my coworkers about their birding experiences.
Eric gifted me a pair of my own binoculars and helped me set up an eBird account and soon birding was a passion! Eventually, my responsibilities at the store expanded to include driving truckloads of birdseed and merchandise to other Jay’s Bird Barn locations in Sedona and Flagstaff, and attending bird walks with Eric and our customers.
Throughout my undergraduate years at Brigham Young University, I would return to Prescott and my summer job at Jay’s Bird Barn. It was a real privilege to have a job I loved that combined work, incredible friends and mentors, and my favorite hobby.
As idyllic as my years of working at Jay’s Bird Barn were, I never imagined what would come from my experience there. This year I started a new job working in Washington, D.C. as a Legislative Aide for Congresswoman Celeste Maloy, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah’s second congressional district.
Upon learning about my birding hobby, Rep. Maloy added to my legislative responsibilities the “bird portfolio,” with responsibility for all policy related to bird conservation and management. As the staffer with responsibility over birds, I am the office point of contact for any groups that have business with our office connected to birds. This includes the Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy, the Peregrine Fund, general environmental organizations, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, zoos in our district, and more.
I also handle any legislation related to birds. In Utah, the most relevant issue for our office concerns the Great Salt Lake and water use policies to ensure its long-term sustainability. The Great Salt Lake is the most important saline lake in the Western hemisphere, and is a crucial breeding ground for millions of birds.
Ninety percent of North America’s Eared Grebes breed on the lake, as do the world’s largest populations of Snowy Plovers and Wilson’s Phalaropes. As the Southwest gets dryer and more populated, the Great Salt Lake’s future has become uncertain. Ensuring the lake’s sustainability is a big part of my role.
Just last month, I spent a week in Utah meeting with various Audubon Society chapters and state employees for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources from St. George to Salt Lake City. On that trip, I helped state employees track and tag Dusky Grouse and survey endangered Southwest Willow Flycatchers. I saw 35 life birds, and over half a million waterfowl at the Great Salt Lake.
In addition to handling bird policy, I also handle religious freedom, healthcare, education, and criminal justice. None of this would have been possible without Eric Moore, his mentorship, and the job he offered me a decade ago!”
Needless to say, I am so proud of Nathan!! I hope to spotlight another former employee soon. On a different note, our 16th Annual Wild Bird Photography Contest submission period is in full swing, and runs through September 30th. For more information, stop by The Lookout to pick up a flyer, or visit our website at www.thelookoutaz.com for contest guidelines. I invite you to participate!
Until next week, Happy Birding!
Eric Moore is the owner of The Lookout, in Prescott, where you will find a Hallmark Gold Crown Store, wild bird products, and Swarovski and Vortex optics. Eric has been an avid birder for over 55 years. Eric can be contacted at eric@thelookoutaz.com.
