Michael L. P. Retter

Michael L. P. Retter (he/him/his) was raised by three previous generations of central Illinoisans to have a deep appreciation of nature. He is author of the ABA Field Guide to Birds of Illinois and is currently writing an upcoming Princeton University Press identification guide to the birds of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. In addition, he is Editor of North American Birds, Special Issues Editor of Birding, and former Editor of Birder's Guide--all magazines published by the American Birding Association. Michael is a past Chair of the Indiana Bird Records Committee and helps review eBird records from Illinois, Indiana, and Mexico. He runs QBNA, the continent’s informal club for LGBTQ+ birders, and in that capacity has helped organize and run four biennial group meetings, inducing one to Chiapas, Mexico. He received a B.A. in Biology from Illinois Wesleyan University, where he also studied classical voice as a music minor.