My name is Jonah Eckels and this is my STL birding origin story! I am a self-defined “COVID Birder”, as my birding passion started amidst the pandemic. Quarantine allowed me to bird to my hearts content and I loved discovering the birds around St. Louis. However, I missed out on the social interaction within the birding community. Through this blog, I hope to connect with those in the STL birding community and make up for all that lost time!

Since I started birding in March 2020, I have discovered so many wonderful birds, places, and people. Purple Martins were my spark bird and I look forward to their return every spring. My favorite time of year is now spring and fall migration, as there is never a bad day during migration. My go to spot for birding is Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary and I have started to volunteer there as well. Finally, birding has introduced me to many wonderful people, many of whom you will meet through this blog.

Outside of birding, my other passions include history, home brewing, summer camp, and exploring new places. I am currently a middle school teacher but I am looking to make the switch to outdoor education in the near future. My favorite place to eat in St. Louis is Twisted Ranch and I enjoy trying local breweries (my favorite so far is Urban Chestnut). I currently babysit two cats with my amazing girlfriend, but we hope to get a dog within the coming year. Someday, I hope that I can create a birder out of my girlfriend, but no luck yet.

After learning just a little bit about me, I hope you will join me on my STL birding adventures and will enjoy the stories told through this blog.

Good Birding,

Jonah Eckels, STL Birder