About Us

Levi and JoAnna are The Nerdy Birders, and to a lesser degree, our dogs Elvis and Layla are as well. We live in Grand Rapids, a small town in the northwestern corner of Ohio. Grand Rapids sits on the banks of the Maumee River where there are dams, running canal boats, an historic downtown area, and most importantly to us, a number of local parks. 

I work for a small animal and bird feed manufacturer and am currently working on a Bachelor’s of Business Administration. I consider myself a conservationist and I enjoy being outdoors.  While, I have dabbled in a number of hobbies, none of them have combined nature, exercise, and a sense of discovery the way birding has. Growing up I discovered nature by fishing with my dad, catching frogs and turtles under a bridge, and going on trips with my family. Birds were not really a part of growing up, but a love for the outdoors was cultivated from a very young age.

My wife and partner, JoAnna is a PhD Candidate at BGSU in American Culture Studies where her primary scholarship is in Fat Studies.  She also teaches Women's Studies at the university, and considers herself a staunch feminist. Beyond her school/work life however, she enjoys nature and being a friend beast to our two dogs and cat. She has been (backyard) birding virtually her whole life, as both her parents have been tracking the birds at their feeder since she was very small.  Having grown up in the country on a large farm, JoAnna loves the woods, open grasslands and fields, and the sounds and smells of nature. She likes to cook, and take long walks on the beach too.

Elvis is a Corgi who loves to go on walks. He also enjoys playing tug and catch with his friend beasts. While birding, he likes to roll in stinky stuff like deer and raccoon poop. He also likes to poop on top of rocks and kick dirt with his back legs. Elvis often says “Watch this I am going to poop on that rock!”

Layla is a Beagle/Cattle dog mix. She likes to eat things. Her world revolves around her next meal and her next treat. When she is not eating she likes to go on walks where she can smell and track animals. Goose poop is like a delicacy to her so if her friend beasts don’t watch her closely she gobbles it right up. Layla’s most common quote is “It’s fun to eat things.”

Last Mother’s Day we had a Baltimore Oriole fly over our house and land in a tree as we sat on our deck. We searched our iPhone for a birding app and we were instantly hooked. Next thing we know we are buying binoculars, cameras, different birding books, and booking vacations to go birding. We really enjoy this hobby, as well as our time together.