Nocs Naturalist
Alex Troutman
Introduce yourself. What are you up to these days? Where are you? What’s good y’all?
My name is Alex Troutman, also known as N8ture AL. I’m an author, wildlife biologist, environmental and social justice advocate, and science communicator. I’m based out of Austell, Georgia, which is a suburb of Atlanta. When not working my professional career, I lead events that helps engage individuals into nature. These events range from birding, teaching individuals how to fish, engaging individuals in hunting, and leading nature walks.
What first drew you into the world of birds — and what keeps you coming back?
I would have to say that family is what first got me into birds. I spent my early years fishing with my brothers, uncle,
cousins, and my dad. I was always drawn to the fiery glow of the sun peeking through the tail of my spark bird — the
Red-tailed Hawk — as it soared across the sky, and be humored watching Great Blue Herons catch more fish than me, almost as if
they were mocking me with a glance before flying off with yet another catch.
Birds have been a part of my life since day one. I remember going to the beach, where half the pictures on my old Kodak
point-and-shoot ended up being of gulls. Other times, it was being at baseball games and being distracted by the birds in the
sky — from vultures circling around as I set in right field during my little league games, or noticing the pigeons and
nighthawks at Turner Field as the Atlanta Braves played.
That fascination grew with me and eventually led me into the activity of birding or birdwatching — or at least having a formal
name for what I was doing. It wasn’t until undergrad that I find out that watching birds was an actual activity and hobby, and
even became a career. As an undergrad, I took ornithology (the study of birds) and was finally able to put a name to what I
was doing and I developed better skills and techniques.
To be honest, birds keep me coming back to the world of birds. There are so many amazing things that can draw one to the
worlds of birds. For one, birds are on every continent, and can be seen in a variety of habitats, and thrive in even some of
the most extreme urban places. I love birds because they are beautiful with their different plumages and it’s inspiring in a
sense to know that birds have the ability and free will to change settings when things are out of their control. Instead of
staying in unfavorable situations, they can take off and leave under the strength of their own wings. Wow, birds have been
inspirational into keeping me in the field. They have also offered hope and guidance, as well as leading me to some great
friends during hard times. This community is a direct result of birding and is a major reason I’m still in the birding world.
You bring so much joy and energy to birding. What does a day in the field feel like to you?
A day in the field can look and feel very different — depending on the season you’re in and where you’re birding. Even days
within the same season can feel different. For instance, spring migration and fall migration can look and feel totally
opposite. In spring, different birds are coming through compared to fall. During fall, there’s less foliage or leaf coverage,
so you’re often able to see birds more clearly. In spring, the trees are greening up, which provides more coverage and makes
spotting birds a bit trickier. And during the summer — at least here in Georgia — it’s just hot! Birding isn’t quite as
exciting, since you mostly see the same year-round species.
So, to answer your question again, it really depends on the season and the location — what the field looks like and feels like
to me. It can also depend on who you’re birding with and where you are. Leading a group of new birders can feel exciting and
joyful, as you get to watch them catch glimpses of new birds up close! Other times, it can be a moment of peace and
reflection, as you wander alone through the forest, thinking about life, goals, and simply appreciating what you’re seeing.
Then there are those moments when your heart feels like it’s about to burst out of your chest — when you’re chasing a “lifer”
(a bird you’ve always wanted to see in your lifetime). You’re within a few feet of spotting it, you hear it, but you still
can’t see it… and then finally — boom! — there it is you see: a beautiful Painted Bunting or an amazing Snowy Owl!
Has birding changed the way you move through your everyday life or see your local community?
Yes, birding has changed the way I move through life — and that continues to evolve every year. Birding has shown me so many
things about my community — both the people of my community and the environment that my community encompasses and relies on.
That definitely opened my eyes to some of the injustices and disparities in my community — from parks in the eastern part of
my county having better amenities and are managed better. It has also shown how technology and apps can be misleading and
justifying which areas are a good birding spot and how funds are distributed.
Since I have became a better birder, I have changed my language and the way I think about birds — that I may see more regular
than migratory birds. For instance, I no longer say, “Oh, that's just a cardinal or
insert-another-name-of-a-bird-that's-common-to-my-area”, as I realize that some people don't have the same chances that I do —
to see Northern Cardinals everyday. So, I try to be thankful for all the birds that I get to see, whether it's a hummingbird
or a new bird.
You’re not just out there birding — you’re teaching, leading walks, building community. What role does connection play in your work?
CONNECTION IS EVERYTHING!!!! Connection matters in every aspect of birding, teaching, and leading walks. It’s even more
important when building communities.
We (humans and birds) are connected through our connection and dependence on the natural world. When leading groups, you have
to form connections in order to fund bonds and also exercise trust as you lead groups and go into the outdoors with new
people, and individuals of different abilities. This same trust and connections are needed when building communities as well.
In addition to having trust many communities, you need to have a connection to the community in order to gain access and be
respected. There is no way you can build a lasting community without forming and maintaining a connection.
In today’s society, it’s very important to have a connection when meeting and building communities. Those connections help you
to form support systems and put safeguards in place that help to ensure communities are safe and thriving.
When you’re helping someone spot a bird for the first time, what do you hope they take away from the experience?
Not to be cliché, but I really just hope that they have fun and are able to learn at least one new thing about the bird. The next thing is, I hope they feel encouraged to share what they saw and learned with someone else. I also want them to see how easy it is to observe birds — you don’t have to be an expert to spot or enjoy them. Lastly, I would like them to take away an appreciation for the many ways humans have benefited from birds. For example, birds have inspired human innovations such as the airplane and the bullet train, modeled after bird flight and the way a kingfisher’s beak breaks the water’s surface. Birds also support the economy, from egg production to providing natural pest control for flying insects.
We’re stoked that Nocs are in your toolkit. In what situations do you find yourself grabbing your Nocs? How are they helping your craft?
Nocs have been a great resource to have in my bag! I use them in so many different ways — from actual birding to scouting
hunting areas, as well as a way to introduce people to nature. I’m really excited about the new Long View. It has already been
a welcome addition to my tool kit. It’s a great conversation starter and introduction to birding. People ask why I have a
telescope out in the woods in the day time — and I get to educate them on what a spotting scope is, as well as what birding
is! I have already had some great sightings with the scope — from Canada geese and brown thrashers, to some amazing barred
owls here in the city. The Long View is a good tool because, as long as the birds or wildlife stay in frame, it allows
individuals with little experience using scopes or binoculars to easily see what everyone else is looking at and feel included
— without having to single themselves out for not being able to find the bird.
Nocs are an easy introduction piece to have. While studying animals is my profession, my ultimate passion is sharing my
passion of the natural world with individuals and helping them to find their reason(s) why they enjoy nature. Nocs help me in
this craft by allowing me to breakdown those walls that one may have: when seeing someone with binoculars or a “telescope” in
nature.
I’m looking forward to taking the Long View on more adventures!
Representation matters so much in the outdoors. How do you hope to see the birding world evolve in the coming years?
Representation and exposure matters so much in this field! Sadly, there are individuals that are actively trying to not only
discourage representation and exposure in the outdoors, but also show that they were only riding the trend when it came to
being inclusive
To be blunt, I hope those companies and individuals fail miserably. I do not understand how someone can be upset about
engaging more people with nature, especially when it directly contributes to making the outdoors better — through more
funding, as well as new and diverse perspectives that can help solve the challenges we face in protecting the natural
environment. It still baffles me that a certain bird group, that is named after a known racist and slaveowner, will not change
their name. It’s sad to see companies and individuals who claim they are for the environment but fight so hard to not give
access to nature — to anyone who does not fit the pre-conceived stencil of an outdoorsmen or person — meaning, any individual
that's not a white man who hunts and fish. It’s even worse that those companies and an individual supports a leader who is
destroying the environment for profit.
So, to get back to the question, I hope the birding world continues to evolve into a more inclusive space. I also hope that
companies remaining stagnant on social and environmental issues will fail, and, most importantly, that the birding community
will lead the charge — not only in ensuring inclusivity, but also in driving the environmental movement needed to conserve the
natural world as we know it.
Anything on your calendar that you’re looking forward to? We’d love to stay in touch! Where can we find you these upcoming months?
Yes, on November 8th, I am getting married!!!! That’s the event I’m looking forward to the most, and with that comes the
honeymoon and the ability to explore and view wildlife in a new area.
I’m also turning the big 35 this year and looking forward to celebrating that!
You can find me on Instagram @n8ture_al, my website, and maybe even in your local bookstore, as my book series
“Critters: Pocket Guide to Animals in Your State” is available in many states with more states to be released. I’m also
available for speaking engagement — both in person and virtual, classroom visits, and guided nature outings.
