My name is Tom. I am a retired IT systems and network engineer living in northern Virginia, USA. I have no formal coursework or training in the biological sciences, but I do a good bit of research on my own in support of identifications for both my own observations and those of others.

I have been photographing wild plants and animals for many years. When I discovered iNaturalist, it turned out to fit right in with what I was already doing. The photographic aspects are still my favorite part of observing.