hobbies

FLOYD HAYES

HOBBIES

BACKPACKING
    My first backpacking trip was along the Appalachian Trail in Maryland in 1974 at the age of 11. Since then I have backpacked in national parks, national forests and wilderness areas of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, California, Washington, Paraguay, Argentina and Trinidad.

BIRDING [click here]
   Birding has been my favorite hobby since I began in 1975 at the age of 12. Initially I was thrilled with keeping a life list, state lists, year lists, day lists, etc. However, gradually I became increasingly interested in the biology of birds, which stimulated my career goal of becoming a professional biologist. My birding has been closely linked with travel and many of my observations while birding have been published in scientific journals. My birding has focused primarily in areas where I have resided, including Maryland, Caroline Islands, California, Galapagos Islands, Michigan, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Virgin Islands.

CANOEING
     Frankly I can't remember when I first went canoeing, but my first overnight trip was in the Okefenokee Swamp of Georgia in 1976 at the age of 14. I've since canoed in California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Florida, Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Barbados and Paraguay. My only other overnight canoe trips were in Paraguay in 1989.

HIKING
     I've always enjoyed hiking anywhere in natural environments, usually while birding, searching for wildlife, conducting research, backpacking, rock climbing or mountaineering.

MOUNTAINEERING
     I've always enjoyed the spectacular views from high peaks, especially those that require the most effort to climb. Some of the most difficult peaks I've climbed include Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, in winter (twice; 1981 and 1983) and Mt. Hood in Oregon (1983). Successfully ascending both of these peaks required crampons, ice axes and ropes to prevent a fall.

PHOTOGRAPHY
     I first began filming with a 35 mm lens camera in 1981, when I took my father's Minolta camera to Micronesia. In 1983 I purchased a Nikon FE2 camera and later bought another of the same model, which served me until 1998. During the last few years I had problems with the shutter, so in 1999 I purchased a Nikon N60 that has served me well. In 2001 I purchased an adaptor to connect my camera to my telescope, enabling me to photograph birds from a distance.

RELIGION [click here]
     Having been born and raised in a Christian home, I have always wondered (and always will) whether God really exists. In my spiritual journey I have studied with various groups of Christians and non-Christians as well in search of God.

ROCK CLIMBING [click here]
     I began rock climbing in Yosemite National Park, California, in 1982 at the age of 20, when I worked with children at a summer camp within the park. Rock-climbing quickly became my second favorite hobby next to birding. I have climbed many technical routes in California, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, Wisconsin and Paraguay.

SCUBA DIVING [click here]
     After taking a course in scuba diving, I became a certified PADI diver during my first open water dives in the Florida Keys in 1980 at the age of 18. Since then I have dived in Florida, Caroline Islands (Kosrae), Philippines (Palawan), Mexico (Baja California), Trinidad and Tobago. Despite having resided in prime localities for scuba diving (e.g., Trinidad and Tobago, Virgin Islands), I simply couldn't afford to do it much.

SNORKELING [click here]
     Because snorkeling is cheaper and more convenient than scuba diving, I have enjoyed snorkeling in many parts of the world where I have traveled, beginning in Florida in 1980. I have enjoyed snorkeling in Florida, California, Hawaii (Oahu), Marshall Islands (Majuro), Caroline Islands (Kosrae), Mariana Islands (Guam), Philippine Islands (Palawan), Maryland, Delaware, Galapagos Islands, Mexico (Baja California), Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas (New Providence, San Salvador), Barbados, Grenada, Grenadines (Bequia, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Palm) and Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, Tortola).

TRAVEL [click here]
     Although I have traveled extensively in 29 different countries and 47 states of the USA (all but Alaska, Vermont and Maine), I never flew in an airplane until 1981, when I was 19. Since then I've traveled extensively through Pacific Ocean islands as far west as the Philippines, in South America as far south as Patagonia, and throughout the eastern Caribbean.