Nocs Naturalist
Dexter Patterson
Introduce yourself. What are you up to these days? Where are you?
Hi, my name is Dexter Patterson. I'm an educator, science communicator, and proud Bird Nerd based in Wisconsin. When I'm not teaching, I'm usually out birding and hiking with the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin and the Underground Hiking Collective. I'm also thrilled to share that preorders are now available for my first book, Birds of the Great Lakes, created in collaboration with Timber Press and the Hachette Book Group. And we're wrapping up Season 3 of the Bird Joy Podcast.
We’re curious, when did your relationship to the outdoors begin? Could you share some of your earlier experiences?
I've always enjoyed being outside, but — like with birds — I didn't truly see the outdoors until about 15 years ago. There was one moment that changed everything: I was watching a video online of an osprey snatching a fish out of the water. That single, awe-inspiring moment made me pay attention in a whole new way. Since then, I've been hooked.
Tell us more about the work that you do and maybe about your community.
I'm the co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin and co-host of the Bird Joy Podcast. My work is all about making birding more accessible, inclusive, and joyful — especially here in my home state. I also use my @WiscoBirder platform to spread what I call "Bird Joy" as far and wide as possible. My “You Ready? Let's Go!” videos and bird photography have reached millions, and knowing that kind of joy is being shared means the world to me.
How has spending time outdoors changed your perspective on modern life and the way we interact with the natural world?
I always say, “Nature is healing, and birds saved me.” The science backs it up — spending time outdoors is powerful for both mental and physical health. Being outside has changed the way I perceive the world, and it has changed how I perceive myself. It has helped me reconnect with that deep sense of curiosity that we often lose in adulthood. I feel like I've regained a piece of that childhood wonder by spending time outdoors.
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?
Every time I go birding or hit the trails, I've got my Nocs with me — either the Pro Series Binoculars or the new Long View Scope. They're the most consistent piece of gear in my outdoor toolkit. Even if I leave my camera behind, I never leave without my Nocs. I'm especially loving the Long View Scope lately. My next move is to get an adapter for it, so I can start digiscoping and sharing even more content with the community.
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?
The big one I'm counting down to is the October 7th shipping date of my book, Birds of the Great Lakes. We're also gearing up to launch our Birding Backpack Program in late summer or early fall, in partnership with the Milwaukee Public Library — and I want to extend a huge thank you to Nocs for supporting this initiative. You can follow along with everything on Instagram and other social networks at @WiscoBirder. Stay tuned — there's more Bird Joy to come!
