A California native with roots in the southern part of the state, Rodd has explored and birded throughout the western U.S. and internationally. His passion for biology, natural history, and birding was ignited during college, launching a 30-year career in wildlife research and conservation. For his master's degree, he researched the behavior and ecology of Island Scrub-jays on Santa Cruz Island, followed by a Ph.D. during which he studied red crossbill types in the western U.S. He currently serves as Director of The Nature Conservancy California's Land Program, overseeing land protection across the state and into the Pacific, and the stewardship of more than 650,000 acres of conservation lands. Since graduate school, his fascination with birding has only grown. For the past 15 years, Rodd has enjoyed sharing his enthusiasm and ornithological knowledge with others regularly guiding trips for the Sacramento Audubon Society and at Bird Chautauqua in Lee Vining.