I’m Michael McCloy, a lifelong birder, conservationist, and nature photographer. My passion for birding, ecology, and travel has taken me to 49 US states and the Caribbean, South and Central America, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa. After completing a PhD in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Texas A&M University I moved to the greater Washington, DC area where I now reside. 

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I'm originally from the Sandhills region of North Carolina, where I got my introduction to nature and ecology amidst the diverse longleaf pine ecosystem. Birds in particular sparked my interest from the get-go, and from the age of five I was tagging along with my dad to the outings of the local bird club. As time progressed I became obsessed with this new interest and began to keep detailed lists of birds I would see on daily local outings. This morphed into involvement with the Carolina Bird Club, where I would later serve on the board as a Regional Vice President. I have also served a three-year term on the North Carolina Bird Records Committee and volunteered as an eBird Regional Reviewer for several regions in North America and Asia.

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After graduating from Western Carolina University with a B.Sc. in Natural Resources Conservation and Management I worked in a variety of seasonal and long-term research positions with conservation nonprofits, including Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and in the private sector.  I have always had a deep interest in the macro-level dynamics that drive ecosystem change, including how weather, climate, and land use patterns affect bird populations and migratory patterns. This interest largely informed my PhD research on Gulf Coast songbird populations- visit my Research page to learn more!

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I also have keen interests in business, leadership, and society- particularly in how innovative leadership strategies can drive sustainable, growth-oriented business models that can have a positive impact on some of our world's most pressing challenges for both humans and nature. This thirst for learning and need to have a positive impact with my work led me to join leading management consulting firm McKinsey & Company after my PhD. Here I am privileged to work with an extremely inspiring group of colleagues to help address complex challenges for clients at the intersection of science, industry, and government. 

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Whether in my research endeavors, in the workplace, or when leading birding tours I constantly strive to lead others through a mindset of integrity, inclusion, and impact. I strongly believe in empowering those around me, and through my photography and birding outings I hope to both educate and inspire others to gain a deeper appreciation of the natural world and both the intrinsic and extrinsic value it brings us.​​​