I received a BS in Zoology from San Diego State University in 1974. From there my life took two parallel paths. One led me to a 23 year career as a high school biology teacher from which I have retired. The second path led me to beginning volunteer work at the San Diego Natural History Museum in 1976. I started as a collections assistant in Herpetology. Thirteen years ago events at the museum led to my moving over to the Entomology Department to work on the spider collection. Spiders and insects of southern California and Baja California are my research and photographic interests at this time.

I fell in love with the Baja California peninsula during my first visit about 28 years ago. It is truly a unique place with habitats ranging from the 10,000 foot high Picacho del Diablo to sea-level desert and the land of the boojum. The peninsula is capped off with the subtropical Sierra La Laguna, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Baja California is a must visit for anyone interested in natural history.

The horse is my steed, Ulzana, who I use to get into some of the back coutry of northern Baja California. He is kept at Rancho La Bellota, a guest ranch near the Valle de Guadalupe wine country. The photo was taken by my wife, Robyn M. Garcia (RMG Photography).