Matthew Iles grew up in Wales, studied Zoology and Restoration Ecology at the University of Liverpool, and began working as a wildlife biologist in 2007. After 15 months working in the Amazon and coastal regions of Ecuador, he moved to Canada in 2009. Since that time, he has worked as Assistant Coordinator at the Long Point Bird Observatory, later moving to Guelph where he began teaching at Guelph Outdoor School and working as a freelance ornithologist. In addition to working in environmental consulting, he now runs birding workshops, retreats, and guided outings throughout his community and southern Ontario. Matthew currently lives in Kitchener, Ontario, with his partner and daughter, and enjoys birding at his local “patch” on the Grand River.