Egyptian Goose photographed January 26, 2022, in Boynton Beach.
Field & Feather honors
2026 Ornithologist of the Year
Mark
Penkower
South Florida community birder · bird photographer · lifelong learner
Mark Penkower’s public record shows the best of community ornithology: going into the field, learning identification, documenting local birds, and sharing photographs that help others notice what lives around them.
Documented field focus
●●●●South
FloridaWetlands · refuges · urban birding sites
FloridaWetlands · refuges · urban birding sites
Verified public record
A birder who learns,
documents & shares.
The honor is a Field & Feather editorial designation. Every number and statement below is limited to publicly accessible records.
Renaissance Commons, Green Cay, Loxahatchee NWR, Lake Worth Beach, and A1 FEB.
Birdfinding.info credits his Egyptian Goose image.
Audubon Everglades credited his Wood Storks photograph August 28, 2023.
Rooted in South Florida
Public professional and birding records place Penkower in Boynton Beach, Florida, near Palm Beach County’s productive wetland habitats.
Public profile ↗Active in field-based learning
Public posts document Audubon Everglades outings at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Worth Beach, and A1 FEB.
Photography that supports identification
An independent species guide uses and credits his Egyptian Goose photograph with a precise location and date.
Birdfinding.info species account ↗Values mentorship
In a public review, Penkower says experienced guides helped him find life birds and improve identification skills.
Florida Birding Guides review ↗Shares with the community
Audubon Everglades publicly credited Penkower’s photograph of Wood Storks in flight.
Wood Storks credit ↗