What's your name? Robert D. Hughes. The D stands for Dixon.

Where were you born? Chicago, Illinois

How old are you? I was born on August 3, 1963. You do the math.

What's your heritage? I'm English, Irish, Welsh, and Norwegian. Basically I'm white.

What are your interests? Birds and natural history (duh), computers, building Web sites, movies, politics, meteorology, reading, anything athletic.

Why do you like birds so much? Because they don't need us and don't care about us, but we need them. In their eyes human beings aren't the center of the universe; they have their own lives to live.

Any personal philosophy? Huh?

Do you have a favorite book? Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez. Anything by Stephen J. Gould.

How about a favorite movie? Contact. Any mob movie.

What is the quality or trait you most like in a man? A sense of humor.

What is the quality or trait you most like in a woman? Warmth.

Do you have any heroes? Yes, Medgar Evers.

What is your greatest regret? Not seeing an Ivory-billed Woodpecker.

Do you prefer cats or dogs? I like both, but for different reasons. I like cats for their independence and I like dogs for their loyalty.

The three words that best describe you are: Passionate, thoughtful, and down-to-earth.

What is your most prized possession? My eyes.

Do you have a favorite quote? "The only gift is a portion of thyself".

What do you consider to be the greatest gifts in life? Laughter, curiosity, and a sense of wonder.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Indecisiveness.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Arrogance. Bad manners comes in a close second.

Name three things you won't ever do under any circumstances: Get a tattoo, eat bugs, or do the Macarena.

A good day to you is: If I learned something new, saw something interesting, or did something productive.

How would you like to die? With my mind intact.

Any closing thoughts or final words? Look at every sunrise and sunset you can. That's all.