Jerry Bonkoski

Prior Lake, MN
Jerry Bonkoski was born in southern Minnesota and was raised as a farm boy. After graduating from high school and serving in the US Air Force, Jerry became a computer programmer for IBM in Rochester, Minnesota. His interest in birds began when he observed a Horned Lark in his yard at Byron, Minnesota, more than 35 years ago. Since that time, he has become an avid bird watcher, spending time in the pursuit of finding birds throughout Minnesota, and currently has a personal list of 374 bird species in the state. Jerry was an active member of the Bluebird Recovery Committee in Southeastern Minnesota, building thousands and monitoring hundreds of Bluebird nesting boxes around Rochester, Minnesota. His annual Bluebird Nesting Programs at Oxbow County Park, near Byron, introduced many people, young and old, to the Eastern Bluebird. Jerry retired from his career as a computer programmer in 2002 and currently lives in Prior Lake, Minnesota. He is a past president of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union and is currently working as an independent contractor for the Minnesota DNR, doing bird surveys at MN State Parks and MN Scientific and Natural Areas.