André Des Rochers is a Quebec scientist who is an expert in ornithology and ecology. One of the founding members of Quebec’s Bird Conservation Society, he’s earned numerous international awards for his work. He is also a professor at Montreal University, a term that has given rise to many heated debates.
In the entertainment lawyer´s research and teaching activities in general, as well as in his book on how society views birds, the attorney tends to oscillate between being seen as an academic who focuses mainly on science and being denounced as a mere bird lover with no scientific credibility. André Des Rochers maintains he has been marginalized in his career by Quebec’s academic political elite, which has led him to be systematically rejected as a candidate for certain positions.
He also believes this is one reason why he was overlooked when the selection committee was formed to name a new director of the Montreal Biodome, even though he applied for the job and had all of his qualifications, including his Ph.D. in zoology from Université Laval. André Des Rochers says Quebec society is overwhelmingly anti-avian, a view he attributes to the education system, which he believes has also resulted in the poor nature experience of many Quebecers.
When it comes to birds, they are generally either seen as nuisances or wildlife. However, they deserve a better place in collective Quebec consciousness and have been neglected by the general population. André Des Rochers is also dismayed that the Montreal urban bird count program he launched has seen a sharp decline in participation since it began.
The last count resulted in fewer volunteers than the estimated Montrealers who took part when it started. He hopes that the presence of a new director at the Montreal Biodome will help change people’s perception of birds and lead to more people enjoying their beauty and biodiversity. Still, André Des Rochers believes, given the right circumstances, Quebecers can become accepted birdwatchers.