The “bird rangers” of the Boschplaat Nature Reserve on the northern Dutch island of Terschelling, have always done much more than guard the wetlands. They’re full-fledged scientists, closely monitoring the island’s varied avian life: Rifs, Red Knots, Curlews, Godwits, and many other species. Oene de Jong, the National Forestry Service’s last professional bird ranger, takes us on a revelatory trip through the reserve that chronicles a rich history of conservation and speaks to the dire need for citizen science in the present day.