Fred Bodsworth was born in Port Burwell, Ontario. He has worked in tobacco fields and on tow tugs. He now lives in Toronto. He was a reporter for the St. Thomas Times-Journal from 1940-43; reporter and editor for The Toronto Star from 1943-47; staff writer for Maclean's from 1947-55, and a freelance magazine writer, nature writer, and novelist since then. He was president of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists from 1964-67. He was also an organizer and leader of numerous worldwide ornithology tours and has contributed to numerous anthologies.