Fred O'Neill was a witch and birder who lived in Fernwood. He was married to Samantha O'Neill, a mundane with one daughter, Kathleen. He was amazed and horrified that Kathleen was interested in Jesse Parker, the son of his nemesis Lucy Parker. O'Neill and his daughter regularly took part in the annual Yule Bird Count. A few days before Yule, some of his birding buddies suggested that Parker may have inflated Sunset Grove's count by magicking birds into the area. He said he would make sure Sunset Grove wouldn't win by cheating.