Birdability President, Guide & Inclusion Advocate
THEIR STORY
Hi, I’m Lindsey (they/them)! I’m a birder, all-around nature nerd, and the current Board President at Birdability.org, where we work to make sure birding is truly for everybody and every body through accessible community events, outreach and education, and online programming open to everyone. When I’m not out with binoculars geeking out over jays or wrens, I spend my days at Western National Parks helping connect people to the hidden gems of our National Park sites across the western US. I'm based in the incredible Sonoran Desert and Tucson, Arizona where I live with 2 chickens, 2 cats, 2 retired greyhounds and a librarian.
What is one bird encounter you will never forget?
When I was just starting out as a birder, I visited Channel Islands National Park, off the coast of California in the US, and felt like I’d stepped into another world. I saw my first endemic, the Island Scrub Jay and watched Ravens that seemed impossibly huge and terrifyingly intelligent. Everything about the place felt rare and over-the-top. Thanks to a work trip, I got to go back again recently and it was every bit as magical.
The story that sticks with me from this place is about the eagles. Due to the effects of DDT, Bald Eagles had been extirpated on the islands. Golden Eagles moved in and started preying on the land mammals, especially the endemic (and adorable) Channel Islands Fox, changing the balance of the islands. Thanks to incredible conservation efforts by the National Park Service and others, Bald Eagles were reintroduced in the mid-2000s, the Golden Eagles were relocated, and the fox came back from the brink of extinction (thanks to Bald Eagles' preference for fish). What moves me most about this story is the interdependentness and connection between so many different animals in an island ecosystem.
You’ve got a golden ticket to go anywhere in the world to see a bird? Where would you go and why?
Honestly, anywhere. One of the best parts of birding is that there’s magic in every corner of the world, from the Cactus Wrens and White Winged Doves here in my home in the southwest US to exotic (to me) wonders in rainforests halfway across the globe. The fact that every place has its own extraordinary birds if you take the time to notice, never gets old.
That said, the Northern Territory of Australia would be at the top of my list, for reasons all your Australian readers already know! I'd love to travel from the northern coast all the way to Uluru to engage with the amazing variety of ecosystems and birds along the way. It feels like the ultimate reminder that wonder is both everywhere and, sometimes, half a world away.
How is birding part of your life today?
Birding is threaded through both my work and my personal life. I am honored to spend my energy trying to make birding more welcoming and accessible, so that anyone, regardless of disability or other health concerns, can share in the joy of watching birds through the work of Birdability - a US nonprofit that I volunteer with. Helping to break down barriers and build a more inclusive community of birders feels more meaningful to me than any new life bird ever could.
And, on a personal level, birding keeps me grounded in place and connected with the physical world. In an increasingly online life, even a quick walk outside to listen for calls or notice who’s passing through can shift my whole day. Birds are constant companions and reminders to pay attention, and they connect me to place in a way nothing else really does.
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