Birding beyond the checklist...
creating deeper connections with birds, habitat and nature. 

What is Holistic Birding?

Holistic Birding is an educational and conservation initiative founded to create a welcoming space where people can learn about birds, other wildlife, and the natural world while developing meaningful connections to the places we share with them. 

Holistic Birding invites participants to look beyond identification alone.
Birds are not isolated subjects on a checklist — they exist within ecosystems, cultural stories, seasonal rhythms, and the landscapes we all share. By approaching birding holistically, participants will deepen their observation skills, ecological understanding, and sense of stewardship.

Holistic Birding is built around five core principles:

Observation & Awareness

Beyond identifying birds, participants learn to pay attention to behavior, movement, sound, and the environments birds depend on. You will begin to engage more closely with other wildlife, plants, and insects, as well as the landscapes that support them. You’ll begin to understand not just what a bird is doing, but why, and how seasons and history shape what you’re seeing. Over time these observations build a deeper understanding of how ecosystems function.

Ecology & Conservation
Understanding birds within food webs, habitats, climate pressures, and biodiversity loss, while learning about the threats to our ecosystems and wildlife.

Ethics & Stewardship
Promoting responsible birding practices that protect birds, other wildlife and habitats.

Connection & Community

Birding should be for everyone. This is a safe and accepting space for people who are new to birding, or returning to it, or who have not always felt welcome in traditional outdoor spaces. Here, curiosity is encouraged and questions are always welcome. 

Humor & Heart

We birders tend to take ourselves too seriously, which can be intimidating to beginners. The truth is, even the most expert birders have confidently misidentified something. I take birds and conservation VERY seriously, but I teach with humor on purpose because relaxed people learn better, mistakes feel less embarrassing and birding should bring you joy, not stress.

These principles are at the heart of my Birding 101 program.

My Vision

My vision is to increase awareness of conservation challenges while making birding accessible, restorative, and empowering for all. By nurturing curiosity and ecological awareness, this initiative supports both personal well-being and a stronger culture of stewardship of wildlife and habitat. 

Virtual Programs and Workshops