The Urban Bird Collective was founded in 2018 to support birdwatchers of all different skill levels in leading walks in our own neighborhoods. We are working to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all communities to come out and explore birding and the outdoors.
These communities include Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and the LGBTQ Communities and more. We want all communities to feel the benefits of being out in natural green spaces in our various Twin City neighborhoods and beyond. We are passionate about birdwatching and the protection of the environment. We are here to support you in developing your birding skills while we continue to improve our own.
The Urban Bird Collective creates a welcoming and inclusive space that centers BIPOC and the LGBTQIA+ communities in order to realize and reap the benefits of being out in the natural environment while building birdwatching skills. In addition, to do this work, we are active stewards of the environment who protect habitats for not only the birds, but for all living things.
We welcome people with all levels of experience birding into a nonjudgmental and inclusive space.
We mentor participants and each other as lifelong learners.
We foster passion and stewardship for the environment.
We respect the gifts and purpose of all living things in the environment as a way of healing and self-care.
We offer collaborative and shared opportunities with other organizations that align with our values.
We are an organization that is led by and for the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and we will advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion in the natural outdoor communities.
We are community scientists.
The Urban Bird Collective envisions a world in which BIPOC and the LGBTQIA+ communities enjoy the benefits of birding and the outdoors and feel safe and included at all levels of organizations and agencies that engage people in the outdoor environment.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I have been birding for almost 25 years and have always wanted more BIPOC folks and LGBT folks in the birding world, joining me on walks and building a more diverse, inclusive birding community. Sometimes we have to build new systems to ensure BIPOC folks feel safe. I love sharing my passion for birding with others.
What is your favorite bird?
The cedar waxwing got me started. Before I started birding I didn’t know it existed and then the world just opened up to the amazing birds we have in MN and right here in the Twin Cities.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I love jumping in my kayak and Pig’s Eye Lake. On land, I have too many to count. Tops are the MN River Valley Wildlife Refuge (visitor center, Bass Ponds, Old Cedar), Afton State Park, Crosby. In greater MN I love Hawk Ridge and Sax-zim Bog.
What do you like best about being outside?
Slowing down and taking in all the sounds and sights and forgetting about the day to day work for just an hour or two. I never know what I’ll see that day and most times it’s awesome, no matter what birds or animals I see.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I love kayaking, juggling, I play racquetball 3 times a week, pickleball, Gopher women’s sports, Lynx, biking, beading and being with my fur-babies (2 dogs, 1 cat)
Why are you a part of the Collective?
The UBC creates an environment where I can show up completely as I am. I know that I’m surrounded by talented, smart, authentic individuals who come from various backgrounds. Together we get to explore new places and meet new people and that’s as good as it gets!
What is your favorite bird?
Snowy Owl. But all owls really.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Honestly, I truly enjoy seeing hawks and eagles along the sides of the roads and flying up above. It is a constant reminder to be kind to our urban landscape because other creatures can thrive and live in it too.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I believe that being outside and connecting with nature is so important to our mental and physical health. The Urban Bird’s Collective of creating safe places for BIPOC and LGBT folks to be outside and enjoy birding is vital and is something I am passionate about. The outdoors has been an exclusive club and I hope to change that narrative with the UBC.
What is your favorite Bird?
The White-breasted Nuthatch is my favorite bird with their peculiar behavior, inquisitive nature, and their beautiful colors. They are a bright spot during the cold winter months and it always lifts my spirits when I see one!
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I really enjoy the T.S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary as that was my outlet and place to bike and escape to during the first year of COVID. But I love the many other spots that are just as vibrant and diverse in the middle of the city! Urban birding is the best!
What do you like best about being outside?
I love being outside because it allows me to escape to another world where I can focus all my energy and thoughts on nature. I can let go of the worries of life and just immerse myself. I love learning and seeing the wonderful intricacies of nature and the wildlife is just the cherry on top!
What other activities do you enjoy?
I love playing board games, cross country skiing, and documenting other awesome wildlife like dragonflies or bumble bees. I am also an avid disc golfer and have yet to discover a way to play disc golf in spring while also birding!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I recently moved to the Twin Cities and joining a UBC walk was one of the first things I put on my to do list. Since graduating college I’ve moved around quite a bit, but my love for birding has remained constant. UBC is unlike any birding group I had joined before, focusing on the diversity of both birds and people. It was people who got me into birding and I would love to help be that support for new birders!
What is your favorite bird?
I also can’t choose a favorite, but now as I am writing this answer, the most recent bird that made me smile was an American Coot.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
The place I have been birding the most so far is at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, mainly the visitor center feeders, Bass Ponds, and Old Cedar Ave Bridge. I’m looking forward to visiting more places with UBC.
What do you like best about being outside?
I enjoy being outside because I just do. I know it makes me feel good and that is enough for me to keep going back outside. Saying good morning to the dandelions, feeling the wind twirl my hair, following an ant across the sidewalk, and being reminded to be intentional about where I step are just a few things I enjoy in nature.
What other activities do you enjoy?
Here are a few things I enjoy and a favorite of each: 1. Playing board games – Pandemic 2. Watching movies – Whisper of the Heart 3. Going for walks – anywhere with trees 4. Baking – cookies 5. Drinking tea – lemon ginger.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I have always enjoyed birding as a hobby and a way to connect with other bird nerds. Being a queer and BIPOC individual, I was ecstatic to discover the Urban Birding Collective here in the Twin Cities. The opportunity to help cultivate such an inclusive space for all communities to feel empowered to get outside and enjoy nature through birding is one that I am so honored to be a part of. I am here both to learn and share my knowledge and passion for conservation and of course for birds!
What is your favorite bird?
My favorite bird has to be the quirky American woodcock.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
My favorite birding spot in the TC is Theodore Wirth Regional Park.
What do you like most about being outside?
I enjoy being in nature because it provides me an opportunity to slow down and regain perspective on the world we live in.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy reading, playing volleyball, cooking, and going on adventures with my wife, Blandine, and dog, Blue.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
Growing up in Honduras and living in the Midwest sparked my interest in migratory connectivity of birds. I’m always pursuing collaboration between organizations in North/Neotropic region whose goals include bird habitat protection and promote role of avi-tourism in conservation. I’m also interested in showing a more diverse group of folks the benefits of the outdoors and understand what type of barriers prevent them from doing so.
What is your favorite bird?
Golden-winged Warbler
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
The metro offers so much for birding; TS Roberts Bird Sanctuary
What do you like best about being outside?
It is relaxing to be in contact with Nature
What other activities do you enjoy?
I’m a soccer fan; Minnesota United FC supporter.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I am happy to be with others who find peace and joy at seeing our bird relatives. I am grateful that other people show concern and care for them.
What is your favorite bird?
I love many, many birds–it would be like choosing a child! I was so happy to see the evening grosbeak on our trip–it brought me back to my childhood.
What is your favorite birding spot?
I am always at Carlos Avery (I just left there) looking at birds and plants.
What do you like best about being outside?
I feel a sense of safety, calm and gratitude outside. There is a feeling of connection with all life when I can listen with my heart.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I love looking for plants–seeing how we truly live in a complex connected world of Life.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I became part of the UBC because I enjoy spending time outdoors – hiking, birding, camping, or just feeling the sun on my face. I’ve always loved being out in nature. When I’m in the woods, or the bog, or the prairie, I feel more complete, part of a larger something. Unfortunately, when I hike or bird around the state, I do notice that I don’t see many people of color or LGBTQ folks. Being a member of the UBC allows me to introduce nature and the wild places still left to those who may not have grown up in nature, or who are concerned about being out in isolated places by themselves. I want them to be able to experience how inspiring and centering the outdoors can be. I also meet really cool people, and we learn together, while having fun and walking the trails.
What is your favorite bird?
I don’t have a favorite bird. That’s like asking about your “favorite child”. I enjoy all birds, wildlife, and life in general, including plants, fungi, and invertebrates. My favorite anything is the one that I’m seeing or hearing at that moment.
What is your favorite birding spot? The Twin Cities and greater MN have so many great birding spots. I suppose my favorites would be Wood Lake in Richfield and Westwood Hills in St-Louis Park. They’ve got water and different habitats, so I always see mammals, birds, fungi, butterflies, and if I’m lucky, herps too. But the Three Rivers Parks, the State Parks, and the US National Wildlife Refuges are always great too.
What do you like best about being outside?
See #1.
What other activities do you enjoy?
Camping, photography, travel, canoeing, biking, reading, but mostly I work.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I hope to share my joy and curiosity for the natural world with folks in our community.
I care about our environment and building accessibility in outdoor experiences.
Favorite Bird?
My favorite bird is the Barn Swallow because it reminds me of Grandpa.
Favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
There are many great places to going birding in the Cities! I enjoy Battle Creek Regional Park, which is just a hop, skip and jump away from my neighborhood.
Favorite thing about being outside?
Being outside gives me a chance to relax, observe, and explore the world around me.
Other interest or hobby other than birding?
I like cooking, painting, playing soccer and hanging with my bunnies.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
My favorite part of the Collective is being surrounded by people that are knowledgeable, welcoming and safe. I enjoy being part of that and helping to continue it forward. Every time I go on a walk, I learn so much about birds and life from fellow walk leaders and participants.
What is your favorite bird?
The Scarlet Tanager. I saw it early on when I started birding. I had never seen a bird so bright, and I didn’t think I would see it in Minnesota. It was during Warbler Weekend 2023.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I enjoy walking through the Eloise Butler Garden at Theo Wirth Park.
What do you like best about being outside?
Summer is my favorite season, but I think I spend more time outdoors in the winter! I look forward to the bird counts. In all seasons, the outdoors is usually a space to connect with others. I rarely go outside alone.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy playing the ukulele, skating (ice skating and roller skating), cooking, baking, reading and stretching. I’m also passionate about improving in ASL (American Sign Language), so I practice that a lot.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I got into birding in 2017 when I was living and working in Duluth. One of my coworker friends up there is big into birding and got me hooked. When I moved back to the Twin Cities, I continued to bird, but without easy access to my friend I was on my own to develop my skills. I’ve birded with various groups and, as I am sure is no surprise to folks here, I was usually the only person of color. After learning more about the Urban Bird Collective, I wanted to figure out how to be a part of this community. Outdoor spaces haven’t been the most accommodating or safe for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Being able to be a part of an organization that works hard to center our identities, our experiences, our passions, and helps us to access and belong in green and blue spaces is vital to our wellbeing. It nourishes me to know I’ve found my flock with the Collective.
What is your favorite bird?
Any bird that is in front of me. Or to the side of me or above me or below me.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I have so many! I really love the Old Cedar Ave Bridge area and the hike to Bass Ponds.
What do you like best about being outside?
I love the full sensory experiences of being outside. I feel rejuvenated, re-centered, balanced, and at peace when I can be in outdoor spaces. In my professional life I use the research on the benefits of being out in nature to create programming and educate others. Mother Nature is amazing and always gives us an amazing show. I have wonderful early memories of learning about the wilds from my father. He was an artist and nature was his muse. I like to think when I’m outside I’m walking through his many canvases.
What other activities do you enjoy?
In no particular order: biking, kayaking, photography, camping, hiking, jigsaw puzzling (and puzzle racing!), astronomy, meteorology (certified storm spotter here!), reading (voracious reader and generous customer at many indie bookstores anywhere), and eating good pizza…that counts as an activity, right?
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I absolutely love nature, birding and being outdoors. I think it is important to have a space where diverse individuals are able to be exposed to and have access in a safe and inviting environment.
What is your favorite bird?
Bobolink. It is a striking bird with a very interesting song. Unfortunately, with habitat loss it becomes harder to find but I’m always thrilled when I find a new location around the city where it is still hanging on.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area. It is a vast area with so many different possible ways to enjoy the outdoors in all seasons.
What do you like best about being outside?
It heals the mind and soul. It is a great place to just relax and absorb the world around you. Everything is new everyday; even if you walk the same block everyday. If you take the time to look and listen, you can find new and interesting things to see, hear or smell.
What other activities do you enjoy?
Camping, hiking, woodworking and gardening.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I am a part of the Collective because I am an avid bird lover, bird watcher and want to be able to share my knowledge and learn from others.
What is your favorite bird?
My favorite bird is the Black-capped Chickadee! It’s two calls always makes me smile!
What is your favorite birding spot?
My favorite Twin Cities birding spot is my backyard and our neighborhood – the West Side of St. Paul!
What do you like best about being outside?
My favorite thing about being outside is to be able to enjoy what is all around us and forget about the stresses of life
What other activities do you enjoy?
My other interests or hobbies other than birding are taking care of our 2 dogs, working 5 sports at the University of Minnesota and playing racquetball!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I am a part of the Urban Bird Collective because diversity is critical to our ongoing and future stewardship of our wild places.
What is your favorite bird?
My favorite bird is the chickadee. They are out and about on even the coldest days.
What is your favorite birding spot?
My favorite birding spot is along the St.Croix river in Minnesota.
What do you like best about being outside?
What I like being best about being outside is you are not inside, just kidding, I love the sun, wind, rain, trees, animals, rocks. I love it all.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy kayaking, home projects and genealogy.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I joined the collective because I was really wanting to be a part of this community — it is unlike any of the other birding/outdoor groups I’ve been involved with. I love seeing, learning, and trying to protect birds and it feels good to be around people who feel the same way. Being around people who are new to birding is also exciting because it’s both an opportunity to learn from them, and to teach.
What is your favorite bird?
This really depends on the day. I have an affinity for Kestrels, Northern Shrikes, and all of the owls — the way that they scan the ground from above, reminds me of our cat…
What is your favorite birding spot?
Silverwood Park in St. Anthony — because we lived close to it and I walked there daily (but we recently moved!).
What do you like best about being outside?
Most of the time, it improves my mood [depending on the weather] 🙂
What other activities do you enjoy?
I like reading, going for walks with my sons (I’m a mom to twins), volunteering, and kayaking. Foraging mushrooms is another hobby of mine — but I’m new to it.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
The Collective introduced me to birding. My partner and I were invited to a sandhill crane event in 2022— we knew nothing about the Collective (or birding!) but felt instantly welcomed. A couple years later, we are both new leaders! I feel passionate about fostering affirming, inclusive, accessible outdoor spaces for queer, trans, and BIPOC people, and I am excited to be joining UBC’s work.
What is your favorite bird?
Choosing a favorite is tough— there are still so many birds to meet! I grew up in Sacramento, CA, and I have a soft spot for the magpies, scrub jays, flickers, and mourning doves that frequented my childhood backyard. Moving to Minnesota was an ornithological culture shock that still feels exciting and new. I saw cedar and Bohemian waxwings for the first time recently and am majorly crushing. Great blue herons, a frequent sight both here and back home, are also near to my heart; I love to watch them gliding low over a misty river.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I am really partial to trails along rivers, so Afton State Park and the Mississippi River trails near my house in St. Paul are faves for me.
What do you like best about being outside?
Oh, everything. I often find myself outside when I am in need of a center; I am always surprised to discover that the center I’m looking for isn’t in me, but around me. It is helpful to be reminded that I am one single part of a vast web of relationships that exists mostly beyond my understanding. Tuning in to those relationships (even a little bit) feels very nourishing.
What other activities do you enjoy?
My partner and I love to cook (and eat!) and we do a lot of experimenting in the kitchen. I can also be spotted roller skating, playing guitar, quilting, reading, and taking night classes in American Sign Language.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
To help educate and teach about the great outdoors and birding. Passing on environmental education will be pivotal in the new age of technology. We cannot forget our animal relatives and all they have done for us. I hope to spark an interest in birds to youth/the public, the same spark and appreciation I have gained for the love of birds more in depth the past few years.
What is your favorite bird?
All birds. Western Meadowlarks and Magpies back home in the Dakota’s. Golden Eagles as a raptor, all owls are favorites. Juncos in the winter, goldfinches in the summer and I just love little field sparrows right now, they are fun to observe and hear. I have many favorites in many categories so feel free to ask!
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Anywhere in the Minnesota River Valley, and around the Mississippi River is a hit. Lebanon Hills Regional Park as well, I have experience guiding those hills. (Former Dakota County Parks Naturalist)
What do you like best about being outside?
Enjoying nature free, unattached, unplugged unless I have my camera with me. Nothing beats the fresh air, the sound of a small stream passing through the woods or the wind blowing bird song through the air. Learning from our animal relatives is another reason I try to get outside as much as possible. Everyday, every experience you have with an animal relative you can learn from them. Birds are extremely smart and highly intelligent animals.
What other activities do you enjoy?
Tracking and photographing mammals. I started out photographing cottontail rabbits at a young age and have continued to learn as a self-taught photographer, naturalist, tracker and now birder. The more you experience the great outdoors and escape the city the more you can learn. The cities offer great resources and destinations for viewing and learning about birds but I enjoy hiking the furthest away, the roads less traveled. Just observing and being in the presence of mammals, birds, nature and other wildlife will make my day. Nature is healing.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I am a part of the Collective because I believe in its philosophy of inclusiveness and its richness of programs.
What is your favorite bird?
My favorite bird is my “spark” bird, a yellow-headed blackbird. It is the bird I first saw at MN Valley NWR headquarter in Bloomington after I retired, and I immediately fell in love with birding. The rest, like they say, is history.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I have many favorite birding spots in the Twin Cities. Chief among them are: Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Snail Lake, Vadnais Lake, Sucker Lake, Purgatory Wetlands, and Bass Ponds
What do you like best about being outside?
To me, being outside is a communion with nature, a meditation of the mind. Walking in the woods, hearing bird songs and enjoying the tranquility of nature are the ultimate relaxation of the body and the mind.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy reading, travel, cooking, movies, word games, music, and social gatherings with friends, besides birding.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I want to support UBC’s mission in ways that I can. As a queer, mixed race person who has worked in conservation and spends time outdoors I’m passionate about making it more accessible and inclusive. Birding is for everyone!
What is your favorite bird?
Probably the Northern Saw-whet Owl. Small and elusive. Also, they have hairy feet. Kinda like me.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Eloise Butler Flower Garden 🙂
What do you like best about being outside?
I love being able to watch trees sway in the wind, or say hi to my neighbors as they pass. It’s a way of feeling connected and affirmed. I think it is so fun to share a plant with a bee for a moment- I smell the Russian sage while the bee gets the nectar. Just remembering I’m a creature too.
What other activities do you enjoy?
Farting around, mostly. That includes honest and sweaty dancing, trying new recipes, hiking around looking at all the things, reading, creating unnecessary spreadsheets.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
i am part of the UBC for a few reasons: 1. a reason to FORCE myself to do things I enjoy – instead of working all the time! 2. to sharpen my skills as a birder. 3. to meet new people and have fun!
What is your favorite bird?
That is tough. All time favorite has to be a chickadee. I love their “sweetie, sweetie” song which reminds me of my childhood. I also had a really special moment with a Boreal Chickadee at the Sax Zim Bog that I’ll never forget.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I love going to Wakan Tipi, aka, Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, because it’s so close to my house and the cultural significance of the place. But I also love Battle Creek and Crosby Farm.
What do you like best about being outside?
There is really nothing that can compare to spending time outdoors to reset your mental wellbeing. If I get super stressed, nothing can help get me back to balance like some time in a natural place.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I love foraging, cooking, sewing, hiking, puzzling and board games with the fam, and then the summer powwows!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I joined UBC because I was looking for a deeper sense of community. I knew I loved birds, being outdoors, and connecting with people from all walks of life. UBC provided all of the above right from the start! It is such a welcoming environment where all of my nerdy bird facts are fully, enthusiastically embraced and I can learn something new during every excursion.
What is your favorite bird?
All of them? Whenever I see a species I have not seen before it becomes my new favorite. If I had to pick a few top species, they would have to be, in no particular order, the barn swallow, American bittern, yellow-rumped warbler, northern harrier, loggerhead shrike, rough-legged hawk, emperor penguin, indigo bunting, cedar waxwing, and, of course, the hardy little black-capped chickadee.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Bass Ponds would have to be number one. I always have amazing experiences there from osprey flying directly overhead to ducks numbering in the hundreds. Otherwise drop me in any state park and I am one happy birder.
What do you like best about being outside?
Being outside gives me the space to relax and forget about my daily stressors. It is a place where I feel most connected to the world and to myself all at once. I also love getting lost in the sounds nature provides, whether it be bird song, rustling leaves, or crashing waves.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I am an avid runner that is usually training for anything from a 5k up to a marathon (always open to new running buddies!). I also enjoy kayaking around the Chain of Lakes, hiking through the wonderful state parks Minnesota has to offer, and volunteering at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center. To relax, I find comfort through puzzles, meditation, documentaries, music, spending time with loved ones, or simply curling up with a hot cup of tea.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I recently moved to the Twin Cities and was looking to find community with folks who care about birding and fostering welcoming, inclusive spaces together. I’m so excited to learn from everyone around me and feel comfortable being my full self.
What is your favorite bird?
My favorites birds right now are the American kestrel and Blue-winged warbler!
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I enjoy going to Silverwood Park and the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary.
What do you like best about being outside?
Being outside is how I feel most connected to the world around me. I love feeling how we move through the seasons and noticing the small details and intricacies of those shifts. Hearing the birds singing or seeing a flutter of feathers keeps me in sustained wonder and gratitude.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I love playing board games, going to trivia, unicycling, and learning more about plant ID and biology.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
UBC is a safe space where I can spend time outdoors with individuals from diverse backgrounds who share my passion for bird watching. I feel so fortunate to have found this group of folks.
What is your favorite bird?
Cedar Waxwings
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?The Eloise Butler Flower Garden and the Long Lake portion of the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge are two of my favorites.
What do you like best about being outside?
I love being outside because there is no goal. There is no right way to be outside. It’s a space where you can do whatever you want without feeling like you are in competition with others.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy hiking and kayaking.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
The Urban Bird Collective provides such an important and welcoming space. As a queer, mixed race person, outdoor spaces that center BIPOC and queer community are so valuable and affirming to me. And, I love birds and learning from people who are so knowledgeable about nature and wildlife!
What is your favorite bird?
I don’t think I could ever pick just one bird, but a bird I am always excited to see is a pileated woodpecker. I love how dramatic they are, in size, coloring, and the noises they make. Seeing one swooping overhead is always a joy.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I love the river gorge in Minneapolis, and particularly the sand flats. It is great for spotting woodpeckers, as well as lots of other birds during the spring migration! I love how wild this place feels, even though it is in the middle of the city.
What do you like best about being outside?
Spending time outside helps me remember my place in our vast ecological community. It inspires me to learn more about my plant and animal neighbors, and reminds me of how connected we are to everything and everyone around us.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I love cooking, reading, and getting into new arts and crafts projects, particularly fiber arts!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I have spent a lot of time in nature alone, which has been both healing and challenging. However within those experiences, rarely have I met, hiked, camped next to, or birded with someone who looks like me. I want this to change! I’m ecstatic to be a part of an outdoor collective that empowers and celebrates diversity in our community and in nature.
What is your favorite bird?
Every year I feel like I have a new favorite! This year it’s Shovelers 🙂 But, the bird that has always held special meaning to me is the Great Blue Heron.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
It’s so hard to choose! There are so many places to experience nature here in the Twin cities. The places I visit every spring and fall for birds are Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Minnehaha Parkway trails and Fort Snelling state park.
What do you like best about being outside?
After every outdoor experience, even the ones where things don’t go according to plan, I always feel at peace, satiated, connected and alive! All of the sensory experiences bring me so much joy.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy cooking, reading, canoeing/kayaking, swimming and working!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
The connections that people have with nature and the outdoors make for healthier people and heather communities and I want to be part of that here in the city that raised me. I love birds and believe in their magic and power to transform and move energy. Birds bring me so much joy and building relationships around joy is really fulfilling. I believe that Black, Indigenous, People of Color and LGBTQ+ folks coming together in joy and celebrating connections with each other and nature is an act of liberation and contributes to a larger well-being.
What is your favorite bird?
That is impossible for me to choose! I go through different favorite birds depending on the seasons and what is going on in my life. Some favorites include: California scrub jay, red-tailed hawk, bushtit, and the loon. I was fortunate enough to build a relationship with a Peregrine Falcon named Finnegan, who couldn’t live in the wild on his own. I was able to be one of his handlers and spent many years with him. We built a relationship and he taught me so much. I really loved that bird, so he is my favorite individual bird I ever met.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Lake Nokomis.
What do you like best about being outside?
I like how it gets me to tune into different things. I like how being outside heightens my awareness of the wind, the sun, the rain, the sounds, and what is going on with the plants and birds. Being outside can make me feel more at peace and hopeful and reminds me of the bigger picture.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I like to garden and cook and eat. I like to walk and talk (or not talk). I like to spend time with my family and loved ones. I like to look at moss and gather mushrooms. And I love a good queer dance party!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I really love UBC’s mission of creating a safe and supportive environment for all communities and skill levels. Over the past year or so I’ve gone on a number of bird walks with UBC and have found all the leaders that I’ve met to be super welcoming and knowledgeable individuals with so much positive energy. I’m excited to be a part of such an amazing and diverse group of people and to be able to learn from them as well as to be able to share my love of birds and the outdoors with others.
What is your favorite bird?
My neighbor put up a bird feeder in the tree outside my window and almost every day either a male or female Downy Woodpecker stops by for a bite to eat. They always give a little “peep” as if to say “Hi” when they drop in which makes me very happy. So, these little Downys have easily become my favorites.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Picnic Island at Fort Snelling State Park. It’s a really beautiful spot in the park with lots of trees and picnic tables but also generally pretty quiet without too many people around. It’s also close to home so I like to ride my bike over there to sit and watch the Egrets which I usually see fishing in the river. I also love to see what other birds I might find there.
What do you like best about being outside?
I grew up in a rural part of San Diego, California so as kids we were always running around outdoors – hiking, biking, fishing, camping & exploring. So, I feel like being outside now, as an adult, takes me back to my natural state. It’s kind of like going home again which restores my energy, lifts my spirits, and just calms my mind.
What other activities do you enjoy?
Biking is one of my favorite things to do. But, I also enjoy traveling, hiking, taking walks around my neighborhood, hanging out with friends & family, going to museums, making art, going to the library, or just sitting with a good book and a freshly brewed cup of coffee at my favorite coffee shop or at home in a comfy chair.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I have been a woodsy city kid all my life. My father took us on nature walks for as long as I can remember. Growing up within walking distance to the river, I was able to observe all types of wildlife. I want to share my passion for outdoor space with other BIPOC folx and show off safe and relaxing locations that we can freely access.
What is your favorite bird?
Since I was a child I had a fascination with bird, with the American Robin being my favorite. I then fell in love with Raptors due to their power and grace.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot? I love Hidden Falls Regional Park. It has access to the river and lots of trails to walk and bike. They also have gender-neutral restroom. I also enjoy Veterans Park, it’s where I saw my first Great Horned Owl.
What do you like best about being outside?
I have a career the puts me in front of screens all day long. I enjoy being outside just to shut down and hit the reset button. Being in green spaces and experiencing the flora and fauna that I encounter just relaxes me.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I love fishing, gardening, camping and cooking. I’m a big sports fan and love to watch every sport that’s available to experience in Minnesota. I also volunteer on the board of Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis, Saint Paul, festival, and heritage foundation, and the EDIB+ committees for the Minneapolis Aquatennial and ACM.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
Birding gives a sense of home, family, and opportunities for new connections while in nature. I want to share these feelings with others!
What is your favorite bird?
I have too many! But the Great Horned Owl because I used to find their pellets in the woods as a kid and bring them in for show and tell.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Wood Lake Nature Center
What do you like best about being outside?
You never know what you might see!
What other activities do you enjoy?
I dance Argentine Tango and love to try other forms of dance! I love sports, so if you ever want to go to a game let me know!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
Observing birds and being out in nature is integral to my enjoyment of life. It is important to me to be a part of an organization that creates spaces within which everyone feels welcome to explore and appreciate nature together.
What is your favorite bird?
This is a tough question that I often answer with “whichever one I am looking at” because part of the attraction of birds for me is their wide variety. I will say though that I have a fondness for spunky little birds like wrens and titmice.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I am fortunate that my home is my favorite birding spot. When venturing further afield, my local favorite spots are Allemansratt Park, Carlos Avery WMA, and Wild River State Park.
What do you like best about being outside?
Being outdoors both grounds and restores me. If the day allows, I love to start off my morning with a nature walk before work and to end the day similarly. I enjoy observing the changing of the seasons and how plants, birds, mushrooms, insects, and all of nature adapt to the annual cycle.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I like photography and my camera is along on most birding outings. I also enjoy historical and genealogical research and graphic design.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
It means so much to explore and experience the joy of nature in a community that is safe, welcoming, and kind.
What is your favorite bird?
Sandhill cranes, but I really love them all!
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?I love the Vadnais-Sucker Lakes Regional Park because it is peaceful and beautiful, with a wide variety of birds. I have a favorite eagle’s nest on Vadnais Lake that I visit regularly.
What do you like best about being outside?
Feeling alive in the presence of birdsong, feeling calm in the presence of deep water, feeling protected in the presence of white pines, feeling loved in the presence of sunshine.
What other activities do you enjoy?
Reading, backcountry camping, gardening, yoga, kayaking and canoeing, cross-country skiing, campfires, farmer’s markets, sauna, hiking, swimming in lakes, grilling on my deck, sitting in a hammock under the trees.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I’m joining the Collective after being shown exceptional kindness and welcoming energy at UBC events. I’m very passionate about teaching as a way for me to help others feel included and wanted in birding/outdoor/conservation spaces, and I can’t wait to learn from all of you too!
What is your favorite bird?
My current favorite bird is the grey catbird. Mimics are so fascinating to me! Since they rely so much on memory for survival, they really represent the power and mystery of our memory to me. And I think that’s pretty special!
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Lake of the Isles is my current favorite, but specifically from paddle board or canoe. If you’re really lucky you’ll see the barred owl floating overhead as it crosses between islands.
What do you like best about being outside?
My best antidote to feeling down is to be moving my body around and exploring natural spaces. There’s something about giving into the distractions of patches of wildflowers or an elusive bird in the canopy that brings me so much joy!
What other activities do you enjoy?
I love photography, writing, and telling stories. I’m currently learning to play piano and rollerblade (I have fallen on 2 out of 3 attempts so far, but so ready for the next try). Canoeing, camping, and cooking also top my list of loves!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I am part of the Collective because I wanted to be in community with a birding group that was representative of my identity. Entering a new space is intimidating, but my first event with UBC was warm and welcoming, and I felt at home.
What is your favorite bird?
So many birds, and I have to choose a favorite? I think that one that I alway come back to is the Northern House Wren. I love the subtle, almost chevron-like pattern on their wings. The first time I heard their call it reminded me of a DJ scratching a record; I couldn’t get enough of it!
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
My favorite place to bird in the Twin Cities is along Minnehaha Creek. I live a block or so off of the creek and am amazed at the variety of birds I have seen blocks just from my house. It’s my go to spot for when I am short on time but really need to see some birds.
What do you like best about being outside?
I love the energy that being outside gives me. I love the sounds and the smells. I love that being outside makes me feel connected to the world around me and it reminds me how truly awe-inspiring our world is.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy riding my bicycle, playing games (board games, card games, video games, made-up games with my children), spending time with my partner and our 2 children, cooking and carrying on family cooking traditions, reading, and listening to music!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I believe passionately that birding is for everyone—it’s restorative, it promotes a conservation ethic, it helps to increase our knowledge of the natural world, it appeals to our aesthetic sense, and it gets us out in nature. The UBC is a great way to meet like-minded people.
What is your favorite bird?
I don’t know, mainly because I am intrigued by every bird I watch. But my personal bird is the wagtail, ever since I picked it as my pen-name when I wrote bad verse as a schoolboy.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
That has to be Crosby Farm Regional Park. I’ve been going there for almost 30 years.
What do you like best about being outside?
It’s conducive to thinking and relaxing and getting lots of fresh air.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I like reading novels, cooking, going for long walks (that segues into birding, actually), and watching movies.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
It’s important to me that everyone feels comfortable and welcome to explore nature at their own pace. UBC has created an amazing space to allow for learners and experienced birders from all backgrounds to come together around the idea of accessible, diverse birding.
What is your favorite bird?
It changes every day, but I have to say I’m always a big fan of the Black-capped Chickadee. They’re tiny and cute, but full of personality and tough enough to make it through Minnesota winters. Other birds and animals listen to their calls to learn what’s going on in the area, and they have an encyclopedic memory of where all their secret food caches are stored. What’s not to love?
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Sucker Lake in Vadnais Heights rarely disappoints. It’s my go-to in winter since the channel stays open and you’re guaranteed some close looks at waterfowl even when spring feels a long way off.
What do you like best about being outside?
It literally gets you into a different headspace. Anything you might have been caught up in mentally stops mattering for a while when you breathe fresh air and smell running water and catch the movements of wildlife from the corner of your eye. I am fully present in a way that never happens while stuck at a desk or glued to a screen.
What other activities do you enjoy?
So many of my hobbies go hand in hand with bird watching — camping, hiking, foraging. I have been a volunteer bird bander since 2022, and especially look forward to Saw-whet Owl banding season every fall. I am also a recovering journalist, and still like to scribble out some articles here and there. My involvement with the monthly UBC e-newsletter has allowed me to combine those passions and keep connected with the growing UBC community.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I am here to share my passion for birds and the environment, and to hold space for the LGBTQ+ community.
What is your favorite bird?
My favorite bird these days is the American Bald Eagle.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
My favorite birding spot lately is Fort Snelling State Park.
What do you like best about being outside?
I love how being outside in nature always fills my cup and clears my head. I head home feeling refreshed.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy reading, doing Zentangles, puzzling, cooking and drinking a nice NA beer.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I joined to be more involved in the birding community and to help provide a welcoming space for others to do the same! As a new birder, UBC made me feel very comfortable to attend events and meet other birders, so I would love to help continue that mission.
What is your favorite bird?
My spark bird was cedar waxwing, and I look forward to seeing the common nighthawks on summer evenings. I’m also a big fan of parrots.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I love Wood Lake Nature Center. One of the best things about it is that they have trails for three different biomes — forest, marsh, and prairie. My favorite sightings there are a family of baby turkeys, a great horned owl, and nesting trumpeter swans.
What do you like best about being outside?
Getting to know the local ecology is what made me feel most connected to Minnesota after I moved here. I first got into birding about a year and a half into living here, and it went such a long way towards making me feel at home because it got me to explore my surroundings and be more mindful.
What other activities do you enjoy?
When I have time, I like to paint and do embroidery or needle felting. I also love studying languages and other parts of the world.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
When I started birding, it was easy to get overwhelmed with information and options. Where do I go? What time of year? Will I be safe? Going to UBC events was so helpful. The events are truly accessible to beginners, which can be hard to find! Everyone was kind and friendly, and full of wonder and curiosity and joy. I learn so much at every event I attend. I joined the Collective to have more of that in my own life and share it with others.
What is your favorite bird?
Seeing Northern flickers hunt for ants after a rain got me started, so I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for those little weirdos. They’re like the platypus of birds.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Bass Ponds is hard to beat. So many ecosystems in one place! There’s also a huge bald eagle nest on my work commute that brings me joy every day, even if I don’t spot an eagle. Just knowing they live there and I’ll look again tomorrow makes me happy.
What do you like best about being outside?
It seems like where we’re supposed to be. It makes my brain feel better.
What other activities do you enjoy?
Big fan of cooking good food, eating good food, attempting to grow food for myself and my family and butterflies and bees and such, and reading!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I joined the collective because its mission resonates strongly with my own values. I’m passionate about learning, teaching, and spending time in nature. As a mixed-race and queer individual, I’m drawn to spaces that intentionally foster accessibility and inclusion. I was also eager to connect with a community of people who share my enthusiasm for birds and the natural world.
What is your favorite bird?
Such a tough question! It is always changing as I continue to learn, travel, and see birds I haven’t seen before. Right now, a few of my favorites are golden-crowned kinglets, American kestrels, sandhill cranes, great gray owls, Arctic terns, and the tūī.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Tamarack Nature Center. I work at Tamarack, and I love birding whenever I get the chance.
What do you like best about being outside?
What I like best about being outside is that it helps me refocus, relax, and recharge my mind and body. I also love that it gets me away from screens and feels more in the moment.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I love to spend time with my partner, friends, and family. I love to listen to music and podcasts, hike, kayak, SUP, practice wildlife photography, and play board games. My partner and I just adopted a leopard gecko that I am excited to work with and start a bioactive setup. We are also looking forward to having more pets in the near future!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I’ve been an environmental educator for a long time and a birder for less than that. I’ve always been interested in giving back to my community and finding other Queer folks with similar passions.
What is your favorite bird?
The hardest question ever. I proposed to my girlfriend surrounded by chirping white winged crossbills so we’ll call them my favorite.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I spend most of my time in the St. Croix River valley so I’d say Square Lake, near Stillwater. I’ve sat in my kayak many times, watching the birds fly across the lake.
What do you like best about being outside?
Being present. I love looking at everything around me and taking it in.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I’m a big board game nerd, Wingspan is a big one in our home. There’s nothing quite like being on the river. I love going camping and exploring new places with my partner.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I love sharing and experiencing the joys of birding with like-minded people. I spent the first half of my life feeling like an outsider a lot of the time; I encountered very few people who shared my biophilia. I finally found my queer nature nerdy community while living in Chicago, which made it very bittersweet when I moved back to Minnesota in 2022. But I quickly found UBC, and I felt fully embraced for who I am. This group is the missing piece I’ve been searching for.
What is your favorite bird?
How can I pick just one?? I do love herons of all shapes and sizes. They’re so sneaky! I also have a soft spot for the Cape May warbler, because we have one that visits our spruce tree during spring migration each year.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Maybe it’s cliche, but I love Wood Lake Nature Center and Old Cedar Ave Bridge because they both have such varied habitats, which means lots of cool birds! But they’re also both pretty large, so it’s hard to make those short trips (less than 2 hours).
What do you like best about being outside?
Getting lost in the moment and experiencing the rush of wonder again… and again… and again.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I’m usually down for anything that keeps me outside, especially gardening, going on nature walks with my family, biking, anything that gets me in or on water, and visiting outdoor saunas where I can cool off in a lake. I also love reading, sewing, and playing nerdy board games.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
Ever since I was a young girl, I was in love with the outdoors. I always wanted to take nature walks and I would always pounce on any opportunity to take a biology or an ecology class in grade school. I believe that it’s necessary to connect yourself with nature and be one with it. I am so proud and happy to be part of a group that shares these ideas and uplifts marginalized voices. Being with this group provides me a sense of comfort, safety and acceptance, being a place where I can enjoy being outdoors to the fullest.
What is your favorite bird?
I don’t really think I have a favorite bird! Every day there’s a different bird that I love, and I cherish them all equally. But if I were to make a guess on what my current favorite bird is, I would say the Gray Catbird. Their calls are so silly to me, and I think they’re very underrated.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
I would say Theodore Wirth Park! There’s lots of different locations around the park such as the Quaking bog, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and there’s lots of different trails that you can walk along and spend the entire day at the park just going bird watching.
What do you like best about being outside?
I love that sense of peace when you are immersed in the outdoors. The solitude and just hearing the earth breathe is just so peaceful to me.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I really enjoy writing, reading and drawing! I also love hiking, painting.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I’m a part of the Collective because I love to be outside in nature and I love to learn about the nature around me. I’ve been birding since around 2020, so it’s been awesome to be able to learn from more experienced birding while also getting to know more queer people in the Twin Cities. Urban Bird Collective has such a unique blend of outdoor learning and inclusive community building that I highly appreciate.
What is your favorite bird?
My favorite bird is the great horned owl. It feels so majestic and I never get tired of seeing one when I can. I especially love to see them in the winter with a white snowy backdrop. It just feels like a winter treat.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
My favorite spot to bird in the Twin Cities is Silverwood Park. It has access to walking trails with plenty of old oak and maple forests full of birds. It also has access to a lake, where I’ve kayaked and spotted even more birds, like a green heron and a kingfisher.
What do you like best about being outside?
I like the sense of calm that I get from being outside, especially in a forest. There’s something comforting about being surrounded by large trees.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy producing music, singing, playing tennis, and riding my bike.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
For the love of learning and birds! Soaking up and sharing wonder, knowledge, passion and observation within community.
What is your favorite bird?
Hummingbirds – wise, resilient, alluring beings! Recently, I’ve been excited by woodpeckers.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Anywhere that feels grounded and next to water.
What do you like best about being outside?
Feeling whole and connected 🙂
What other activities do you enjoy?
Dancing, ceramics, reading, playing bass, cooking, writing, music, film, backgammon and chess, working with plants and spending time with my loves.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
There is nothing better than being in community with fellow birders who are so open, welcoming, and joyful.
What is your favorite bird?
Current favorites include the pileated woodpecker, American kestrel, and Eastern kingbird.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Airport dog park / Mother Lake.
What do you like best about being outside?
I love being still, listening, and observing the busy world around me. And I love the surprise and wonder of any moment outside, not knowing what I will see or experience right around the next corner.
What other activities do you enjoy?
Mushroom foraging, gardening, travelling, making cocktails.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I love sharing my knowledge and learning from others, and UBC is such a welcoming space to do that. It’s important to me that everybody sees the outdoors as a place for them!
What is your favorite bird?
The scissor-tailed flycatcher because it reminds me of growing up birdwatching in Oklahoma. I also love sparrows!
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Nowhere beats Crosby Farm Park during spring migration.
What do you like best about being outside?
Being in nature makes me feel peaceful and connected to the mystery of the world. I love watching all animals, not just birds; it makes my week to see any kind of mustelid, like mink or river otters.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I love to sing, read poetry, write, make art, listen to music, and spend time with loved ones.
Why are you a part of the Collective?
Getting to know my human and more-than-human neighbors is important to me! As a queer person and relatively new birder, recently returned to the Twin Cities, I really appreciate learning from the rest of the collective and giving back by helping others build their relationships with this land.
What is your favorite bird?
I love deeply resonant and percussive bird sounds and silly mating behaviors. Of birds I’ve actually seen myself: Pileated Woodpeckers and Timberdoodles/Woodcocks currently top the list! Of birds I’ve only experienced through recordings: the American Bittern’s pump-er-lunk and the Sage Grouse’s booms.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
Mni Owe Sni and Minnehaha Creek Preserve are my current favorites! I am fascinated by post-industrial landscapes undergoing restoration (I wrote my M.Div. thesis on biblical interpretation in the context of SE Chicago’s Big Marsh Park). I’m also exploring MN’s SNAs and have had great bird encounters in them.
What do you like best about being outside?
Every venture outside offers a different gift: sometimes I witness a bumblebee sticking its head into a flower and wiggling its little bottom; other times I zoom across a wholly frozen lake on ice skates. Being outside – either to move through vastness or to closely examine smallness – is how I recalibrate myself.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I dance, skate, read, ring bells, and climb!
Why are you a part of the Collective?
I am a part of the Urban Bird Collective because seeing reflections of self in the places I love completes me.
What is your favorite bird?
My favorite bird is the cedar waxwing, I love their art deco look and their cooperative nature.
What is your favorite Twin Cities birding spot?
My favorite birding spot is the Space Coast in Florida, but in the Twin Cities I like Elm Creek Park.
What do you like best about being outside?
I love the outdoors, especially if I can jump off a rock into a lake.
What other activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy my work, which is to support formerly long-term homeless people in their housing, but I wish I could do it from a canoe!
The Saint Paul Bird Alliance’s mission is to engage a diverse community in enjoying, understanding, and protecting birds and the habitats all living beings need to thrive.
The Minneapolis Parks Foundation transforms human lives through parks and public spaces by aligning philanthropic investment and community vision.
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation partners with thousands of donors, nonprofit organizations and community members to help us meet our aspiration: An equitable, just and vibrant Minnesota where all people and communities thrive.
The REI Cooperative Action Fund is a community-driven nonprofit that gives grants to nonprofits doing the essential work in making the outdoors more accessible and inclusive for everyone.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/minnesota_valley/
The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a 14,000-acre National Wildlife Refuge in eastern and central Minnesota. Located just south of the city of Minneapolis, it is one of fourteen Regional Priority Urban Wildlife Refuges in the nation.
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sherburne/
Since 1993, Friends of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, a charitable nonprofit organization, has been a proud partner of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
Formerly known as Lower Phalen Creek Project, Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi is a Native-Led, East Side environmental stewardship nonprofit centered in Dakota values. Founded in 1997 by community activists, our project area stretches from Lake Phalen to the Mississippi River and throughout the (St.Paul) East Side River District. Our work is powered by a dedicated board, staff, and community of volunteers.
Connecting People to the Outdoors through experiences that grow community.
Mississippi Park Connection provides opportunities for people to get to and on the river–and have a National Park experience in the Twin Cities.
Monica Bryand started out her career as an accountant but was fortunate to spend over 25 years in the philanthropic community including 16 years at Headwaters Foundation for Justice. In 2015 Monica decided to make a major career and has taken on many consulting opportunities and followed her passion for bird photography working on a special project with Audubon MN
Monica believes in community service and has served on many boards and committees for over 25 years and currently volunteers with her local District Council the West Side Community Council and St. Paul’s Bird Alliance Conservation Committee and board and serves on the board of HawkRidge.
Monica is a Latina that believes that it is critical to work across issues that affect us all and to work for systems change at the same time. Monica’s passions include environmental, women’s, people of color, and glbt issues. She feels extremely fortunate to pursue her passions for both people and the birds.
Holly (she/her/ella) has volunteered in her communities for many years, supporting and leading efforts focused on the principles of humanitarianism and centering historically excluded groups in decisions, leadership, and outcomes. Holly is a website manager at the University of Minnesota, supporting research groups in compliance, safety, ethics, and advancement of research outcomes. She has previously served on an alumni board and is a website go-to for Grease Rag Ride & Wrench (a bicycling group that promotes safety, celebration, and skills for trans/femme/women in the Twin Cities area).
Holly’s favorite bird is the indigo bunting because, after thirty years of daydreaming about that beautiful bright blue bird in her grandmother’s birding book, she spotted one in the wild at Minnehaha Falls for the first time in 2017. This ignited her hobby as a “birder,” complimenting an existing obsession with foraging and time spent outdoors.
Jill Meyer was lucky to have birding parents who shared with her the joy of being in natural spaces. Most of her regular activities extend outdoors: hiking, camping, biking, gardening, or sitting on the deck watching the backyard birds. Jill paints and draws, and the main subjects are…birds! She did the drawings for the UBC coloring book!
But the themes are sacred places, environmental protection, awareness of climate change, a different angle of looking at the natural world. Professionally, Jill was a data geek consultant for non-profits. In retirement, her wife and she are doing more exploring of the natural world in their pop-up camper and just going out the front door in their Minneapolis neighborhood to see what nature holds. And dog parks, too, with their little rascal, Tater.
Tom Thao is a community member, organizer, and activist in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. He has previously worked as an organizer for Move Minnesota, a Saint Paul based non-profit working around transportation and putting people first. He is also a Health Educator with Ramsey County Public Health informing community about health concerns and including and elevating community voices in County wide decision-making.
Tom is passionate about the outdoors whether it’s Boundary Water trips, community bike rides or a relaxing walk around the lakes, he’s excited to be present in nature. He is also committed normalizing #blackandbrownpeopleoutdoors.
Chris is a community organizer for the Association for Non-Smokers MN (ANSR) and Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation (MSFG) coalition. In his role, he enjoys connecting communities with lawmakers and local leadership. He believes that community engagement is key to developing sound equitable policies. His breadth of community organizing experience came from working closely with faith communities as a congregational organizer and field organizing for political and issue campaigns during numerous election cycles.
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s in advocacy and political leadership -both from Metropolitan State University. Chris is a downtown Saint Paul resident and spends much of his free time outdoors biking, camping, developing bike camping routes for his next adventure, and cheering on the St. Paul Saints with friends and family.
Stephanie Wang is a community member who has found her post-retirement passion in working on local sustainability issues. Most of her work reflects her support of her local watershed district. She enjoys developing projects that seek to broaden environmental engagement in audiences of all ages.
Stephanie most appreciates seeing the positive changes taking place all around her as she and her husband bird, hike, and bike around the Twin Cities.
Jasmine is a passionate advocate for positive change with a background in Political Science and minors in Religion and Sociology.
She has dedicated time to community work, supporting BIPOC residents, renters, and unhoused individuals with care and intention.
Motivated by her family and a drive to be the change she wishes to see, Jasmine remains a steadfast activist. In her downtime, she enjoys spending quality time with friends, exploring the outdoors, watching anime, and building intricate LEGO sets.
Jen believes that connecting to nature is an important part of mental and spiritual health, at both the individual and community level. She has been a volunteer for youth and outdoor programs since her teen years. More recently she has been a board member of her district
council and continues to advocate for her West Side neighborhood. Her work life is spent protecting water quality for the State of Minnesota.
Jen is a lifelong resident of St Paul, and is happiest out in the parks along the River. She spends time outdoors hiking, taking photos, and learning.
Nydia (she/her) moved to Minnesota from El Salvador in 2009. She has lived in St. Paul since 2013 when her daughter was born. It was while exploring her Battle Creek neighborhood that she discovered Wakan Tipi and volunteered for clean-up, planting, and weeding events. It was also through Wakan Tipi she discovered the Urban Bird Collective while attending a BIPOC bird walk.
She loves being in nature and sharing her love of birding and the outdoors with her two kids (9 & 11) and hopes they too grow up to appreciate all the birds in Minnesota. She is an administrative assistant but finds ways to be creative too. She has designed her work’s end-of-year card for the past five years. She loves to draw, carve stamps, sew etc. Anything you can make with your hands!
Her love of birding started when she took a college biology class in her early 20s and she started birding again about 4 years ago. She thinks birding is a journey, one you can do over your lifetime, as a child, adult or in retirement.
