Volunteers
NYC Bird Alliance was founded as NYC Audubon in 1979 by a group of passionate bird- and nature-lovers who volunteered their time to protect bird habitat in Central Park’s Ramble. The organization has now grown to include a full-time professional staff that oversees conservation and outreach campaigns in all five boroughs of New York City, but much of our work is still carried out by thousands of dedicated volunteers. Our volunteers monitor buildings for bird collisions with windows, count horseshoe crabs, waterbirds, and wintering birds; write articles for our newsletter and blog; donate photography; and serve on our board of directors, advisory council, and young conservationist council.
A volunteer joins NYC staff to monitor the 9/11 Tribute in Light memorial for birds trapped in the light beams. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
A volunteer counts and records Atlantic horseshoe crabs in Jamaica Bay. Photo: Petra Kipke
NYC Bird Alliance’s Young Conservationists Council hosts Trivia Night at the Ditty. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
A volunteer joins NYC staff to monitor the 9/11 Tribute in Light memorial for birds trapped in the light beams. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
A volunteer counts and records Atlantic horseshoe crabs in Jamaica Bay. Photo: Petra Kipke
NYC Bird Alliance’s Young Conservationists Council hosts Trivia Night at the Ditty. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
In 2023, over 1,000 New Yorkers volunteered their time and energy with NYC Bird Alliance to help birds. We acknowledge their dedicated efforts below. If you volunteered during this time period and your name is not on this list, please let us know at volunteer@nycbirdalliance.org. We want to make sure you receive the recognition you deserve.
Orientations for NYC Bird Alliance's volunteer programs are scheduled throughout the year. Learn about current volunteer opportunities with NYC Bird Alliance.
Collision monitors Fruzsina Agocs (left) and Hilary Berliner (right) sort through dead and injured birds found in a single morning in downtown Manhattan. Photo: Winston Qin
Project Safe Flight
For over 25 years, NYC Bird Alliance’s Project Safe Flight has worked to make the City safer for the millions of birds that migrate through New York City each spring and fall. Collisions with windows are a huge cause of bird mortality in the City, killing as many as a quarter million birds per year, according to our research. Those local research findings, which have fueled our successful advocacy efforts to pass the City's landmark bird-friendly building law in 2019 and important Lights Out Legislation in 2021, have been collected largely by NYC Bird Alliance’s community scientists. These dedicated volunteers patrol the City streets looking for collision victims and ensure that any injured birds have the best chance of recovery.
Collision Monitors
Collision Monitoring volunteers walk a determined route known to be dangerous to birds and record any collision victims found, adding their findings to the Project Safe Flight database.
Fruzsina Agocs Sara Aguia Karen Alroy Divya Anantharaman Elizabeth Azzolini Amanda Baker Sarah Benson Hilary Berliner Susan Blackwell Rebecca Bojar Torie Bolster Rachel Bondra Michelle Bonfils Lindsay Brett Melissa Breyer Hayden Brockett Cindy Brome Rebecca Bronstein Kristine Bruch Jenn Burland Penelope Bustamante James Byatt Caitlin Carey Alex Carido Rocco Cetera Kevin Chau Gia Chen Haley Collins Robert Coover Hector Cordero Sunny Corrao Abigail Cundiff Monica Cuoco Tara Daino Heather Davidson Julia Deng Laure Dunham Siobhan Dunne Kate Dwyer Emily Edmonds-Langham Sarah Edmunds Molly Eustis Thomas Fedorek Katherine Figueroa Matthew Fischer Dawn Fischer Fitz Fitz Heather Flock Judith Fox-Miller Carla Garcia Andrew Garn Madeleine George Sarah Gilly Yekaterina Gluzberg Deborah Goldberg Mallory Gong Yesenia Gonzaga Emily Goodman Kira Grant Zoe Grueskin Melissa Hacker Frances Hall Amy Harris Ben Hatch Johanna Heimberger Rachel Hertzman Jia-En Ho Breck Hostetter Noah Hyleck Alex Israel Pooja Jayaraman Wooyo Jin Jamie Johnson Madeline Jones Nick Kaledin Rebecca Kane Mindy Kaufman Mark Keegan Henry Kelley Vanessa Kelly Kerry Kiang Jon Kielty Inhi (Clara) Kim Hannah Kirshenbaum Takako Kobayashi Eunice Kokor Linda LaBella Christine Lacovetta Barbara Langlois Trang Le Mercedes Li Tina Li Barbara Lilliston Emerald Lin Laura Lincks Judy Lipton Kevin Lovingood Dorothy Lyon Colin Macdonald Lucia Reyes Manzano Gomez Patrick Markee Jake Markey Madeleine Marrin Lauren McCarthy Shane McGrogan Jo Anna Mclean Mariela Mendoza Shannon Mich Brad Mielke Frederica Miller Barbara Mistler Jenny Lee Mitchell Jenny Monick Ren Moreau Margaret Murphy Shreyas Navare Michelle Ng Du Emily Nichols Sanaz Nosrat Aidan O'Keefe Hannah Oh Jenny Osman Jessii Parham Amanda Parsels Kaylee Paucar Barbara Phillips Reese Powell Beth Powers Jeannette Price Hennessey Priest-Lopez Brenda Puelles Winston Qin Amanda Raker Suzanne Ramoutar Carolyn Reich Aimee Reiss Svitlana Renbenok Kathryn Rider Stacy Rodenberg Indra Rodies Miles Ross Wing Yan Sang Ashley-Luisa Santangelo Tom Sarraude Chelsea Schafer Jane Schreibman Kimberly Schwab Gil Schwartz Lucie Scott Carol Seferi Daniel Seferi Amanda Sevareid Brittany Shaw Ben Shay Stephane Sykes Diana Teeter Sonia Thakur Jer Thorp Noriko Tokuya Audrey Trainor Joyce Turiskylie Annette Veliz Beka Venezia Nicole Vergalla Debra Vilen Virginia Villa Megs Wacha Emma Walker Abby Walton Hendrik Weideman Gillian Wells Alice Winkler Greta Wong Laura Worden Grace Yasumura Ariel Yuan Yuan Yuan Christopher Zavelo Aria Zhang Zhiyi Zhang Sophia Zhou
Injured Bird Response Team, Injured Bird Transporters, and Raptors NYC Group
NYC Bird Alliance's Audubon's Injured Bird Response Team and Injured Bird Transporters cooperate with the independent Raptors NYC Group to ensure that young and injured birds across the City get the help they need. See current opportunities to participate here.
Jay Ackroyd Victoria Adam Tori Adams Nicole Ahronee Leah Allen Esmae Alpert Maggie Ambrosino Divya Anantharaman Lisa Anderson Adrienne Angelo Zoe Anthony-Redman Arjun Arora Amy Aversa Didi Aydemir Hallie Ayres Katherine Bannigan Marina Barry Audrey Bartow Nadilyn Beato Cory Bee Ian Bell Rowan Benda Brigid Bjorklund Lyubov Bogdanova MaryJane Boland Jennifer Books Victoria Booth Hayden Brockett Martha Brodylo Jennifer Brown Donegal Browne Philip Burke Dana Burns Vanessa Cabrera Andrew Calise Carole Campbell Siobhán Carroll Zoe Chan Catherine Chang Sheila Chellgren Selina Chen Shimeng Cheng Christa Clay Emily Colavito DJ Colwell Amy Coombs Hector Cordero Ariel Cordova-Rojas Jules Corkery Joseph Czeisel Jade Daru Leslie Day Peter de Simone Andrew Deng Heidi Denker Jose Diaz Carina Don Rita Donlon Chloe Drimal Molly Durawa Alexandra Durham Eric Durkin Emily Einhorn Colleen Farrell Jack Farzan Annie Fell Sandy Fiebelkorn Katherine Figueroa Senka Filipovic Mary Flaherty Rachel Frank Miles Franklin Matthew Fritze Andrew Garn Benjamin Garron-Caine Arden Gill Barbara Glover Stephanie Golden Joan Grady Olivia Greco Stephanie Gregory Kathryn Gretzewich Patricia Grew Martha Grieco Betsy Gude Cynthia Guile Margaret Haigney Dawn Hannay Anita Haravon Charlotte Harding Megan Harris Phil Harris Ashley Harris Peggy Herron Tristan A. Higginbotham Rebecca Hinde Jia-En Ho Carla Hojaiban Gloria Hong David Hopp Bobby Horvath Cathy Horvath Allison Howe Evelyn Huang Travis Huggett Christine Jackson Jairus James Dahlia Japhet Elisa Jara Wooyo Jin Emily Johnson Lynn Johnson Hitomi Kakuda Laura Karol Ellen Kastel Daniel Katz Caroline Kessler Ghanim Khalil Jon Kielty Michelle Knoernschild Jeffrey Kollbrunner Justin Koplin Alyssa Koutellos Jonathan Kovacs Jeff Kraus Chris Kreussling Laura Kronbichler Cristina Lalama Kathy Lee Pilar Leon Charlotte Lesnick Beatrice Lesser Katie Leung Jenna Levendosky Paulina Leyva Jessica Licciardello Olivia Limone Laura Lincks Karin Littlefield Mengxi Liu Mia Logan Tom Loizeaux Reynard Loki Alexandra Lopez Reitzes Marisa Mace Angelina Martinez-Rubio Rob Mastrianni Virginia Matney Elise Mazzetti Marco Mazzocco Jane McAndrew Ritamary McMahon Calista McRae Geraldo Mecja Verena Meissner Anna Mejorada Meredith Mendelsohn Hannah Miller Kristopher Mirasola Leslie Mireille Sarah Mollo-Christensen Jenny Monick Kathleen Mooney Ren Moreau Megan Moriarty Eileen Mullaney-Newman Christine Mun Genevieve Nelson Destiny Nguyen Hana Nguyen Linda Nikolakos Elizabeth Norman James O'Brien Eoin O'Mara Monique Oestreicher Jenny Olsen Jessii Parham Woosung Park Amanda Parsels Lucie Pascarosa Mark Pastore Daisy Paul Thu Lan Perales Samantha Philbert Sharon Phillips Dan Polgardy Catherine Popper François Portmann Winston Qin Catherine Quayle Rhys Randlett Leah Reilly Andrew Reiter Eileen Renda Peter Richter Deborah Rivel Larissa Roark Diana Rodin Lynn Rogan Rachel Rosen Nancy Rosenberg Kellye Rosenheim Diane Rostyak Anthony Russo Nicole Sammon Barbara Saunders Casey Schadie Sydney Schaffer Gwen Schantz Robert Schmunk Emma Schwarz Kim Scottaline Vicki Seabrook Amanda Seaquist Carol Seferi Daniel Seferi Karina Segal Ann Seligman Helen Shaskan Iggy Shuler Richard Simon Colleen Smith Sarah Soffer Max Soo Jennie Spector Laurie Spiegel Rebecca Spitzer Neil Steinkamp Merrill Sterritt Heather Stewart Meredith Strickland Katie Stromme Michelle Talich Mary Tannen Diana Teeter Shaindel Tomasovitch Nathan Tripp Michelle Tsai Joyce Turiskylie Elise Upchurch Samantha Vazquez Judith Velosky Emmanuelle Vernhes Chenyu Wang Nina Webb Leo Wexler-Mann Grant Wheeler Chiquita Wilder Rain Wu Lu Wu Bibi Yasseen Amy Randall Yee Victor Yin D. Bruce Yolton Wendy Yu-Schroeder Theresa Yuan Jessica Zavalunova Christopher Zavelo Aria Zhang
We also thank rehabilitators Wild Bird Fund and Wildlife In Need of Rescue and Rehabilitation and rescue group New York City Pigeon Rescue Central for their ongoing heroic efforts to help New York City's birds.
Tribute in Light Monitoring
NYC Bird Alliance staff and volunteers monitor the Tribute in Light memorial each year to ensure that unnecessary harm does not come to thousands of migrating birds attracted to the Tribute’s light beams. This project is conducted in cooperation with longtime partners Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Michael Ahern Production Services, and The National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Sara Crosby James Crugnale Shannon Curley Jacob Ford Ryan Goldberg Steven Harris Tim Healy Marshall Iliff Darlene Juliao Judy Lipton Patrick Markee Elias Markee-Ratner Jenny Monick Jose Ramirez-Garofalo Lili Taylor Debra Vilen Ryan Zucker
Great Egret chick. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
Waterbirds of New York Harbor
NYC Bird Alliance's Waterbirds of New York Harbor program studies and protects a great variety of species that depend on vulnerable urban habitats: the harbor's wild islands host nesting egrets, herons, and ibis, and gulls, while its sandy beaches and marshes provide both breeding and migratory foraging grounds for endangered waterbirds like terns, skimmers, and sandpipers. With the help of a highly skilled volunteer corps that includes biologists, naturalists, and community scientists, NYC Bird Alliance studies these local populations and uses the knowledge gleaned for their protection, restoration, and management.
Harbor Herons Nesting Survey and Waterbird Banding
NYC Bird Alliance's annual Harbor Herons Nesting Surveys help us determine which waterbird species or habitats need protection, while banding of wading birds, beach-nesting birds and migratory shorebirds, helps us to understand the challenges facing these species and determine best management practices.
Chris Allieri Georgina Cullman Emily Einhorn Ciara Fagan Mike Feller Rachel Frank Aidan Halpin Gail Karlsson Jennifer Keppler Rosemary Misdary Medha Pandey Ellen Pehek Beryl Perron-Feller Jose Ramirez-Garofalo Kellye Rosenheim Brenda Suchilt Amadine Tooth Hope VanDerwater Reece Williams Mike Yuan
Horseshoe Crab Monitoring
Every spring, NYC Bird Alliance community science volunteers visit Jamaica Bay beaches to count and tag spawning Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs, the eggs of which are a critical food source for migrating shorebirds.
Lance Abbott Sophia Abreu Becca Albee Jessa Alexander Ariel Alexovich Katherine Allen Cal Alsop Mariapaola Ambrosone Divya Anantharaman Tahra Araujo Sarah Benson Sabine Bernards Catalina Bertani Katie Bertness Sidney Blumenfeld Rachel Boeglin Gillian Brassil Dawn Brekke Ryan Brenner Rachel Brill Max Bronsnick Sam Bronsnick Lee Bronsnick Sam Bruchez Claudia Brumbaugh Penelope Bustamante Ruth Byers Riley Calero Mark Canavera Cheryl Carmichael Emily Cavanaugh Avalon Chew Daniel Chi Matthew Chin Andrea Chiovari-Kaplan John Christman Javier Cirilo Angie Co Albert Cohen Wylie Conlon Manus Connaghan Robert Coover Sean Corcoran Mavis Corcoran Sunny Corrao Gaynor Cote Katie Cox Shannon Curley Maggie da Silva Sydney Daugherty Amy Davidow Leth Davidow Barbara Davis Erin Day Allison Day Connor Dean Abigail Dean Daira Delgado Christine DeMauro Giorgio Di Domenico Janel diBiccari Aaron Diener Sonya Dissin Glenn Dorerty Jade Dubuche Gina Duclayan Janie Dumbleton Kama Einhorn Emily Einhorn Karthik Elango Jason Eppink Jenna Eppink Charles Falivena Leo Falivena Chloe Fallon Theresa Farinaccio Daniel Farmer Nancy Farren Isabel Farrington Suzy Fava Annabel Finkel Lisa Floridia Carin Fox Julian Fox Rachel Frank Anna Freedman Yuriko Fukuda Dene Gabaldon Dennis Galcik Meighan Gale Brandon Gaukel Marnie Geltman Kendall George Simona Gheorghiu Ivy Gilbert Larry Gile Ryan Goldberg Kevin Golero Felicia Golero Todd Green Matt Green Zoe Grueskin Angela Gu Sarah Guffey MacArthur Guffey Derek Gutierrez Randy Guzman Rodriguez Jon Hallemeier Elliot Hass Larissa Hayden Ariana Hellerman Itzel Hernandez Tristan A. Higginbotham Jia-En Ho Katie Hodgman Karissa Hough Abigail Hunter Christine Iacovetta Min Jang Carmen Jansons Joanne Jaworski Linda Jessee Abigail Jimenez Phoenix Jimenez Jacob Johnson Allison Jones Adrian Jones Antonia Jones August Jones Christopher Jordan Ellen Jorgersen Nancy Juette Joscelyn Jurich Julia Kaplan Mia Kaplan Shannon Kenney Fionnuala Kenney-Connell Jen Kepler Petra Kipke Bethany Kivin Hannah Kolsch Olivia Kouveras Elihu Kover Jeff Kraus Lynn Kraus Anna Kuflik Urvashi Kumar Alyssa Kutner Jessi LaChance Brendan Lan Jeremie Le Pen Jon Leland Elena Leslie Beatrice Lesser Melissa Levy Aidan Ling Brendan Looi Felicity Loome Emily Lord Jess Lynch Phyllis Ma Maura MacBride Meghan Magee Altrim Mamuti Alessandro Mazzoleni Roberto Mazzoleni Remi McClain Saga McFarland Sandra McKee Ursula McPherson-Vitkus Samia Menon Jeremy Mercedes Monica Mercola Amanda Miller Heather Mims Thomas Mitchell Chrisana Molloy Teresa Moogan Diane Morris Alex Munoz Mari Murillo Marty Nolan Jack Nolan Lily Nolan Viviam Norales Nancy Nowacek Lisa Nussbaum David Nussbaum Elizabeth Nwabueze Olive O’Neill Daniela Ortega Vasquez Bianca Otero Kyunglee Park Alyssa Parker Kristom Parson Shila Patel Max Paukner Ralph Pena Kayla Pena Nicole Peyrafitte Aga Pierwola Ana Pinharanda Frank Pizzo Madeline Popelka Alina Povelikin Stan Povelikin Beth Powers Sarah Quigley Bonnie Ralston Olivia Randall Justine Raymond Mariana Regalado Robert Reid Natalie Reid Leah Reid Michael Reisinger Jody Reiss Ari Riapos Lucas Riccardi Jessica Rivera Effie Robakis Mariah Robertson Luke Rodgers Gracie Rodgers-Coor Shayna Ross Kat Sabotka Marilyn Sacher Marc Sacher Noah Sacher Oliver Sacher Rami Sadovnik Ciro Salcedo Juliane Samuel Anahi Sanchez Claire Schnatterbeck Sara Schoenwetter Taty Sena Veronica Sharon John Sharp Diane Shaw Ben Shay Alison Shay Mel Shea Sandro Sherrod Omar Shishani Benjamin Solotaire Helen Song Jennie Spector Wendy Spence Schmidt Filip Stabrowski Joachin Stabrowski Monika Stangel Steven Steinberg Sara Stoler Lauryn Tacoronte Vincent Tartaglia Stephen Tateishi Keyline Tejada Livia Truong Katie Tutrone Kevin Uehlinger Holly Valentine Ima Valledor Elizabeth van der Els Ryan Van Manen Mary Velez Beka Venezia Mya Venning Lauren Verdeflor Leah Vinluan Rebecca Vitale Kerstin vom Hagen Jael Wagener Marisa Wagner Lauren Walker Eva-Maria Weick Kate Weissbacher Michael Weissbacher Veronica Welsh Jace White Liam Wiesenberger Deanna Wilson Aaron Wilson Genevieve Wollenbecker Everett Yang Mark Yarm Canyon Yee Jennifer Yee Mike Yee William Yee Michael Zadjura Rebeca Zaglul Felix Ziegler Zvonimir Zuric
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2023 Christmas Bird Count participants tallying birds at the northeast corner of Central Park. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
Community Science Bird Surveys
Through community science bird surveys, NYC Bird Alliance volunteers contribute to scientific knowledge that helps protect birds. The Audubon Christmas Bird Count, conducted since 1900, is one of the most important of these efforts. NYC Bird Alliance coordinates the Lower Hudson Count Circle, which includes all of Manhattan and parts of New Jersey. (Separate counts are also coordinated by birding clubs in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.) A smaller team of birders has helped establish Governors Island as an important migration stopover site.
Audubon Christmas Bird Count and Governors Island Surveys
Deborah Allen Emily Anderson Susan Axelrod Harriet Bailey Kristen Bancroft Annie Barry Annie Barry Sarah Bassett Julian Batista Loyan Beausoleil Loyan Beausoleil Peter Belamarich Ian Bell Karen Benfield Mark Berger Alison Beringer Hilary Berliner Ricardo Berrios Katie Bertness Amanda Bielskas Tsering Bista Krishna Bista Valerie Block Maggie Block Elise Boeger Victoria Bolster Ardith Bondi Ed Borowik Christopher Borowik Claire Borrelli Shira Boss Dane Boss Tracy Boyd Wendy Brawer Diane Bresee Liam Brock Cindy Brome Paige Brotherton Regina Burke Michael Burke John Butler Marcus Caceres Sarah Calderon Meeka Charles Margo Charpentier Ken Chaya Xiao Hui Chin Joanne Coco Lorraine Collazo Jessica Cong Juli Cooper Robert Coover John Coyle Lee Crawford Mark Crawford Bill Crean Marie-Claire Cunningham Lianne D'Arcy Michelle Davis Richard Davis Steven Dean John Dean Lilyan DeAngelis Tanner Dellett Wion Michele Denby Alice Deutsch Lisa DiAngelo Joe DiCostanzo Charlotte Dion Jean Dommermuth Alan Drogin Marcella Durand Ed Eden Doug Ensel Hilary Exter Rachel Falk Kathleen Farley Bill Ferns Katherine Figueroa Dan Fishman Fitz Fitz Lorraine Freeney Robert Fu Emily Fulham Karen Fung Ed Gaillard Molly Glenn Laura Goggin Karen Goldstein Sarang Gopalakrishnan Adele Gotlib Susan Grandelli Karina Greene Allen Greene Sujaan Grimson Natalie Gruposso Marshall Guo Sema Guran Becky Hahn Sheila Haines Robert Hajek Martha Harbison Kathleen Heenan Emilia Helfer Ellie Heller Lynne Hertzog Kate Hinds Jia-En Ho Alice Ho Anthony Hoets Steve Holleran Claus Holzapfel Gloria Hong Natalie Howe Evelyn Huang Holly Hurley Jon Hyman Liz Ishii Alex Israel Laura Jacobs Erin Jang Joseph Jones Emily Jones Jane Jubilee Stephen Judge Nick Kaledin Danny Karlson Doug Kenney Jon Kielty Jeffrey Kimball Jeff Klein Maura Klein Michelle Knoernschild John Knoernschild James Knox Mary Beth Kooper David Krauss Amber Krauss Steve Krinsky Alina Kung Lily Kunkel Linda LaBella Marie LaDuca Rina Langer Anne Lazarus Kyu Lee Tessa Lee Hang Lei Mercedes Li Ting Ting Li Tina Li Peter Liberman Lean Lim Wren Logan Celese Lopez Brandon Michael Lowden Ronald Lulov Seth Lupin Chris Lyons Shayna Marchese Gina Marchini Patrick Markee Elias Markee-Ratner Madeleine Marrin Arleen Marte Stuart Masson Niki Matsoukas Doug McFachern Najee McFarland-Drye Calista McRae Griffin Meert Kathy Megarry Fran Megarry Lucia Mercone Luigi Mercone Deborah Mills Rosemary Misdary Denise Mistretta Ursula Mitra Carol Mobitt Malcolm Morris Maura Murphy Koko Nakajima Gunda Narang Heidi Ng Michelle Ng Du Bob O'Brien Luke O'Brien Nora O'Connor Clary Olmstead Todd Olson Ruth Ong John O'Toole Gig Palileo Jodi Peikoff Kenelma Perez Daniel Picard Steve Pontillo Robin Poulos James Poulos Jeannette Price Santiago Puentes Daniel A. Rabuzzi Miriam Rakowski Pranav Reddy Ellen Renstrom Aaron Retica Rachel Retica Kacie Rettig Ali Rezaei Nina Reznick Dom Ricci Katie Rider Marion Riedel Liz Riegel David Ringer Mike Roach Carol Peace Robins Linda Rozowicz Richard Rubin Hilary Russ Asher Sadock Ben Sadock Purbita Saha Paul Sailer Dimitris Salas Jessica Sands Carol Satizabal Acosta Diane Schenker Nancy Schneider Mirko Schoenitz Evan Schumann Brent Schumer Daniel Schwartz Emma Schwarz Yeree Shim Elaine Silber Georgia Silvera Seamans Amy Simmons Arjen Singh Amy Sirot Kevin Sisco Anirudh Sivaram Sarah Soffer Steven Sonnenblick Erica Sopha Jordan Spindel Ava Stenger Sarah Kimball Stephenson Deborah Straussman Michael Stubblefield Noah Sumait Rashida Sykes Dan Tainow Chris Takacs Michelle Talich John Taranu Ellen Taus Alex Tey Isaiah Thomas Wei Xiong Toh Mary Trammell EJ Unterseher Robin Villa Michael Waldron Paula Waldron Jonathan Wang Alex Wang Alexandra Wang Dahui Wang Joanne Wassmer Sally Weiner Cathy Weiner Donnie Welch Parker Wild Claudine Williams Gabriel Willow Gabriel Willow John Wittenberg Kate Wodell Rick Wright Miles Wu Shang Xu Everett Yang Yu Yang Bruce Yolton Ellen Zemlin MaryAnn Zovko Ryan Zucker Andrea Zuckerman
Lights Out advocates participate in a rally at City Hall to support Lights Out legislation. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
Advocacy and Outreach
NYC Bird Alliance's advocacy volunteers, the "Avian Advocates," are the core strength of NYC Bird Alliance's growing advocacy program. This grassroots network sends emails, writes post cards, speaks to the public at outreach events, and testifies before the New York City Council on behalf of the City's birds.
Volunteers for our outreach programs engage New Yorkers across the City in our efforts to protect birds and their habitats via the young conservationists council, Feather Friends, engagement and education at our seasonal environmental education center on Governors Island and at festivals, our quarterly publication, The Urban Audubon, The eGret eNewsletter, and our website and social media platforms.
Avian Advocates
Currently, almost 2,500 volunteers are subscribed to our Avian Advocates email list. In recent years, the work of these volunteers has enabled passage of New York City's milestone bird-friendly building law and important Lights Out legislation.
Young Conservationists Council
The young conservationists council fosters a love of the City’s diverse ecosystem in the next generation of New Yorkers through lectures, trivia nights, Flappy Hours, and bioblitzes. Events are free for NYC Bird Alliance Young Conservationist members.
Tim Healy Simon Keyes Ryan F. Mandelbaum Efua Peterson Josh Aromin
Engagement & Education
For seven weeks from May to June, volunteers with our annual Feathered Friends program set out to Van Cortlandt Park on weekly, hour-long bird outings, engaging 4th and 5th graders from AmPark Neighborhood School in the Bronx with birds and the natural world.
Engagement volunteers also joined us on Governors Island, helping us on days full of activities such as our H-OWL-oween Costume Contest during the Island’s Pumpkin Point celebrations. Volunteers also assisted us in tabling for various festivals across the city such as Raptorama and Monarch Mania.
Leah Asha Allen Michelle Byron Terry Cohen Christian Cooper Sybil Costello Michele Gennaoui Petra Kipke Greg Mouton Joe Spiegel Kathleen Williamson Christopher Zavelo
The Urban Audubon
The Urban Audubon, NYC Bird Alliance's quarterly print publication, shares updates on our conservation and advocacy work and explores many bird-related topics.
Molly Adams Divya Anantharaman Claude Bloch Ned Boyajian Camilla Cerea Jai Chandrashekhar Suzanne Charlé Angie Co Christian Cooper Diane Darrow Margaret Duffy Willis Elkins Marcia Fowle Ivy Jo Gilbert Marc Goldberg Cliff Hagen Jamie Johnson Mary Jane Kaplan Lauren Klingsberg Andres Leon Ryan F. Mandelbaum Daniel Mennerich Steve Nanz Emily Noble Maxwell Hillarie O'Toole Carol Peace Robins Efua Peterson Matthew Pimm Don Riepe Phil Roosevelt Kellye Rosenheim Donna L. Schulman Patricia Volk Mike Yuan
Photography
NYC Bird Alliance's communications outreach benefits from the generosity of local nature and bird photographers who donate their work.
Molly Adams Fruzsina Agocs Pat Arnow Rejean Bedard MaryJane Boland Cindy Brome César A. Castillo Camilla Cerea Mircea Costina Shripal Daphtary Richard Davis Rik Davis Monarda Didyma Marcella Durand Susan Elbin Tony Fanning Luke Franke Andrew Garn Chris Girgenti Laura Goggin Marcella Goldberg Cyrus Gonzeles Isaac Grant Ben Hider Sara Jacobson Sean Jamar Melissa James Denise Kelly Jen Kepler Debra Kriensky Andres Kudacki Brian Kushner Sung-Joo Lee Andres Leon Ryan F. Mandelbaum Jane McAndrew Ellen Michaels Carolyn Monastra Salvadora Morales Steve Nanz Yamina Nater-Otero Dave Ostapiuk Bianca Otero Giselle Pemberton Sam Philbert Matthew Pimm François Portmann Winston Qin Don Riepe Onil Rodriguez Thomas Rowley Ann Seligman Tim Shore Lloyd Spitalnik Michelle Talich Diana Teeter Lucas van Cott John Van Dort Karlijn van Houwelingen Gabriela Viola Cal Vornberger Alexandra Wang Bruce Yolton Kate Zidar
Broadway Stages Central Park Governors Island Green-Wood Cemetery Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York Times Queens Botanical Garden Queens County Birding Club US Fish and Wildlife Service Van Cortlandt Park Alliance Welikia Project Wild Bird Fund
Volunteer Michelle Talich (left) helps bidders at the 2023 Fall Roost silent auction. Photo: Cyrus Gonzeles
The Fall Roost
The annual Fall Roost, NYC Bird Alliance's most significant fundraising initiative to support our conservation work, recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the conservation of the City's birds and their habitats. The 2023 Fall Roost, celebrated at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, raised nearly $400,000 for our scientific research, advocacy, and outreach. This great success was due in large part to the hard work of our Roost co-chairs and volunteers.
Fall Roost Co-Chairs
Karen Benfield MaryJane Boland Catherine Heller Tatiana Kaletsch Jenny Maritz Vivek Sriram Sharon Weidberg
Event Volunteers
Nancy Liang Lynn Rakos Audrey Seery Allison Starks Michelel Talich Leila Winn Amanda Woolsey
NYC Bird Alliance board members attend a Kestrel Circle birding event at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
Board and Advisory Council
NYC Bird Alliance is thankful to its board of directors and advisory council, two groups of diverse and dynamic volunteers that steer the organization's work by offering guidance and expertise in a wide range of issues. Get to know the members of our board of directors and advisory council.
