Experience and Background

I’m Alex, an ecologist, birding guide, educator, and conservation advocate whose work brings together field biology, environmental education, bird conservation, and immersive natural history interpretation.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a wide range of ecosystems throughout North America and beyond. My experience includes helping to monitor bird populations as a field biologist, environmental educator, and professional guide. 

As an avian biologist, I've been able to count migrating birds of prey in in the Florida Keys, collect bird data in National Parks and National Forests, and work in the deserts of the American Southwest as an avian specialist in the renewable energy compliance space. 

As a guide and naturalist, I’ve led birding and educational experiences in Alaska, Antarctica, Mexico, Brazil, and across the western United States. My travels as a birder and field naturalist have also taken me throughout Colombia, Panama, Argentina, the West Indies, Thailand, and other parts of Southeast Asia. One of the greatest privileges of my life has been the opportunity to observe many North American bird species not only on their breeding grounds, but also throughout their migratory journeys and wintering habitats across the hemisphere.

I spent four years serving as the Education and Outreach Director for the Red Rock Audubon Society, where I helped develop and lead youth and adult education programs, foster partnerships with schools and conservation organizations, secure grant funding, and create opportunities for college students, volunteers, and emerging conservation leaders. My work has included training volunteers and field biologists to build avian knowledge and confidence, collaborating with elected officials and conservation partners, and helping establish and strengthen Audubon chapters and educational initiatives in growing communities. 

I’m deeply grateful for the people, mentors, organizations, landscapes, and wildlife that have shaped my path. Much of what I do today is rooted in a desire to give back by helping others build confidence, curiosity, and meaningful connections with the natural world.

My philosophy is simple: when people are given a strong foundation, encouragement to stay curious, and opportunities to truly pay attention, they begin to see the world differently. Whether someone is pursuing professional field experience, becoming a more confident birder, or simply trying to reconnect with nature, I believe those experiences can create lasting growth, stewardship, and joy.

At the heart of Nature in Mind is a commitment to helping people deepen their understanding of birds, ecology, and the living world through science, observation, shared experience, and a genuine sense of wonder. Thanks for having a read.