Aeris grew up in Arlington, Texas, with an early love for nature and a desire to work with animals. A vivid childhood memory of watching a pair of Summer Tanagers chase one another through the trees at her grandparents’ property in East Texas planted a seed that would fully bloom years later. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Aeris dove into birding and never looked back.
Now a master’s student at Texas A&M University, Aeris has built extensive field experience working with birds across Texas, Arizona, Florida, and California. Her thesis research focuses on American Oystercatcher movements along the Texas coast, and she runs her own banding station near campus, where she mentors undergraduate students in developing their own research projects.
What Aeris loves most about birding is watching others discover it for themselves, especially that moment when someone sees a new bird and truly marvels at its existence. Whether working with seasoned birders or beginners, her aim is to spark a genuine connection between people and the birds around them.
