Nell’s early fascination with natural history in Maine sparked her love of birds, but she didn’t begin birding in earnest until moving to Arizona in her twenties. Since then, she has made up for lost time, birding everywhere from the Midriff Islands of the Gulf of California to the Arctic tundra of Alaska’s North Slope. Whether chasing life birds or birding her neighborhood patch, Nell emphasizes ethical birding practices and takes time to observe natural, uninterrupted behaviors. She is passionate about creating fun, accessible experiences for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to learn about birds and connect with the natural world. When not in the field, she supports collaborative conservation efforts and writes about the relationships between people and place—always keeping an ear out for whatever unexpected species might be nearby.
Nell has conducted ornithological fieldwork for the National Park Service’s Inventory & Monitoring Program, National Audubon Society’s Seabird Institute (Project Puffin), Central Arizona–Phoenix Long-term Ecological Research, Colorado Plateau Research Station, Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Greater Phoenix Area Waterbird Surveys, and more. She is a current member of Arizona Field Ornithologists and the Maricopa Bird Alliance, has participated in Christmas Bird Counts, and co-authored two scientific papers on birds—one of which she presented at the North American Ornithological Conference.
