We are lucky to bring on enthusiastic and knowledgeable local birdwatcher Kristen Lockyear to coordinate our most popular activities as Field Trips Chair.

Kristen has had a lifelong love of nature and an endless need to know the names of the birds and trees around her. Growing up in Texas, she was often the “odd duck” (a self-described tree hugger and nature nerd) long before birding was a common pastime in her circles. Her interest in birding deepened while living in Scotland. It was further fueled by reading Birding Across Texas by Mark Adams and Kingbird Highway by Kenn Kaufman. Since then, Kristen has birded her way across Texas, Colorado, California, Wyoming, and Alaska, developing her skills through dedicated field time and self-directed study. Now that Alaska is her home, Kristen birds fervently and continues to broaden her natural history knowledge, with a growing goal of learning the names of every plant and mushroom she encounters. She is passionate about connecting more of the Juneau community with the stunning local nature and believes birding is for everyone. From personal experience, she knows that learning even a few local species can deepen one’s understanding of the place they live in. Her journey has given her the joy of knowing that education is often experiential, not just academic, and that curiosity grows best outdoors. As an individual who loves people, education, and shared discovery, Kristen is especially excited to create welcoming and engaging field trips for birders of all ages and experience levels.

Welcome Kristen!