Welcome to Shebirds

A woman looks at the camera smiling while holding binoculars. She is standing on a wooden boardwalk.

Welcome

Thanks for stopping by. My name is Roniq and I'm a Bird guide, Certified Interpretive Guide, native plant advocate and a photographer.

As an ally in progress I welcome the opportunity to continue to learn about, support and advocate for inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity. My focus is to create a safe and welcoming space for all to enjoy the outdoors. I believe strongly in the healing power of time spent in nature.

My passions include mindful, urban and accessible birding, promoting female bird guides through my ‘Female Bird Guide Resource List’ as well as writing about the culture and joy of birds and birding.

I work as a bird guide in the Seattle area and have worked as a tour guide, nature guide and deckhand for Argosy Cruises since 2018. I also enjoy volunteering for Seattle Audubon Society and Seward Park Audubon Center. Seattle is the traditional, ancestral and unceded land of the Coast Salish people, including the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish people. We honor and acknowledge this land and it's communities past and present.

New to Birding or want to bird ethically? Did you know there is a Birding Code of Ethics? Yes, that's right. Read American Birding Associations Code of Birding Ethics.

A female bird guide looks at the camera while holding binoculars and a spotting scope.

Female Bird Guide Resource List

I've created an extensive and growing list of Female Bird Guides around the world. Create a free account to find a female guide for your next birding adventure! Thank you for supporting women bird guides around the world. Photo credit: Mindo, Ecuador bird guide Julia Patiño by Roniq Bartanen

A woman smiles at the camera while sitting in a wheelchair on a dirt accessible path.

Urban & Accessible Birding

Learn about Birdability and how you can be a voice for birding and access to the outdoors. Explore my page of accessible birding and urban birding spots in Seattle. Photo credit: Birdability Founder, Virginia Rose at Roy Guerrero Park, TX. Photo by Jeff Patterson

Female bird guide points to a laminated, fold able bird resource guide while 4 participants watch

News and Events

Join me to experience your next urban bird outing. Check out my Let's Go Birding page for more info on what to expect. For rates contact me at Roniq@shebirds.com. Accessible bird outings are available in the Seattle area. Photo credit: Jill Corral

Blackbird with red patches on it's wings sings with mouth open while perched on a branch

Ramblings at the Roost: A Birders Observations

Visit my blog! It's here I write about topics related to the culture and joy of birds and birding with an emphasis on mindful, accessible and urban birding.

Testimonials

Roniq Bartanen has been my student and a wonderful birding companion. I have always been impressed by her observational skills. She has the ability to meld with nature so that somehow she becomes attuned to all the happenings around her. This is unbelievably helpful in both finding birds in the field and identifying them. At the same time, Roniq takes a sincere interest in the people around her. She makes sure that everyone in her group is included in birding activities, that people's questions get answered, and that everyone gets "on" a given bird. Roniq's birding and people skills make her a welcome addition to any birding group. You couldn't find a better, more thoughtful leader. Any day I spend birding with Roniq is a great day.

Constance Sidles; Seattle Audubon Conservation Award Winner, Writer, Master Birder, Teacher

"Roniq is perceptive, engaging and a passionate birder/ naturalist. She is also an outstanding photographer with an artistic sense of composition. Her world travels provide her with a broad view of natural history and culture. She continues to learn more about birding and interpretation via a certified guide training class in Portland, Oregon and multiple birding classes at Seattle Audubon Society. Anyone who has the pleasure of going on a trip with her will find that her enthusiasm combined with her knowledge is infectious. She can not only teach you how to find and identify birds, but also how to photograph them."

Woody Wheeler; Owner of Conservation Catalyst

I recently had the pleasure of attending a bird walk with Roniq at Seward Park Audubon Center. It was a wonderful experience! I am not an expert birder and she was able to lead the walk in a way that made it interesting and also accessible for those who are relatively new (like me). The entire two hour walk was filled with her expert knowledge of birds and their habitats and I learned a lot of new things about the birds that live in my area. Now I know what those cute little birds are that I always see in my yard (dark eyed juncos)! She is friendly, knowledgeable, and accessible as well as enthusiastic about her subject- all of which combine to make her bird walks really fun and informative.

Becky Porter MacPherson; Artist, Illustrator

"Roniq visited our class for a short presentation about birds of prey. She shared fascinating information with us and showed genuine interest in the kids' experiences. Her presentation involved lots of styles of learning - storytelling, body movement, pictures, and listening. The kids still talk about and mimic the various flight patterns we learned about at her talk, and it was a memorable day for teachers and students alike. We would love to have her visit again!"

Tracy Harrison: Teacher/Director at True Nature Kids