Living in the city I spend a lot of time urban birding close to home. Since I've been car-less for the last 7 years, a lot of my birding is done by feet, bike, train or bus. Thankfully Seattle is a great city for that. Check out my Urban and Accessible Birding page to find public transport and accessible birding options in Seattle!

Outside of Seattle my birding travels have taken me to various U.S destinations as well as Iceland, Greece, Amsterdam, Mexico, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Philippines, Indonesia, Borneo, Ecuador and Galapagos Islands. 

During my birding adventures, especially when traveling overseas, I specifically seek out female guides to bird with when available as I believe strongly in supporting our women birders of the world. I have used some of this knowledge to create a growing world wide resource list of female bird guides and naturalists. You can access this FREE list by creating an account. If you're a female bird guide or know any, feel free to contact me so I can add you/them to the list! 

The tools I've acquired as a Certified Interpretive Guide greatly benefit the monthly bird walks I lead for Birds Connect Seattle (Formerly Seattle Audubon Society) as well as bird and nature outings I've led for Seward Park Audubon, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Mountaineers and Seattle Outdoor Adventurers, the largest outdoor adventure meetup in the U.S with 24,000 members, based here in Seattle.

I've also had the opportunity to be involved in the first ever “Seattle Bird Week” which graced our city in 2018. The week long bird themed festival was full of free urban bird events in parks all over the city, bird drawing classes, music, stories and of course plenty of birds! 

Volunteering as an Seattle Urban Nature Guide for Seattle Parks Department and a Finding Urban Nature volunteer for Birds Connect Seattle (Formerly Seattle Audubon) has given me experience leading programs which introduce kids school groups to nature. Connecting children with nature is key for child development, creating connected adults who will value the conservation of species and our planet. 

I find birds endlessly fascinating and there is never a shortage of new things to learn about them. I'm always looking to increase my knowledge by continually taking classes and attending lectures, learning all I can about the birds we share this planet with. I also practice a more mindful birding approach which focuses on spending quality time observing bird behavior, songs and calls and the habitats they frequent. Learning by observation in this way enables us to better provide for and protect them. 

"Birdscaping" my small urban condominium backyard into a designated Certified Wildlife Habitat with native plants by creating spaces for birds and other pollinators to shelter, nest, as well as find food and water all in a pesticide free environment is an ongoing labor of love. It's so important as our cities grow and change to live in harmony with nature and do all we can to protect and provide for our urban wildlife. 

With knowledge, compassion and assistance from us I believe nature and humans can coexist together in a healthy ecosystem. 

Come join me on a Birdy adventure in the great outdoors. There is so much to learn, love and appreciate about our natural world!

Happy Birding, Roniq Bartanen (she/her)