Tiffany Kersten didn’t set out to do a Big Year, but after a series of unanticipated and serendipitous events, she suddenly found herself amidst one. As a sexual assault survivor, she spent 2021 traveling to all corners of the country, tallying birds and gifting personal safety alarms to women she met along the way. Her goal was to see 700 species, and to raise awareness of women’s safety in the outdoors. She ended up surpassing her goal and setting a new record, with 726 species. In her presentation, Tiffany will lead us through the fear, empowerment, struggles, and healing that all played vital roles in the personal growth she experienced on this wild adventure. She will return the next morning to lead hike registrants (register separately) on a guided bird walk on the trails of Indian Creek Nature Center.

Tiffany Kersten is a Wisconsin native who now resides in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Hooked on birds since age 12, she graduated from Northland College with a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology. She has spent fifteen years working in conservation and environmental education with organizations including the US Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Cape May Bird Observatory. After completing a Lower 48 States Big Year in 2021, she founded her own company, Nature Ninja Birding Tours.

Fee: $10 Members $15 Nonmembers. Pre-registration is required. Event begins at 7pm, doors open at 6:30pm. Presentation is 1 hour in length followed by time for questions.