To learn more about how to apply and other details about this program, please see the main Fellowships webpage.

2024 Conservation and Justice Fellowships: Project Descriptions

In 2024, American Bird Conservancy turns 30 years old. This anniversary provides us with the opportunity to celebrate but also with a chance to collectively envision a more ethical, inclusive, and expansive future for conservation. This year's cohort of Conservation and Justice Fellows will contribute to this vision through nine specific areas of work: 

1. Indigenous Stewardship and Lifeways. Storytelling Fellow. Hosts: Aimee Roberson and Connor Jandreau.
2. Lost Birds and Discovery Narratives. Community Engagement or Storytelling Fellow. Two potential projects. Host: John Mittermeier.
3. International Partnerships for Migratory Birds. Partners in Flight Community Engagement Fellow. Host: Jennifer Davis, Partner: Elva Manquera, Klamath Bird Observatory.
4. Neurodiversity and Birding. Community Engagement or Storytelling Fellow. Two potential projects. Host: Jim Giocomo.
5. Cross-Border Stewardship in the Sonoran Desert. Sonoran Joint Venture Storytelling or Community Engagement Fellow. Host: Aimee Roberson. Partner: Jennie Duberstein.
6. Environmental Education in Coastal Texas. SPLASh Community Engagement Fellow. Host: Elizabeth Virgl. Two potential projects.
7. Seabirds and Stories of Multi-Species Kinship. Storytelling Fellow. Host: Sea McKeon.
8. Environmental Education in the Bahamas. Kirtland's Warbler Community Engagement Fellow. Host: Steve Roels.
9. Together for Birds Artist Residency. Storytelling Fellow. Hosts: Lynne Mecum and Naamal De Silva.

Please note that Storytelling Fellowships are ideal for early career individuals and have a stipend of $10,000 while Community Engagement Fellowships are best for mid-career individuals and have an associated stipend of $20,000. See the Conservation and Justice Fellowships overview page for more details.

1. Indigenous Stewardship and Lifeways. Storytelling Fellow. Hosts: Aimee Roberson and Connor Jandreau

Indigenous voices, values, and ways of knowing are often absent from broader conservation initiatives. The Indigenous Stewardship and Lifeways Storytelling Fellow will work with partners and communities to communicate the cultural and relational importance of birds and their habitats to Indigenous People, First Nations, and Tribes. Preference for Indigenous candidates, with project details to be collaboratively determined based on the Fellow's background, location, and intersections with ABC's projects and goals.

2. Lost Birds and Discovery Narratives. Community Engagement or Storytelling Fellow. Two potential projects. Host: John Mittermeier.

The Search for Lost Birds is a partnership between American Bird Conservancy, BirdLife International and Re:wild that aims to support conservation actions for birds around the world that are currently “lost.” Defined as species that have no confirmed documentation in the past 10 or more years but are not considered extinct, these lost birds represent some of the biggest mysteries in bird conservation (the Search for Lost Birds website has more details). From a conservation science perspective, learning more about these birds is vital, but lost birds and the quests to rediscover them also raise important questions. We are looking for a Conservation and Justice fellow to help us explore one of two questions around the social dimensions of lost birds:

1. A)     Social and cultural understandings of a lost bird. The aim of this fellowship is to explore perceptions and understandings of a lost bird species across different stakeholder groups. Does this lost bird matter to people? If so, who finds it important and what types of meaning do they assign to the bird? Applicants should identify a specific Critically Endangered lost bird and have the ability to visit the area where the species occurred, as well as to conduct interviews in the relevant languages. Preference for applicants from the place where the bird lived.

2. B)     Lost birds and discovery narratives in conservation. This fellowship investigates the role of discovery narratives as they relate to lost birds and their conservation. Stories of discovery and rediscovery have tremendous potential to capture public attention, but can also run the risk of perpetuating stereotypes and overlooking local and Indigenous knowledge. What are the benefits and pitfalls of discovery narratives for conservation and how does the historical legacy of these narratives influence their current role and applicability?  Interested applicants should have experience with academic research, ideally in the social sciences. 

If applying for this project, please specify which of the two options you are most interested in.

3. International Partnerships for Migratory Birds. Partners in Flight Community Engagement Fellow. Host: Jennifer Davis, Partner: Elva Manquila, Klamath Bird Observatory.

Partners in Flight (PIF) is a dynamic and welcoming network of more than 150 partner organizations distributed throughout the Western Hemisphere. PIF is engaged in all aspects of landbird conservation from science, research, planning, and policy development, to land management, monitoring, education, and outreach. The PIF Equitable Engagement Fellow will help to center the importance of ongoing landbird conservation efforts by Latin American and Caribbean partners. We are especially interested in identifying partners and projects that are addressing landbird conservation and the needs of local people. Opportunities include interviewing Latin American and Caribbean partners to better understand how PIF can best serve their needs, revising the PIF web-page, and writing blog posts that highlight the work and perspectives of Latin American and Caribbean partners. The Fellow should bring their own goals and aspirations to the work, and will be invited to shape the approach in accordance with individual strengths, experiences and existing relationships. Fluency in Spanish and strong English proficiency required.  

4. Neurodiversity and Birding. Community Engagement or Storytelling Fellow. Two potential projects. Host: Jim Giocomo.

The Neurodiversity and Bird Conservation Fellow will work with ABC and partners to communicate the importance of neurodiverse thinking for bird conservation work. The project will be led by the fellows' experiences and conversations about the access challenges that working in conservation brings for neurodivergent people and how barriers can be removed to better serve people and birds.

1. The Outdoor Learning option for the fellowship involves a focus on the creation of neurodivergent-friendly bird trail events and materials tailored for the Madison, Wisconsin/Rockford, Illinois area.  The ultimate goal is to implement a pop-up version of the Autism Nature Trail recently built in a New York state park. This portfolio of work aims to improve the opportunities for access to green spaces and birdwatching trails amongst neurodivergent communities. Examples work products and activities include but are not limited to: Researching the access needs of neurodivergent communities in green spaces, Running community engagement pop-up bird trail workshops that focus on engaging neurodivergent communities in bird conservation, Creating a future roadmap promoting neurodivergent-friendly pop-up bird trails through writing and video products.

2. The Workplace Access option for the fellowship involves research into how leaders in conservation can move to increase the neurodivergent-friendly options available for those working in conservation. The workplace access option portfolio of work aims to promote best practices for neurodivergent communities to thrive in the conservation workplace and create a better future for neurodiverse conservation workplaces could look like. Examples work products and activities include but are not limited to: Researching the access needs of ABC's current staff as an example of conservation-based organization, Assembling information and educational tools to support the running of workshops that promote cognitive differences among ABC staff, Researching and assembling outreach products (e.g., formal report, story collection, short video testimonials, etc.) on what the future of neurodiverse conservation workplaces could look like.

We especially encourage members of the neurodivergent community, including care-takers, family, special educators, and paraeducators to apply.

5. Cross-Border Stewardship in the Sonoran Desert. Sonoran Joint Venture Storytelling or Community Engagement Fellow. Host: Aimee Roberson. Partner: Jennie Duberstein.

The Sonoran Joint Venture (SJV) is a partnership of organizations, agencies, and individuals working to conserve the unique birds and habitats of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.The SJV mission is to build inclusive partnerships to steward just, equitable, healthy, and resilient environments for the birds, other wildlife, and people of the region. Over the last several years the SJV has created a vision and implementation plan for our stewardship work that is reflective, centered in respect, rooted in reciprocity, built on inclusive community-based approaches, holistic in its recognition of humans as part of nature, driven by cooperation rather than competition, and is ultimately an outcome of healing severed connections with and among each other, making stewardship and conservation emergent properties of justice and equity. The Fellow will work with SJV staff and board members to tell the story of this work, both from the perspective of the SJV as a partnership, as well as through the lenses of individual partners who are engaging in these efforts. The Fellow must be fluent in either English or Spanish and strongly proficient in the other language. The fellow will need to travel to different locations in the southwest U.S. and northwest Mexico to participate in SJV meetings and trainings.

6. Environmental Education in Coastal Texas. SPLASh Community Engagement Fellow. Host: Elizabeth Virgl. Two potential projects.

SPLASh (Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines) is an environmental education and beach cleanup program. Our Community Engagement Fellow will support one of two potential projects:

1. Environmental Literacy Program. We want to extend the impact of SPLASh beach clean ups through creating a related program for educators in the Houston-Galveston region. The fellow will use an understanding of local needs as well as feedback from students, teachers, and local partners to collaboratively shape this program and to create ways to extend or strengthen existing environmental literacy efforts. The fellow will create opportunities for students to develop a greater appreciation for nature, and motivate them to make local changes that mitigate marine debris and trash pollution in the region. Projects that educators and students develop may include planting or maintaining pollinator or bird-friendly gardens, supporting recycling efforts, installing water bottle refill stations, or installing bird tape on school windows. We intend for this effort to result in more sustainable and equitable programming that addresses local community needs and help us move towards year-long school and community partnerships.

2. Student Ambassador Program. This program will provide opportunities for students to learn about their local habitats, grow students' leadership skills, introduce green careers and conservation opportunities, and foster environmental stewardship for future conservation leaders. The fellow will engage local educators regarding their interest and participation, use this input to shape the program, identify potential sources of funding, and create a preliminary process for program evaluation.

The SPLASh Fellow should have experience in a school or academic setting and be located in the Houston-Galveston region. Preference for candidates who speak and work in both English and Spanish. 

7. Seabirds and Stories of Multi-Species Kinship. Storytelling Fellow. Host: Sea McKeon.

Seabirds were our first companions when we ventured onto the ocean. The ABC Marine Program is looking for a fellow to seek and share stories of kinship and connection between seabirds and maritime communities. We intend for these stories to help us reach new audiences with bold seabird conservation initiatives. We welcome applications from those with deep connections to the ocean: surfers, kiters, sailors, divers, fishers, and islanders from marine cultures and communities across the western hemisphere. If you interact with marine birds, or come from a community that does, we would like to hear from you. The stories that the fellow tells can be in any format: examples include videography, social media, journalism, digital or print media, visual arts, podcasting or radio, poetry, or non-verbal language narrative (such as American Sign Language). 

8. Environmental Education in the Bahamas. Kirtland's Warbler Community Engagement Fellow. Host: Steve Roels.

The dedicated efforts of numerous people led to the rescue of the charismatic Kirtland's Warbler from extinction on the breeding grounds in Michigan. However, its future depends on the persistence and integrity of wintering grounds in The Bahamas. Building cultural awareness and appreciation in Bahamian communities is essential to ensure that this species will continue to delight admirers wherever they live along the bird's amazing migratory pathways, The Bahamian Fellow will develop environmental education and outreach projects focused on Kirtland's Warbler, a rare songbird which winters almost exclusively in The Bahamas. The Fellow will interview teachers participating in an existing outreach program, draft and pilot curricular materials for K–8 students, facilitate cross-cultural communication between Bahamian and Michigan (USA) classrooms, and produce public media (articles, videos, and social media) that tells the story of Kirtland's Warbler in The Bahamas. The fellow must have a background in education or community engagement, be based in the Bahamas, and able to work with a diversity of partners. Preference for Bahamian applicants.

9. Together for Birds Artist Residency. Storytelling Fellow. Hosts: Lynne Mecum and Naamal De Silva.

Birds bring so many of us joy and add beauty and vibrancy to our lives. The tradition of avian subjects in art is as old as art itself, depicted through time by people around the world in oil, ink, stone, clay, cotton, and silk. In many cultures and traditions, birds and the idea of flight represent peace and freedom. At American Bird Conservancy, birds inspire us daily to restore and protect the natural world. The Together for Birds Fellow provides a visual artist with the opportunity to explore the connections between birds, conservation, and culture. We intend for the Fellow to translate some of our work at these intersections into engaging images. We encourage applicants to propose project ideas based on their own experiences and interests, with a general focus on using art to help us to envision a more ethical, inclusive, and expansive future for conservation.