Aaron Virgin

Raised in upstate New York, Aaron spent his youth hiking in the Adirondacks, where a chance encounter with a Black-throated Blue Warbler on Seward Mountain became his “spark bird”, igniting a lifelong passion (some say obsession) for birds.

After earning a master’s degree in wildlife management from the College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse he began his career with Audubon, serving in multiple fundraising roles in Connecticut and New York. He later became Vice President of Group for the East End, a Long Island–based conservation organization, where his work focused on Osprey population dynamics and the protection of beach-nesting birds.

Now based in Florida, Aaron has held leadership positions with Mote Marine Aquarium and Save Our Seabirds. He serves on the board of the Sarasota Audubon Society and is compiler of its annual Christmas Bird Count. An accomplished bird guide, he leads trips locally and internationally. Aaron and his family reside in Lakewood Ranch.