28 Dec A Defining Year of Transition
For more than a decade, our work began as a mission-driven LLC, guided first and foremost by the welfare of the birds in our care. That priority shaped how we trained, educated, and made decisions—always with the birds’ best interests at the center.
In 2025, we took an intentional next step by transitioning into a nonprofit organization. This change was not a departure from our roots, but a deepening of them. Becoming a nonprofit allows us to align our structure with our values and expand our impact through long-term conservation work, science-based education, and broader community access.
This year also brought growth in people. We welcomed new team members whose expertise and perspectives strengthen our ability to deliver meaningful conservation and education programs. We are excited to introduce them and to move forward together into this next chapter.
What follows are the milestones and collective efforts that made this transition possible—and the momentum carrying us into 2026.
A Milestone Moment: A Transformational Vote of Confidence
This year also marked a defining moment for our organization: the commitment of a $500,000 gift supporting our work across 2025 and 2026.
This investment represents more than financial support—it is a vote of confidence in our mission, leadership, and long-term vision. It reflects trust in the careful, values-driven foundation we have built and affirms that our work is ready to scale responsibly.
This gift allows us to take a critical next step in strengthening our conservation capacity: the ability to hire a Conservation Biologist. With this role, we can deepen our research efforts, improve data collection and analysis, and ensure that our conservation programs are guided by rigorous science and long-term strategy.
Building Conservation Capacity: Investing in Science
Hiring a Conservation Biologist marks a critical step in strengthening our conservation work. This role allows us to design and implement rigorous research, improve data collection and analysis, and ensure our programs are guided by sound science and long-term strategy. It also creates a more direct connection between our avian ambassador team and real-world conservation challenges—allowing us to link education and research in tangible ways, rather than solely raising funds to support work led by others.
Conservation Impact Highlights: American Kestrel Monitoring
In 2025, we launched our American Kestrel Monitoring Project, marking our first locally based, long-term field conservation initiative. With seven nest boxes installed, this project establishes a foundation for tracking kestrel breeding success, habitat use, and conservation challenges across Southern California.
Fieldwork officially begins mid January of 2026 with focused efforts in the Salton Sea region, an area of critical importance for raptors and migratory birds. This work reflects our commitment to pairing careful research with on-the-ground conservation action—generating data that can inform management decisions while remaining accessible to the public through education and outreach.
You can read more about the goals and early groundwork for this project in our full blog post:
American Kestrels in San Diego
Education & Outreach: Connecting Audiences to Conservation
In 2025, our education programs increasingly focused on connecting audiences directly to real conservation challenges. In January, we welcomed Suyana, an Andean Condor, expanding our avian ambassador team and strengthening our ability to highlight the often-overlooked role of scavengers in healthy ecosystems.
Throughout the year, we published several articles focused specifically on vultures—exploring scavenger ecology, rodenticide impacts, and the critical ecosystem services these birds provide. This work allows us to pair in-person education with accessible, science-based storytelling that extends far beyond a single program.
You can explore this series beginning with:
Meet Nature’s Cleanup Crew: The Overlooked Heroes of the Sky
Strengthening the Organization from the Inside
This year, we focused on building the internal systems and team needed to support a growing conservation nonprofit. We launched a new Peek booking system, allowing for greater customization, clearer communication, and a smoother experience for schools, partners, and program hosts. We also revamped our volunteer program, creating clearer pathways for training, engagement, and long-term support of our mission.
Equally important was the strength of the team carrying this work forward. Our programs are guided by the expertise of Ryane Logsdon, PhD, Lead of Animal Care and Husbandry; Lindsay Garcia, Education and Program Coordinator; Sarah Fonville, M.Sc., Avian Behavior Specialist; and Aley Moore, Avian Behavior Specialist. Together, this team ensures our work remains grounded in animal welfare, behavioral science, and meaningful educational impact.
We were also deeply encouraged by the community support shown at our November fundraiser at Upper East on Grand. With a strong turnout and enthusiastic local participation, the event reflected growing regional investment in bird conservation, education, and the future of our nonprofit.
Impact Across the US
This year, we hit a few high marks. Our birds saw over 15,000 people this year, a record amount in our 12 years of existence. Some of our avian team traveled to Texas for a education flighted program, raising thousands of dollars that went on to support our kestrel project. In addition to Suyana the condor, we welcomed new ambassadors Nelson the white faced owl and Goldie the American kestrel.
We have also continued to put on workshops and professional consultations to uplift the power of evidence-based training with our community. This work is incredibly meaningful to us, and mentorship through positive relationships is a big part of why we do what we do. We have traveled around the country this year consulting with different facilities and getting more birds on programs than ever before.
We could not have achieved these levels of impact without your support, and we are so grateful for you being here with us.
Gratitude & Transparency: Year-End Fundraising Progress
As we close out the year, we want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who supported our work during this period of transition and growth. Every gift—large and small—has helped us build the foundation for long-term conservation, education, and animal welfare.
Our year-end fundraising goal is $35,000, and to date, we have raised $12,760 toward that goal. These funds are essential for supporting three immediate priorities:
- A dedicated education van to expand access to schools and communities across the region
- Continued support for our American Kestrel Monitoring Project, with fieldwork beginning in January
- The ability to offer free community education programs, including those led by our avian ambassador team highlighting scavengers and rodenticide impacts
Year-end giving plays a critical role in sustaining this work. Community support allows us to translate research into education, ensure high standards of care for our birds, and keep our programs accessible to audiences who might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage with conservation science.
An Invitation to Support the Work Ahead
As we close out the year, we invite you to be part of what comes next. Year-end giving helps sustain the conservation, research, and education work described here—supporting the launch of our American Kestrel field season, expanding access through a dedicated education van, and allowing us to continue offering free community programs that connect people directly to real conservation challenges.
If our work has resonated with you this year, a year-end gift is a meaningful way to support conservation grounded in science, animal welfare, and long-term impact. Every contribution—whether a one-time donation or ongoing support—helps ensure that this work remains accessible, ethical, and built to last.
Mail check to 23945 Old Wagon Road
Escondido, CA 92027
EIN 33-1890698
Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping carry our mission forward into 2026.