Madelyne Ray is an avid young birder who goes birding whenever she can. Even though she has only taken up the hobby a few months short of 2 years ago, she has embraced it whole-heartedly. Last year, she had the opportunity to go to the American Birding Association’s Camp Avocet and had a great time there. This year, she was the grateful recipient of both the Liberty Bird Alliance’s Griscom Scholarship and a scholarship from the National Audubon Society which provided the opportunity for her to go to the Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine.

Madelyne is a sophomore at Upper Dublin High School. When she is not out birding, she enjoys traveling for soccer and running track, although her binoculars are never far from hand! She is also a volunteer with the Philadelphia Zoo and is interested in becoming a veterinarian.

So, come one, come all to hear a teen’s perspective about her adventures and experiences working with well-known birders and ornithologists on field identification, bird ecology, and conservation at Hog Island.