Our Meet-Up Hosts
Meet-Up Hosts are Kestrel members who have agreed to schedule and be present for at least three meet-ups per year. These can include anything from birding walks at a local park, to board game nights, to movie parties. They are not birding guides, and no expertise is required to host an event, only attendance! Interested in becoming a Kestrels meet-up host? Contact us!
Alison Babb
I’m Alison, a transplant from Texas who really loves living in Minneapolis. I think of myself as an advanced beginner birder. I’m not a hard core lister, but I enjoy being in the natural world with others who share my interests and seeing new birds is definitely a thrill.
I went with the Kestrels to Texas in January and got hooked on birding travel. I’m headed to Panama with the group this fall, and I can’t wait! I have enjoyed getting to know some of the group members, and look forward to meeting more of you at a Wingspan game night. Hope to see you there!
Veronica Lundh
I love being part of the birding community. I look forward to meeting you all! Over the past few years, I've been transforming my backyard into a birding paradise with native plants, feeders, and water features. This spring, the migration through my backyard was incredibly exciting! Now that fall migration is starting, it looks like it's going to be just as thrilling.
Besides birding, I enjoy hiking with my dog, Murdock, gardening, foraging, reading, and eating! I'm excited to host some events in and around the St. Peter community. My goals for this group are to: show locals some great birding spots, learn from locals about their favorite birding spots, introduce everyone who isn't local to St. Peter, and show them how awesome birding is around here!
Annie Shao
I’m a lifelong nature and bird lover and have been a serious birdwatcher since I took an ornithology lab in 2016 during my last semester in college. I have been keeping a life list since then. In 2020, I started doing watercolor paintings of birds of my life list, which I regularly share in this group.
I live in South Minneapolis, so some of my favorite birding haunts are Bass Ponds, Wood Lake Nature Center, and Veterans Park in Richfield. Outside of birding and art, I am a cell biologist at UMN and enjoy board games, cooking, and hiking. I love being a part of the Twin Cities birding community through The Kestrels and Birds and Beers, so I’m excited to be a Meet-Up Host and bird with you!
Sharon Sobiech
I've always enjoyed nature (hiking, biking, tent camping, photography), and I expanded into birding, too. In the last two years, I've been visiting our wonderful MN state parks, and plan specific state parks by bird migration and expected resident birds. I'm looking forward to birding with The Kestrels.
Our Admin Team
Amy Simso Dean: Co-Founder
Amy Simso Dean has been birding for over 30 years. She founded and is executive director of MYBirdClub (a nonprofit birdwatching club for kids) and co-founded The Kestrels. She is a MN Master Naturalist, volunteers with MN Ornithologists Union and also works part time at The Raptor Center. As much as she loves birding, she really loves getting people, especially kids, excited about birds and conservation.
Scarlet Fitzsimmons: Co-Founder
Scarlet is an accomplished naturalist who has dedicated her career to helping people discover the wonders of nature and outdoor recreation. While earning her degree from the University of Minnesota, Scarlet worked at the Raptor Center and became interested in trying to see some wild owls. This led her to take a transformative trip to Sax-Zim Bog, where she discovered her love for birdwatching.
Through numerous outdoor adventures and roles at the Bell Museum, Como Park Zoo, and Kroening Nature Center, Scarlet has honed her bird identification skills and acquired ample experience leading diverse groups in bird walks and environmental programs. Scarlet co-founded The Kestrels, where she leads and organizes bird walks, annual trips to Sax-Zim Bog, and other bird-themed events.
Karin Munson
TBA
Jamie Spaulding: Webmaster
A long-time nature lover, Jamie dove fully into birding as a way to remain connected with the outdoors during lockdown. She is a Minnesota Master Naturalist and watercolor artist, and participates in Project Feederwatch, the Christmas Bird Count, the Minnesota Bluebird Monitoring Program, and is taking over a Nightjar Survey Network route in the summer of 2025. Outside of birding, she also enjoys gaming and is the leader of an active Girl Scout troop.