Our Mission
To contribute to the conservation of birds and their habitats via science, education, and advocacy.
To gather information about avian communities and habitat use that will assist state, federal, and private natural resource managers in their efforts to implement conservation programs.
To provide opportunities for Missourians of all ages to learn about species and habitat conservation.
To advocate for sound, science-based conservation policy that benefits birds, other wildlife and environmental quality.Whether you’re brushing up on skills or starting from scratch, we’re here to help.
How we accomplish this…
Each year, MRBO conducts avian population monitoring and applied research on almost 100,000 acres of Missouri’s most imperiled habitats – prairies, wetlands and forests. The resulting data are communicated to land managers, owners and the public so that we all further understand specific effects of stewardship on birds. Education and outreach is an integral component of MRBO’s work and takes place in both formal and informal settings. Each year we conduct over 100 educational events for people of all ages. The organization’s work is accomplished in partnership with many other non-profits as well as state and federal agencies.
MRBO Director Ethan Duke shows a Black-capped Chickadee to a 2nd grade class at the Columbia Audubon Band With Nature event.
Strategic Framework
MRBO has successfully contributed to conservation efforts throughout the state of Missouri for over a decade. The framework for the strategic plan our organization will adopt into its next decade can be found here. This framework will help shape activities, goals, and funding initiatives for the future. Below are the four overarching categories in which we intend to focus our strategic framework, presented in no particular order. While many of our existing activities fit in to this framework, there is room for considerable expansion!
MRBO states five core values and philosophies that pervade all areas of the organization’s work. They are:
Robust data and scientific integrity
Time- and cost-efficiency and use of technological innovations
Fostering the formation of partnerships
Embracing and encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion
Empowering and providing opportunities for young people
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Vision: MRBO contributes to the conservation and continual improvement of the highest-quality habitats possible for birds and other wildlife.
Goals:
Improve public and private habitat management quality
Support increases in the occurrence and functionality of intact natural systems (e.g. watersheds, floodplains, grassland complexes)
Encourage/facilitate enrollment of private acreage into conservation programs
Decrease environmental pollutants (i.e. chemicals, plastics, emissions and other waste)
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Vision: MRBO contributes to the improvement of local and regional food systems, which are integral to wildlife and natural resource conservation, and to providing people with quality food.
Goals:
Promote an agricultural system that is fair to both people and wildlife and that results in natural resource conservation
Encourage people to choose food based on ecological conservation
Promote local, bird-friendly food systems
Work to make local, sustainably produced food available to as many people as possible
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Vision: MRBO works to build communities that provide the things birds need: food and water, shelter, safe passage, and places to raise young.
Goals:
Reduce avian window collisions
Proliferate the use of native plants in homes, schools, and all public places
Reduce chemical use in home yards and public places
Support initiatives to reduce populations of outdoor cats
Promote/support the reduction of waste in communities, particularly single-use plastics
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Vision: MRBO provides opportunities for people to experience, enjoy, and understand the natural world, fostering awareness of the need for conservation action.
Goals:
Increase the amount of time spent outdoors by people of all ages and demographics
Foster enjoyment of all parts of the natural world
Increase understanding of basic ecology and ecological connections, including humans as part of nature
Provide opportunities for volunteerism, internships, community engagement, and other involvement in MRBO’s work
Please consider making a financial contribution to the work of the Missouri River Bird Observatory.
Supporters’ donations comprise the vast majority of funding for MRBO’s education and advocacy programs and also help us maintain our headquarters in Arrow Rock, MO. Support from individuals is a critical part the organization’s operation.
MRBO supporters receive our seasonal newsletter, The Rectrix, are recognized in annual reports, and receive invitations to special events such as the annual MRBO Members’ Party. All financial contributions are tax deductible.
Make an Impact Today
You are also welcome to send your name, address, phone number, and email address along with a personal check to: Missouri River Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 16, Arrow Rock, MO 65320
Meet the Team
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Co-Directors/Co-Founders
Ethan and Dana founded the Missouri River Bird Observatory in 2010 and serve as the organization’s Co-Directors. Both have wildlife ecology and management backgrounds and worked on conservation projects throughout the country prior to making Missouri home in 2008. Ethan and Dana lead MRBO with passion and dedication and are grateful for the excellent staff who make all of the organization’s work possible. They currently spend most of their work time on conservation policy advocacy and public outreach.
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Conservation Engagement Coordinator
Amy grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri, where she was surrounded by passionate conservationists and naturalists and developed an appreciation for the beauty and importance of nature and wildlife. She attended Saint Louis University (SLU), graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Science. While at SLU, Amy participated in conservation research on campus, civic and community engagement, and efforts to connect others with service opportunities.
After graduating, Amy had opportunities to work and serve with Environment for the Americas as a Fish & Feathers intern; with Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest and the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission as a fish technician; and with the Student Conservation Association as a fish technician. Most recently, she worked with MRBO as a Grassland Bird Technician. Amy is grateful for all of these experiences and for the people she has met and learned from along the way. Each has contributed to her curiosity and strengthened her love for the work she does.
Advocacy and conservation are important to Amy, and she is excited to share this passion with others while advocating for conservation in her home state. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, birdwatching, hiking, and taking public transit.
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Central Region Education Coordinator
Melina grew up in a small town in Northeast Missouri, raised by environmentally passionate parents where she was encouraged to explore all of Missouri's natural wonders.
She completed her degree in Environmental Studies at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. Eager to explore, she landed in southwest Utah where she worked in a conservation corps restoring trails and habitats. Driven by her fascination of western flora, she moved to California for the next four years where her passion for botanical life flourished. She spent her first summer working for the US National Forest Service in a rural town in Northern California. The next two years were at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden as a rare plant technician. Her fourth summer she rejoined the National Forest Service in northern California and reconnected with her Californian ecological “roots”.
In her role with MRBO, she hopes to foster enthusiasm and connection between Missourians and the natural world. When she is not delving into plant life you could find her hiking, reading, cooking up new recipes, floating down a river, flying a kite on a windy day, or enthusiastically dancing.
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Operations Director
Marlee is originally from north-central Illinois and currently resides in Moberly, Missouri. Her passion for the outdoors began at a young age through birding, foraging, hunting, fishing, and camping with her dad. She earned her B.S. in Science from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2016.
Before joining MRBO, Marlee spent seven years with the United States Geological Survey working on the conservation of endangered pallid sturgeon. She joined MRBO in 2022 and now serves as Operations Director and Co-Director alongside Tessa Poolman, helping lead the organization’s operations, communications, fundraising, events, and organizational planning.Marlee also leads MRBO’s American Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring Project, working with landowners and partners to monitor nests and contribute to kestrel conservation efforts. Outside of work, she enjoys tracking different animals with her dogs, hunting, birding, foraging, fishing, camping, and exploring Missouri’s natural areas.
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Plastic Pollution Educator
Stori grew up in North Texas surrounded by domestic animals, an enchantment with wildlife, and an early-onset determination to protect them. She followed this passion to Montana State University where she earned a B.S. in Conservation Biology & Ecology. After graduation, she moved to Washington where she spent nearly three years in veterinary medicine and became a volunteer sanctuary guide for Wolf Haven International. Most recently, she served two terms as an AmeriCorps Environmental Education & Stewardship Specialist with NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
In 2021, Stori joined Saving Animals Facing Extinction (SAFE) Worldwide as a remote volunteer writer and artist for creative conservation projects. She continues to volunteer with them as a board member and Education & Communications Strategist.
Stori’s goals are to encourage people to understand their role in ecology, inspire their respect for other species, and empower them to act on behalf of their shared home. She loves learning science communication strategies, filling environmentalisms’ accessibility gaps, and finding solutions that address human and animal welfare. Her role as MRBO’s Plastic Pollution Educator brings together all those things!
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Conservation Programs Director
Tessa is a true Kansas City native, growing up just north of the river. Since she was young, Tessa has felt a strong connection to nature and extreme compassion towards wildlife. She graduated from Pittsburg State University and now holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. During her academic journey, Tessa’s commitment to the field of conservation was evident through her active involvement as a member of the executive council of the Wildlife and Fisheries Society at Pitt State for two years. She gained practical experience working for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks at the Southeast Kansas Nature Center, enriching her and others' understanding of local wildlife and nature.
With a deep love for her hometown of Kansas City, Tessa is excited to use her knowledge and expertise to connect people of all ages with nature through immersive experiences. Her passion for learning drives her to continuously seek out new information and insights about conservation and biology. Through her role with Missouri River Bird Observatory, Tessa hopes to inspire others to appreciate and preserve the nature around them.
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Science Coordinator
Matt hails from small town Sabetha, Kansas. Influenced by field work in Latin America (and a longstanding fascination with tropical biology in general), Matt attended the University of Kansas where he double-majored in ecology & evolutionary biology and Spanish. Matt’s passion for birds and birdwatching eventually led him to some of his other favorite hobbies: photography, travel, and most recently, wildlife audio recording. He has been a part of MRBO’s field survey crew since 2019, working on wetlands and prairies across Kansas and Missouri.
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BirdSafeKC and Media Contractor
Hannah grew up just south of Kansas City, in a smaller Kansas town, splitting time in southwestern Missouri as well. After earning her BFA in Interior Design from Park University and working as a commercial interior designer for several years, her passion turned more towards sustainability and her community.
While working for Johnson County Community College’s Center for Sustainability, she was introduced to Missouri River Bird Observatory and the BirdSafeKC project. She has been working as part of the BirdSafeKC project since late 2020 and her remote contract role with MRBO has taken on a lot of different iterations - from data entry, quarterly newsletters and yearly reports to website redesign.
Currently residing in Minnesota, Hannah has used her passion for sustainability and community engagement to build a network of like minded individuals. She currently works as a 1099 contractor full time and is always looking for ways to help organizations and communities she’s passionate about.
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Central Region Environmental Educator
Isabelle grew up in Marshall, Missouri, where she spent her childhood camping with her family, fishing with her dad, and nurturing a love for plants through her grandmother’s passion for gardening. She is currently majoring in Biology at Missouri Valley College, with plans to pursue a career focused on conservation and the protection of natural spaces.
Isabelle has been working with MRBO since the summer of 2024. She supports MRBO’s education and outreach programs, helping to inspire curiosity and environmental awareness in young learners across Missouri. Isabelle also works at a local greenhouse and landscaping company, where she continues to expand her knowledge of native plants and backyard gardening. She hopes to continue combining her love of plants with her growing interests in ecology and environmental education.
Isabelle is passionate about connecting people—especially kids—with nature and is excited to continue sharing her enthusiasm for the outdoors with the next generation of conservationists.
Meet the Board of Directors
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Theresa Enderle
Chairman
Independence, MO
Missouri Master Naturalist and NAI Certified Interpretive Guide -
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Doug Doughty
Vice Chairman
Chillicothe, MO
Muddy Lane Grain & Cattle, Owner/Operator -
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Tammy Gillespie
Secretary
Columbia, MO
Quality Coach for the Missouri AfterSchool Network -
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Jerry Giger
Treasurer
Rolla, MO
Retired Superintendent of the Rolla School District -
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Kim Ratcliffe
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Director of Advocacy and Special Projects for Research to Practice -
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Tracy Lewandowski
Board Member
Kansas City, MO
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Chris Reeves
Board Member
Camdenton, MO
Retired High School Science/Research Teacher
