About Me

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Mission, Texas, United States
I'm Tiffany Kersten, a professional bird guide based in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I spent 2021 traveling, birding, and gifting personal safety alarms to women birders I met on the trails along the way during my Lower 48 States Big Year. In 2022, I founded Nature Ninja Birding Tours, offering customized private tours in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.

Birdie Alarm Project

She's Birdie - Personal Safety Alarm Gifting Project 

Thank you so much to the 132 project donors, and my partnership with She's Birdie! Enough funds were raised to gift 257 She's Birdie alarms to women I met along the trails in 2021! This project truly would not be possible without support from so many amazing people across the country. 

My fundraiser is now operating under a different format - I'll be continuing to gift alarms to women I meet while out birding in 2022! For every $10 donated, I'll be using the funds to purchase steeply discounted alarms from She's Birdie and gifting them to even more women! Huge thanks to women-owned She's Birdie and to all the amazing generous donors who continue to make this project a reality! 

Birdie Big Year GoFundMe 

I’ve gotten a lot of questions from people wanting to purchase their own alarms; go to She's Birdie and use code TIFF15 for 15% off! 

You pull the top off and the alarm sounds and a light flashes- put the top back on and it stops. Tiny, cute and convenient and fits in the palm of your hand. Unlike pepper spray, alarms can be taken on plane trips, helpful for us traveler - birder folks!




2021 Project Donors
  1. Charlie Bostwick 
  2. Vjera Thompson 
  3. Bill Eisele
  4. Jennifer Scrantoni
  5. Marion Mason
  6. Marisa Oliva
  7. Stephanie Seymour
  8. Mason Sieges
  9. Marie Adams
  10. John McCoppin
  11. Kenneth Bader
  12. Shelly Plante
  13. Phil Chaon
  14. Robert Cowan
  15. Paula Aschim
  16. Christian Hagenlocher
  17. Kori Gasaway
  18. Butch Ukura
  19. Mark Otnes
  20. Julie Markham
  21. MaryG Zell
  22. Alex Zelles
  23. Robin
  24. Kristin Threet
  25. Ally Grant
  26. Janelle Long
  27. Andrew Dreelin
  28. Laura Keene
  29. Virginia Rettig
  30. Sandra Beranich
  31. Jan Liang
  32. Brad Anderson
  33. Curt Rawn
  34. Bayard Cobb
  35. Tammy McQuaid
  36. Thomas Crusse
  37. Richard Merritt
  38. Corey Ellingson
  39. Diana Strupp
  40. Cindy Angerhofer
  41. Patrick Maurice
  42. Keanu Canto
  43. Patricia McIntosh
  44. Frederick Ruckersfeldt
  45. Gene Herskovics
  46. Michael Williams
  47. Kyle Rambo
  48. Gabriela Gutierrez
  49. Stephen Nesbitt
  50. Irma Garza
  51. Chris Sloan
  52. Meghan Hines
  53. Ann Oliver
  54. Ken Wilson
  55. Jeremy Vassallo
  56. Cynthia Mynatt
  57. Sarah Gatto
  58. Craig Harms
  59. Kenneth Walsh
  60. Shelly Harms
  61. Gene Herskovics
  62. Lisa Schibley
  63. Diane Nastase
  64. Christine Jenkins
  65. Anonymous
  66. Mary Ann
  67. Denise Hughes
  68. Zane Marshall
  69. Wesley Homoya
  70. Bradley Sale
  71. Scott Lewis
  72. Charles Harcourt
  73. Whitney Yoerger
  74. Graham Gerdeman
  75. Matthew Withrow
  76. Paola Ayala
  77. Martha Eubanks
  78. John Sterling
  79. Amanda Hollingworth
  80. Rachel Griffiths
  81. Beth Madden
  82. Reed Perkins
  83. Nathalie op de Beeck
  84. Kevin Murphy
  85. Barb Bassett
  86. Ian Sage
  87. Barbara Eidlin
  88. Deborah Stewart
  89. Robbin Mallett
  90. Susan Heath
  91. Melissa Cunningham
  92. Mary Anderson
  93. Kathryn Baumbach
  94. Cheryl Kanes
  95. Mark Sundstrom
  96. Barbara Johnson
  97. Jill Punches
  98. Barb Johnson
  99. Tom Lally
  100. Shawn Hayes
  101. Kay Hawklee
  102. Ryan Mandelbaum
  103. Matthew Brooks
  104. Keelin Miller
  105. Edward Pullen
  106. Tim O' Connell
  107. Joe Lill
  108. Daniel Ardia
  109. Nicholas Auwaerter
  110. Katherine McClelland
  111. Rebecca Allmond
  112. Samantha DeKruiff
  113. Russell Ryan
  114. Amy Schumann
  115. Jeff Fortescue
  116. Ian Johnson
  117. Kassie Johnson
  118. Denise Stephens
  119. Meg Hedeen
  120. Leah Riley
  121. Libby Even
  122. Shannon Wask
  123. Kristin Woods
  124. Shannon Thompson
  125. Brian Johnson 
  126. Steve Backus
  127. Heather Hahn
  128. Weiyao Ku
  129. Samuel Ni
  130. Debbie DeVoe
  131. Ruth Latta
  132. Mary Schmidgall
  133. Eric Stiles
  134. Sonicle Media
  135. Roger Robb


2021 She's Birdie Alarm Recipients
  1. Robin from Arkansas
  2. Alison from Michigan
  3. Ally from North Carolina
  4. MB from Virginia
  5. Kristin from Alabama
  6. Jan from Texas
  7. Mandy from Hawaii
  8. Lark from Tennessee
  9. Phoebe from Ohio
  10. Sarah from Rhode Island
  11. Barbara from Utah
  12. Emily from Colorado
  13. Chloe from Vermont
  14. Izzy from Washington
  15. Miriam from Oregon
  16. Judy from Illinois
  17. Caryl from Virginia
  18. Hannah from Oregon
  19. Heidi from California
  20. Kate from North Carolina
  21. Amy from Massachusetts
  22. Nina from Texas
  23. Ann from Texas
  24. Unknown from Texas
  25. Hailey from North Carolina
  26. Unknown from Texas
  27. Nancy from New Mexico
  28. Barbara from Arizona
  29. Tammy from Florida
  30. Connie from California
  31. Mari from Arizona
  32. Bettina from Arizona
  33. Deb from Arizona
  34. Unknown from Arizona
  35. Unknown from Arizona
  36. Unknown from Arizona
  37. Connie from Alaska
  38. Shoshie from Illinois
  39. Heather from Ohio
  40. Molly from Georgia
  41. Becky from Maine
  42. Christy from Vermont
  43. Liz from Massachusetts
  44. Crystal from Maine
  45. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  46. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  47. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  48. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  49. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  50. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  51. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  52. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  53. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  54. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  55. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  56. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  57. Participant at Acadia Birding Festival
  58. Alex from Maine
  59. Rochelle from Washington
  60. Joey from Minnesota
  61. Abby from Maryland
  62. Sharon from Texas
  63. Gloria from Texas
  64. Tamara from Texas
  65. Yazmin from Texas
  66. Adeline from Texas
  67. Vicki from Texas
  68. Unknown from Texas
  69. Jenny from Florida
  70. Martha from Florida
  71. Mariel from Florida
  72. Christine from Florida
  73. Gaby from Texas
  74. Shaina from Texas
  75. Irma from Texas
  76. Lauren from Michigan
  77. MaryG from Texas
  78. Lori from New York
  79. Tiffany from Iowa
  80. Mary from Arizona
  81. Michelle from Arizona
  82. Connie from Nevada
  83. Kristy from Arizona
  84. Mischelle from Iowa
  85. Julie from California
  86. Christine from Arizona
  87. Megan from Arkansas
  88. Sarah from Washington
  89. Kelly from Delaware
  90. Liz from Pennsylvania
  91. Kantinka from Belgium
  92. Anne from Virginia
  93. Emily from North Carolina
  94. Diane from Virginia
  95. Holly
  96. Whitney from Washington
  97. Susan from Texas
  98. Jennifer from California
  99. Hollie from Texas
  100. Mariana from Texas
  101. Stephanie from Texas
  102. Roswitha from Arizona
  103. Janelle from Arizona
  104. Erica from Texas
  105. Darrigah from Texas
  106. Marilyn from Texas
  107. Sue from Texas
  108. Mollee from West Virginia
  109. Virginia from Texas
  110. Freya from Alabama
  111. Shelly from Connecticut
  112. Carol from West Virginia
  113. Sarah from North Carolina
  114. Heather from New York
  115. Cindy from North Carolina
  116. Tatum from New York
  117. Bond from Florida
  118. Sarah from North Carolina
  119. Amber from Utah
  120. Pat from Idaho
  121. Sarah from Idaho
  122. Kathy from Idaho
  123. Stephanie from Idaho
  124. Robyn from New York
  125. Kassidy from Texas
  126. Denise from Idaho
  127. Trudy from California
  128. Cheryl from Idaho
  129. Lynn from Nevada
  130. Faye from Nevada
  131. Inge from Nevada
  132. Elisabeth from Washington
  133. Lynne from California
  134. Diane from California
  135. Brenda from California
  136. Cara from Washington
  137. Nathalie from Washington
  138. Eliza from Washington
  139. Bea from Washington
  140. Carrie from Washington
  141. Chris from Washington
  142. Lisa from Colorado
  143. Sonia from California
  144. Shawneen from Oregon
  145. Katie from Oregon
  146. Nicole from Oregon
  147. Traffic Flagger from California
  148. Becca from California
  149. Carrie from California
  150. Teresa from California
  151. Shirley from California
  152. Laura from California
  153. Vivian from California
  154. Taylor from Idaho
  155. Zoe from California
  156. Dasha from Oregon
  157. Kaelyn from Montana
  158. Micaela from Africa
  159. Stella from California
  160. Woman from Texas
  161. Woman from Texas
  162. Laurie from California
  163. Paige from California
  164. Mirna from California
  165. Cher from California
  166. Alina from California
  167. Mary Ann from California
  168. Kate from California
  169. Frances from California
  170. Amy from California
  171. Natalia from New York
  172. Lydia from North Carolina
  173. Marie from Pennsylvania
  174. Melissa from New York
  175. Libby from Maryland
  176. Dawn from New Jersey
  177. Eliana from Florida
  178. Christie from Maine
  179. Jessica from New Jersey
  180. Deb from New Jersey
  181. Dale from New Jersey
  182. Rae from New Jersey
  183. Deb from Texas
  184. Jen from Texas
  185. Mandy from California
  186. Suzanne from Texas
  187. Jennifer from Washington DC
  188. Suleka from Virginia
  189. Woman from Oregon
  190. Mary Jo from Texas
  191. Debra from Florida
  192. Kristi from Connecticut
  193. Sharon from Minnesota
  194. Caroline from North Carolina
  195. Monica from Texas
  196. Cheryl from Texas
  197. Andrea from Montana
  198. Seton from California
  199. Angelina from Texas
  200. Nancy from Washington
  201. Nancy from Texas
  202. Ashlee from Maryland
  203. Lisa from Massachusetts
  204. Marcie from Texas
  205. Shelly from Texas
  206. Evie from Texas
  207. Kate from Texas
  208. Melissa from Texas
  209. Denise from Minnesota
  210. Robbin from Texas
  211. Lori from Texas
  212. Suzanne from Texas
  213. Jill from Texas
  214. Sandi from Texas
  215. Shanti from Texas
  216. Mary from Texas
  217. Ruth from New Mexico
  218. Lee from New Mexico
  219. Cheryl from Georgia
  220. Brenda from Texas
  221. Gaby from Texas
  222. Julie from Illinois
  223. Jennifer from Illinois
  224. Diane from Illinois
  225. Colette from Wisconsin
  226. Cara from Oregon
  227. Rebecca from Connecticut
  228. Nina from Pennsylvania
  229. Tanya from Pennsylvania
  230. Kayann from Pennsylvania
  231. Debbie from Pennsylvania
  232. Kris from Delaware
  233. Susan from New Hampshire
  234. Keelin from Massachusetts
  235. Virginia from Oklahoma
  236. Laura from Texas
  237. Jill from Pennsylvania
  238. Diana from Pennsylvania
  239. Shannon from Virginia
  240. Kacey from Virginia
  241. Anandi from Georgia
  242. Seema from North Carolina
  243. Nita from Arkansas
  244. Mary from North Carolina
  245. Joy from Michigan
  246. Beth from Texas
  247. Jean from Texas
  248. Karen from Texas
  249. Laura from Georgia
  250. Claire from Georgia
  251. Jessie from Florida
  252. Lindsey from Tennessee
  253. Mary from Oregon
  254. Elizabeth from Texas
  255. Louise from New Jersey
  256. Unknown
  257. Unknown

2022 Project Continuation Alarms
258. Jessica from Pennsylvania
259. Binita from Arizona
260. Marty from Kansas
261. Diane from California
262. Letitia from Ohio
263. Connie from Texas
264. Cathy from South Carolina
265. Cate from Maine
266. Rhiannon from Indiana
267. Maya from Texas
268. Jizelle from Texas
269. Texas
270. Texas
271. Texas
272. Mary from Tennessee
273. Cynthia from Texas
274. Mattie from Texas
275. Brigid from Louisiana
276. Max from New York
277. Beth from Illinois
278. Denise from California
279. Lily from California
280. Taylor from Texas
281. Tricia from Texas
282. Kristin from Texas
283. Kenlynn from Texas
284. Cathy from Ohio
285. Kim from Ohio
286. Unknown
287. Unknown
288. Unknown
289. Unknown
290. Unknown
291. Unknown
292. Unknown
293. Kirby from Texas
294. Trisha from DC
295. Very from Texas
296. Jackie from Texas
297. Charissa from South Carolina
298. Texas Monthly
299. Unknown
300. Unknown
301. Unknown
302. Unknown
303. Unknown
304. Unknown
305. Unknown
306. Ninette from Texas
307. Melissa from Texas
308. Wendy from Texas
309. Caryl's Friend
310. Billi from Canada
311. Anne from North Carolina
312. Cynthia from North Carolina
313. Kelly from Ohio
314. Jennifer from Ohio
315. Erin from Texas
316. Kim from Ohio
317. Kim staff
318. Kim staff
319. Kim staff
320. Kim staff
321. Kim staff
322. Kim staff
323. Holly from Ohio
324. Lynda from North Carolina
325. Nan from North Carolina
326. Fleeta from North Carolina
327. Jenna from Ohio
328. Hope from Ohio
329. Anyssa from Texas
330. Molly from Texas
331. Gigi from Texas
332. Lola from Texas
333. Josie from Texas
334. Toni from Maine
335. Bridget from Vermont
336. Dotty from New Hampshire
337. Allison from Oregon
338. Sabrina from Virginia
339. Caroline from Maine
340. Kirk from Texas
341. Angelica from Texas
342. Phyllis from New Mexico
343. Michelle from Texas
344. Louise from New Jersey
345. Catherine from California
346. LeAnn from New Jersey
347. Carolyn from Texas
348. Susan from Pennsylvania
349. Jessica
350. Charlotte from Wisconsin
351. Nina from Wisconsin
352. Carla from Peru
353. Lucero from Peru
354. Milena from Peru
355. Katie from California
356. Alyssa from California
357. R1
358. R2
359. R3
360. R4
361. R5
362. Lois from Texas
363. Sara from Texas
364. Angie from Texas
365. Debbie from Texas
366. Kristin from Georgia
367. R1
368. R2
369. R3
370. R4
371. R5
372. R6
373.


2022 Project Donors
1. Diane Zelman
2. Chase Fountain
3. Heidi Kappes
4. Kim Kaufman
5. Margaret
6. Sammantha Francis
7. Jean Warneke
8. Michael Simons
9. Maria Curley
10. Patricia Freysinger
11. Douglas Perkins
12. Adam Lindemuth
13. Kathy Sturdevant
14. Walter Watson
15. Tara Nooyen
16. Paul Aucoin
17. Roxanne Featherly
18. Erin Curry
19. Carol Light
20. Randy Pinkston 
21. Paul Lazarus
22. Kirby Adams
23. Will Huggins
24. Michael Erwin
25. Daniel Martin
26. Elizabeth Sheehan
27. Audrey Reader
28. Cara Borre
29. Marilyn
30. Leigh
31. Mary Ann Kelly
32.


Additionally, She's Birdie has been donating alarms to give away at my speaking events:

2022 - 80 ALARMS
Surfside Beach, Texas: 10
Texas Ornithological Society: 10
Biggest Week in American Birding: 10
Acadia Birding Festival: 10
Maine Audubon: 10
Rockport HummerBird Festival: 10
South American Bird Fair, Peru: 10
Rio Brazos Audubon Annual Meeting: 10

2023 - 230 ALARMS
Alabama Ornithological Society: 10
Laredo Birding Festival: 10
South Padre Birding & Nature Center: 10
Northwood Woman's Club: 10
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center: 10
Texas Woman's University: 10
Mitchell Lake Audubon Center: 10
Lek Treks Festival: 10
The Birdiest Festival in America: 10
Hoosier National Forest: 10
Allerton Park & Retreat Center: 10
Chicago Audubon Society: 10
Kane County Audubon: 10
Ottawa County Parks & Recreation: 10
Erie Bird Observatory: 10
Buffalo Audubon Society: 10
The Discovery Center: 10
Baltimore Bird Club: 10
John Burroughs National History Society: 10
Ocean State Bird Club: 10
Birds & Crews, Newburyport: 10
Grand Valley Audubon Society: 10
Denver Audubon: 10

2024 - 130 ALARMS
Tennessee Ornithological Society: 10
Urban Ecology Center: 10
Indian Creek Nature Center: 10
Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival: 10
Carpenter Nature Center: 10
Chequamegon Bay Birding & Nature Festival: 10
North Dakota Birding Society: 10
Montana Birding Festival: 10
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies: 10
Llano Estacado Audubon Center: 10
Trinity River Audubon Center: 10
Bexar Audubon / San Antonio Audubon: 10
Fort Worth Audubon: 10







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