Hi! I’m Ashley and I love birds: studying them, writing about them, talking about them, and interacting with them. I began birdwatching in 2020 during my early pandemic sanity walks. The first bird I ever identified was a Northern Mockingbird that stumped BirdNET by imitating three different bird species in succession, and I’ve been captivated ever since. You can find me people-watching and birdwatching throughout Boston and in the woods.
Confessions of a Bird Freak started in early 2023 as long, funny emails about birds sent to my friends. I had just left my job as a software engineer and spent my free time in between identity crises bombarding anyone who would listen with stories about the birds I saw on my field trips and walks, so I decided to consolidate my stories into a single email list. Since then, Bird Freak has expanded to the blog you’re currently reading and to a YouTube channel. I’ve expanded my knowledge by getting to know the bird species in Boston and in cities all around the country, honing my wildlife photography, taking ornithology and bird identification courses through Cornell’s Bird Academy, and reading books about birds. If you want to see where I’ve been and who I’ve seen lately, check out my eBird profile!
I currently work as a freelance journalist in Brookline, Massachusetts, where I infuse birds and other wildlife into my projects wherever possible. I will also be beginning my master’s in science writing at MIT in fall 2025. For project inquiries, feel free to message me on LinkedIn or get in touch using the contact page.
Confessions of a bird freak 