This month we welcomed two new staff members, Annemarie Read and Teresa Johnson.

Annemarie joins us as our new Operations & Finance Coordinator. For her, things began with a birthday present a few years ago when she asked for a bird feeder. Her family built and purchased four different feeders in her backyard, then waited. First, a cardinal, then a blue jay, then a few more. Annemarie read and learned more about attracting birds to the backyard. She tried different seeds, added some native plants and a bird bath, and most recently, a pond. Now, she has attracted over 40 different species to her backyard! She completed Travis Audubon’s Beginning Birder class in 2020. Most weekends, she can be found with her husband at local birding spots, learning as much as she can from those around her. Her newfound passion for birding has taken her all over Texas, the USA, and two different countries.

Born in Philadelphia, Annemarie moved to Austin 30 years ago to earn a degree in Finance from the University of Texas. Her professional background includes managing the finances for local nonprofits, and her most recent position was a Practice Manager for a local orthodontic practice. She is very excited to work with Travis Audubon, combining her experience in operations and finance with her passion for conservation and birding.

Annemarie enjoys spending time with her two college-aged sons, husband, and two Whippets. In addition to birding, her hobbies include gardening, running, yoga, traveling, and scuba diving. She can be reached at finance@travisaudubon.org.

Teresa joins the team as the new Programs Coordinator. Her involvement with Travis Audubon began as a volunteer in the fall of 2017 into the spring of 2018 when she assisted another staff member, Chris Murray, with surveys for Golden-cheeked Warblers at Baker Sanctuary. Teresa is a native Texan with multigenerational family roots in Austin who’s had a passionate interest in wildlife since childhood. Her lifelong goal has been to work to protect endangered species, like Austin’s beloved Golden-cheeked Warbler.

She completed a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation and a master’s degree in Environmental Management. She served with AmeriCorps twice and has held a variety of positions in the environmental field, from teaching elementary school students about natural resources, to conducting outreach for the local Save Barton Creek Association, as well as restoring native landscapes in the Austin area.

Teresa lives with her lovable Shar Pei, Moon, and her wonderful partner, Saul. They can often be found together on one of the many hiking trails in Austin, or visiting Saul’s native Mexico. Teresa is thrilled to work with Travis Audubon and looks forward to connecting with both new and longtime members of the community. Get in touch with her at teresa@travisaudubon.org.