Introduction
Ashley Gary is an American science communicator and co-organizer for #BlackBirdersWeek.
Early life
Gary became interested in birds after watching Sir David Attenborough's "Life of Birds." As a child, Gary recalls loving wildlife and considering a career related to nature by the time she entered sixth grade.
Gary holds a bachelor's degree in Art History and was enrolled in a master's program in environmental science and policy, but did not finish that degree.
Career
At age 29, Gary took an environmental film course at American University, which inspired her to create her Instagram and Twitter page, @thewildlifehost. Both accounts focused on environmental and wildlife education, posting educational content each day.
Gary is a member of Black AF in Stem, an organization of black STEM professionals who created the #BlackBirdersWeek program and hold other ornithology related events. Gary went birding with a group for the first time in 2019 with Jason Ward and Tyus Williams. She cites this experience as inspiration for her involvement with #BlackBirdersWeek. In an interview with the National Audubon Society, Gary remarked, "Going birding with a group of people, especially a group of Black friends, it changed my whole view of birding."