My connection to birds began at the hands of my father, who introduced me to the local birdlife before I could walk or talk. He is also a prodigious storyteller, and it wasn't long before I gleefully inherited that pastime, too. From a young age I was obsessed with talking about nature to others (whether or not they wanted to hear it), and my career has been spent doing just that. I have worked in environmental education and science communication for parks, zoos, botanical gardens, outreach programs, non-profits, and the University of Guelph. As the NatureCounts Engagement Coordinator, I am excited to find the stories in the data and share the incredible potential of this fascinating project.