Meet Jane Lee

We recently connected with Jane Lee and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jane, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Finding my purpose has been a journey. I went to university and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Human Nutrition. I worked as a registered dietitian for a decade before I became depressed and burnt out. I traveled to Denver solo trip in 2019 and serendipitously met my then-hiking guide, now partner, and soon fell in love with not only him but also with the great outdoors. When I moved to Denver, I quit my job as a dietitian and I didn’t know what I wanted to do for work. I had poured my heart into caring for others and lost my passion for nutrition. It didn’t feel rewarding anymore but I still had a strong desire to help others.

A friend took us birding in Littleton and she was able to identify over 30 birds most by just her ears! I was blown away by her talent and continued to go birding on my own. When I first heard the sweet, flute-like song of the Western Meadowlark, I was hooked! We traveled around the Rocky Mountains in our small trailer and at every new campsite, I would go on hikes with my field guides and binoculars. I paid attention to birds by sight and sound, signed up for local bird outings at state parks, went birding with local guides, and like a sponge, I soaked up as much bird knowledge as I could. I loved learning so much about various species, what made them unique, their adaptations, their behaviors, their songs/calls, and their migration patterns, all while admiring their beauty. I knew I wanted to share all this knowledge with others in a way that was fun and accessible.

I worked at Wild Birds Unlimited and convinced the owners to allow me to lead monthly bird outings. I slowly developed my confidence and practiced being a guide. I realized that my skills as a dietitian, listening, understanding, and educating others, translated well into being a guide. I also loved it, guiding is energizing for me, and it doesn’t feel like work. I began volunteering for the Denver Front Range chapter of the Feminist Bird Club and Denver Audubon to gain more experience while expanding my birding community. I also got great feedback from participants which kept me going and I continued to work hard at learning and practicing my craft.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Birding for me has become more than just observing birds. It has helped me immensely with my mental health. I struggle with depression and anxiety and when I go birding, I don’t think about anything else. Birding is a mindfulness practice and research has shown how it can reduce stress levels, blood pressure, and heart rate. I can attest to the healing powers of birding. By being outside, enjoying some light exercise, and learning to be present, my brain resets and I feel lighter. I wanted to integrate this into my outings as a bird guide.

I started my own bird tour company, Birding with Jane in 2023 and offered Mindful Birding tours on Trip Advisor. I reached out to the Denver Botanic Gardens to teach Mindful Birding Courses and they gave me an enthusiastic yes and led 3 classes in 2024 with great success. Through my volunteerism with the Feminist Bird Club and as a member of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, Accessible (EDIA) committee for Denver Audubon I learned how important it was to offer bird outings to various groups of folks. This year, I’ll be offering free outings with Lafayette Open Space and 5 Mindful Birding Courses at the Denver Botanic Gardens (York St location). I’ll also be speaking for the third time at Nerd Nite in November about birds.

Finally, I recently accepted a position as volunteer coordinator at Denver Audubon! It has been a dream for me since I got into birding, to work for a local organization that is dedicated to providing education and conservation efforts for birds and their habitats. We’ll be offering more diverse and accessible bird outings and expanding our reach to the public and I’m very excited!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

3 qualities that were most impactful in my journey: were dedication, endless pursuit of learning, and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. There were times when I wasn’t sure if this was the path I wanted to pursue, but I also saw the value in my work. I vehemently believed (and still do) that there is a connection between birding and mental health. I made it my mission to share that with everyone on my outings. At times, it was uncomfortable to share my challenges with depression, however, I knew that being vulnerable would have a profound effect on how others connected with me and birding in general. I also read as much as I could about birds, listened to podcasts, went on outings, built connections with experts, and took classes at DU. I wanted to educate myself so I could pass on my knowledge to other folks.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

“What’s it Like to be a Bird” by David Allen Sibley is one of my favorite bird books. Beautifully illustrated and easy to read, I’ve learned so much from this book and share a lot of his fun facts on my outings. I recommend this book the most when people ask me what bird book to read.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://birdingwithjane.wixsite.com/birding-with-jane
• Instagram: @birdingwithjane
• Youtube: @birdingwithjane

Image Credits

Jane Lee