About Ozark Bird Conservancy

You can make a difference in bird conservation! Your donations are used to fund our current research, education, and outreach objectives.

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Our Mission

Our mission is to conserve birds and their habitats using science and education that promotes habitat resiliency, engages the public in the research process, and informs meaningful public and private conservation decisions.

Our Vision

At Ozark Bird Conservancy, we are committed to fostering a harmonious relationship between people and the nature through innovative research and community engagement:

  1. Improve the lives of birds and people through research that informs sound conservation decisions.
  2. Bridge the disconnect between science and the public through education, outreach, and public involvement at every step of the research process.
  3. Provide decision makers with science-based deliverables that result in habitat resiliency and maximized human interest in ecosystems.

Together, we can create a future where bird populations thrive, ecosystems flourish, and communities are inspired to act as stewards of the environment.

Our Team

Mitchell Pruitt, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Mitchell is an avian ecologist, founder of Ozark Bird Conservancy (OBC), and holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Arkansas. His love for birds began at an ecology camp in the 5th grade, where Scarlet Tanagers and Yellow-billed Cuckoos sparked his desire for a career in ornithology. This was further fostered by Dr. Kimberly (Kim) Smith, a late professor of ornithology at the U of A. With Kim, Mitchell co-founded the Arkansas Saw-whet Owl Project to learn more about this secretive owl here in the Ozark Highlands of Northwest Arkansas during fall and winter. Work with saw-whet owls continued through his academic career and set the stage for the founding of OBC. Today, Mitchell’s research interests center on studying raptors (and other birds) in human-altered landscapes, and maintaining long-term efforts to monitor and conserve them in communities with rapid human development. In his spare time, you can find Mitchell birding, looking through a camera, gardening, enjoying good food, or traveling. 

Jennifer Mortensen, Ph.D.

Board Member

Jen is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She hold a B.S. in Biology and Biological Aspects of Conservation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.S. in Biology from Villanova University, and a Ph.D. in  Biology from Tufts University. Jen is a broadly trained conservation ecologist with research combining field work, genomics, and statistical modeling approaches to understand the relationship between animal behavior, population dynamics, and extinction risk. Her focus is on wild birds, with projects currently divided between Northwest Arkansas and the Caribbean. Despite this career trajectory, Jen didn’t grow up particularly loving birds and seems to remember always wanting to be a dentist! Raised in an Army family that moved every few years, she credits living in diverse places with planting the seed that later grew into a career in ecology.

Butch Tetzlaff, M.S.

Board Member

Butch is owner and operator of The Bluebird Shed, a backyard bird feeding store located in Bella Vista that serves the residents of Northwest Arkansas. He began his career in avian ecology through a Master’s, studying the body composition of House Wrens and how that relates to their survival. Later in his career, Butch earned a Master’s degree in Non-profit Administration from Indiana University. He currently holds a federal bird banding permit that allows he and his colleagues at OBC to conduct much of their research. In his spare time, you can find Butch monitoring bluebird nest boxes in Bella Vista, giving presentations about birds at local state parks, or enjoying the morning cycling scene on the regional Razorback Greenway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Ozark Bird Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bird conservation and environmental education.

This region (e.g. Ozark & Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas River Valley) is home to unique ecosystems and critical habitats for many bird species, including migratory and at-risk populations. Protecting our birds ensures biodiversity, ecological balance, and environmental health in the region.

We conduct scientific research that improves the lives of birds and their habitats, and informs sound conservation decisions. We educate the public about birds and their ecosystems, while collaborating with public and private stakeholders to implement conservation strategies that benefit both birds and people.

We focus on a range of bird species, including migratory songbirds, raptors, and other species that depend on the unique ecosystems of the Interior Highlands.

Ozark Bird Conservancy has been actively working since its founding in 2024, consistently growing its impact and outreach across the region.

 Habitat loss and land use change (ie. urban development), climate change, and invasive species (e.g. invasive plants, invasive mammals) are some of the primary threats to birds in the Interior Highlands.

We are engaged in several research projects–including tracking migratory owls, studying urban raptors, and monitoring winter songbirds–as well as education and outreach programs that involve local communities in bird research and conservation. View our current projects here.

Our research focuses on identifying needs and studying aspects of bird ecology (e.g. habitat associations, life history traits). Our data is used to create scientific publications, reports, and deliverables that inform public and private conservation decisions.

Ozark Bird Conservancy conducts novel research that results in recommendations for decision-makers and local organizations that engage directly in implementing habitat restoration and remediation. We prioritize recommendations that maintain native habitats within human-altered landscapes (e.g. forest, riparian areas, wetlands, grasslands) and connectivity among these habitats.

Yes, we collaborate with local, state, and national organizations, universities, and government agencies to maximize the impact of our research initiatives and conservation goals.

Our long-term goals include ensuring the resilience of bird populations, important habitats, fostering public awareness, and achieving sustainable conservation outcomes.

Donate To Ozark Bird Conservancy

We need your help. Support Ozark Bird Conservancy today! Donate now to fund this project and others like it.

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