Celebrating America Through Local Eyes

Local veterans and heroes will be sharing their thoughts on what makes Marco and America special by answering some patriotic questions. It’s our way to honor those whose dedication and sacrifices make our Island community shine. 

Brittany Piersma

Wildlife Biologist - Audubon Western Everglades

Brittany Piersma works as a wildlife biologist and volunteer manager for Audubon Western Everglades. She manages their three conservation programs, including burrowing owls, gopher tortoises, and shorebirds/water quality testing in Collier County. Most of Piersma’s work exists on Marco Island due to the incredible species and increasing development. Through each program, she gets the amazing opportunity to work with seasonal staff and over 100 volunteers while doing research. Year-round, she presents to the community about AWE's efforts and conservation strategies. When she is not working on Marco Island, you can find her hiking trails and exploring what natural land remains. This September, Piersma will be defending her master's thesis on the last ten years of burrowing owl research, including banding data.

“Although a lot of wildlife has lost habitat, burrowing owls moved in after the clearing and dredging of the island, finding open areas that mimicked their native grassland with good digging. Now we get the opportunity to provide nesting sites through our starter burrow program for a state-threatened species.”

If you could travel back in time to one event in our Island’s history, which one would it be?

I would love to experience the habitat prior to development and explore the different ecosystems that existed. The island is so unique and has such incredible native plants, different sand and soil types, and archeological importance. Instead of clear-cutting and bulldozing a property to build, native trees, grasses, and other plants can be preserved around the home to help support the local species to thrive. Supporting Conservation Collier is increasingly important to buy conservation lands on the island and in Collier County

Which historical American figure do you most admire?

Jane Goodall. She is British but spent decades lecturing in the United States. Aside from her outstanding research, Jane had an incredible way with words and was highly respected in the world of conservation. Most people know who she was, which is rare in the science field. This is due to her positive impact on anyone who got to listen to, read, or hear her words. As I work as a mostly urban biologist with many challenges, I aspire to be similar to her in her outreach skills and remain confident in standing up for all species while finding a balance in the community. Goodall traveled around 300 days a year to speak with world leaders, policymakers, and the public. As I have many young students asking about working in the field of biology, I always make sure they understand the importance of using their data to make a difference. Researching and working with wildlife may sound very intriguing, but the work out of the field is what matters most. 

If you would like to nominate a Veteran or local hero to be featured in Celebrating America Through Local Eyes, contact Brittany Richards at brittany@coastalbreezenews.com.