Desmond “Dessi” Sieburth (15, Montrose, California) is a passionate birder and bird conservationist who has been helping wild birds since he was ten years old. Dessi helps birds through contributions to ornithological research and spreading awareness about the environmental threats to birds, such as climate change, lead poisoning, pollution, and litter. Dessi shares, “birds are important for our community. They are pollinators, they keep rodent populations down and eat roadkill.” He believes that by increasing awareness of the role birds play in our ecosystem, more people will be motivated to help protect birds.

Dessi has educated other youth about birds by teaching in classrooms, parks, science fairs, and the library. Dessi likes to teach adults, as well; he presents information about birds at farmers markets and museums. He regularly writes articles for local Adubon chapters on how to help birds. In partnership with the Pasadena Audubon Society, Dessi annually puts on a fundraiser to raise money dedicated towards saving bird habitats; his goal this year is to raise $1000. Dessi’s work teaches that “birds are important for our world; they make the world more beautiful.”