Who we are
The Minnesota Bird Coalition is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Minnesota’s birds through advocacy, education, and grassroots action.
Meet the Board
Jeannine Thiele, Founder, President
Jeannine is the founder and President of the Minnesota Bird Coalition, a grassroots organization focused on practical, local action to address major threats facing birds. She created Lights Out Alert MN (LOAM), a statewide migration alert program that helps individuals, businesses, and communities reduce light pollution during peak migration nights to protect migrating birds.
Jeannine holds a Master of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology, as well as a Juris Doctor degree. She has authored scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, and her professional background includes law, environmental regulatory analysis, advocacy, science communication, and coalition building.
Through MN Bird Coalition, she leads research and advocacy efforts focused on the intersection of migratory birds and the built environment, including studies evaluating the effectiveness of Minneapolis’s bird-safe skyway ordinance and the use of migration forecasting data to advance bird-safe policy and reduce bird mortality in urban environments. She also leads public outreach and education efforts across Minnesota, develops educational resources, consults on bird-safe retrofits, and builds partnerships to expand practical conservation action statewide.
Andrew Hallberg, Director
Andrew is a doctoral candidate in Conservation Sciences at the University of Minnesota, where his research sits at the intersection of urban ecology and bird conservation. He is the founder of Stop the Thud, a citizen-science platform focused on documenting, understanding, and preventing bird-building collisions. Through this project, Andrew and his collaborators have documented over 2,500 collisions across more than 120 buildings at the University of Minnesota, elevating the urgency of the collision issue on campus and leading to the adoption of bird-safe practices. Andrew's work is driven by his belief that taking action to safely share space with wildlife not only allows animals to thrive, but also cultivates a deeper appreciation for the diversity of life around us.
Andrew holds a biology degree from St. Olaf College and has spent time working as a field technician in New, Mexico, Montana, and California, where his appreciation for the natural world and love for birds fully took flight. As a lifelong Minnesotan, Andrew is excited to bring his expertise to the Minnesota Bird Coalition and promote its mission of putting bird conservation within reach of everyday people. He is passionate about translating science into action, whether through classroom presentations, teacher workshops, or community-based initiatives. Andrew joins the board eager to help Minnesotans see, and make room for, the birds in their everyday spaces.
Richard Wilcox, Treasurer
Richard was raised in West Central Minnesota in the heart of Lakes Country. There he developed an interest in camping, hiking and canoeing. He enjoys spending time out in nature, even on Minnesota’s most frigid days (no mosquitoes). He was introduced to birding a few years ago by a friend, and immediately fell in love with it. Looking for that next bird encounter gives him one more reason to get out of the office and into the great outdoors.
Richard has a Bachelor of Science in finance from the Minnesota State University Moorhead, as well as a Masters of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. He has served on boards of more than a dozen non-profits over three decades in Minnesota, Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia. Richard currently is a Financial Advisor in Southeastern Virginia where he maintains his Certified Financial Planner® and Certified Retirement Counselor® designations. He also serves as pastor of the oldest Quaker meeting in Virginia. Richard is excited to serve where he can combine his financial management skills with helping people enjoy the natural world.
Susan Wilkins, Director
Susan Wilkins is Garden Curator of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary, an 18-acre historic botanic garden dedicated to native plants, ecological stewardship, and nature-based education. For more than 22 years, she has guided the long-term stewardship of the Garden’s diverse plant collections and surrounding natural areas.
In addition to directing horticultural operations, Susan oversees educational programs, visitor services, volunteer initiatives, marketing, and community partnerships. Under her leadership, the Garden has expanded year-round programming, strengthened institutional and community relationships, and increased its visibility and capacity. She oversees a collection of more than 640 plant species and a vibrant public engagement program. In 2025, more than 7,500 youth and adults participated in 400+ nature programs, visitor engagement exceeded 55,000, and more than 270 volunteers contributed over 2,700 hours.
Susan holds a B.S. in Environmental Horticulture, summa cum laude with distinction, from the University of Minnesota. Her background includes the study and application of restoration ecology, natural resources management, environmental education, and garden design.
Grounded in a thoughtful, place-based approach, Susan believes deeply in collaboration as a way to care for natural spaces and connect people with nature. She works closely with the Friends of the Wildflower Garden on volunteer engagement, fundraising, and initiatives that advance the Garden’s mission.
Get in Touch
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re interested in volunteering, have a bird-related question, or just want to share a fun bird story, feel free to reach out.
Together we can build a more bird-friendly Minnesota - one connection at a time.