Wendy Gorski has always been an advocate for animals and a champion for the environment. With a background in communications, she was a five-year board member of Sustainable Stillwater MN and creator of the Greater Stillwater Area Green Business Directory. She now ensures Bird City Gardens runs smoothly and accomplishes our goals.

Allison McGinnis is the guiding light of Bird City Gardens, serving as board chair. She is a passionate environmental advocate who has served as a biologist for the Trumpeter Swan Reintroduction Program, conducted bald eagle telemetry studies, and led raptor education and training initiatives. She also leads the Bird City Stillwater efforts for Sustainable Stillwater MN. Her encyclopedic bird knowledge is legendary!

Julie Balfanz is Stillwater Schools’ K-12 Technology and Innovation Coach. She brings infectious energy, new ideas, and the inquiring minds of youth to Bird City Gardens projects. Under her guidance, the Mulberry Ravine Bird Station and its network of bird-listening devices will serve as the basis for various projects and educational opportunities for her students. Winner of Sustainable Stillwater MN’s 2024 Green Champion of the Year, she creatively engages youth in sustainability and the environment in the community while providing educational opportunities.

John Wheatley is a retired senior scientist at 3M. He has been a lifelong bird lover and generously sponsored the creation of the BirdSongConnect bird-listening stations in Stillwater. This is a network of AI-processed acoustic bird identification and monitoring devices in Stillwater, including the one at the Mulberry Ravine Bird Station. With the devices, we can determine the kinds and numbers of birds that are flying through Stillwater and compare them year-to-year.