Mackenzie Roeder

Mackenzie "Kenzie" Roeder is the State Songbird Biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, where she coordinates monitoring, research, and conservation efforts for Maine's diverse songbird communities. She completed her Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Maine in Orono in 2025, where her research focused on the evolutionary ecology of tidal marsh sparrows, including Seaside, Nelson's, and Saltmarsh Sparrows.

Kenzie works across a wide range of bird conservation initiatives throughout Maine, including efforts focused on aerial insectivores, grassland birds, boreal forest species, and tidal saltmarsh ecosystems. She coordinates statewide programs such as the Maine Aerial Insectivore Monitoring and Stewardship (AIMS) Initiative and Maine Nest Quest, a community science effort designed to engage the public in monitoring nesting swallows and swifts. Her work combines applied research, long-term monitoring, habitat conservation, and public engagement to better understand and conserve bird populations across the state. She also contributes to regional bird conservation efforts through collaborations with partners across the Atlantic Flyway and participation in initiatives associated with Partners in Flight.

Beyond her scientific work, Kenzie is passionate about making conservation accessible and meaningful to the public. She believes lasting conservation success depends on connecting people with the species and ecosystems around them and is committed to developing programs that foster curiosity, stewardship, and community involvement in science. Through her work, she strives to build partnerships that not only advance bird conservation but also inspire a broader appreciation for the natural world.