About Us - Join Us

Rachael Peake, President

Rachael Peake is an ecologist with RES-KY LLC where she is learning more and honing her ecological skills in a different profession, ecological consulting 

Lisa Gabbard, Vice-president

Lisa is a Frankfort native and has been a bird lover her whole life. She’s been involved with the Frankfort Audubon chapter since 2017. 

Gary Sprandel, Secretary

Gary Sprandel is a retired data manager who worked for both Kentucky and Florida Fish and Wildlife. He birds and drinks tea most days, and takes classes and reads. 

Rob Chadwick, Treasurer

Rob is a Frankfort native.  He has enjoyed birds for the last 8 years.  He enjoys leading bird walks and teaching others about birds through his photography.

Kristin Nelson

Moved to KY in 2015 to open a Wild Birds Unlimited store in Frankfort. Loves interacting with and educating customers about birds and the hobby of bird feeding, and being involved with the community. Joined the Frankfort Audubon Society in 2016, soon after the store opened.  Has been an avid birdwatcher since a very young age. In my spare time I enjoy doing therapy work with my dog, photography, and gardening.

Joyce Bender

Joyce retired in 2017 after 31 years of managing Kentucky’s state nature preserve system. Nationally recognized for her contributions to natural areas management and invasive species awareness, she is an avid birder. One focus in retirement continues to be engaging the public so that they find the connection that inspires them to value natural areas and carry on the work to keep them safe. 

Kasie Bradley

Kasie works in the Forestry and Natural Resources division at Kentucky State University. Her love for birds started at a young age watching her grandmother photograph and watch birds. In her free time she enjoys spending anytime outdoors with her pups, hiking, kayaking and of course, birding!

Scott Hankla

Scott's "spark bird" was the Eastern Towhee, which inspired him to earn a merit badge in birding at age 12 and later to join the Frankfort Audubon Society in 1972. 

Betty Barr

Betty is a Frankfort native who has spent her free time outdoors all her life, spending summers either in an outdoor camp or as a camp counselor. She lived in Denver 40 years, establishing a practice as a pediatric dentist. She retired in 2015 and moved back to Frankfort in 2017. She is new at birding and wants to contribute to help birds in any way. She is also a dark sky advocate.

Geoff Roberts

Geoff works for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and was introduced to birding by his grandfather at a very young age. He especially enjoys raptors and songbirds and does a fair amount of birding from his boat while fishing.

Joyce Fry

Joyce retired from the Kentucky Division of Water in 2020. She is an avid birder, native plant gardener, naturalist and life-long student. 

Peggy Gould, Christmas Bird Count Coordinator

I have lived in Frankfort since I was 5 years old, which was also when my bird-watching habit began, I started participating in the Christmas Bird Counts at about age 11 or 12, and continue to this day! I just retired (Dec 31, 2022) from Stewart Home & School, where I spent 37 of my 40 years in the classroom, but I am still Mrs Claus with my Santa husband every season!