Welcome to Feathered Friends! Feathered Friends is a community-based birding initiative and an offshoot of the Youth Environmental Leadership Program (YELP) run through the University of North Florida’s Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE). The project seeks to foster a connection between people and the natural world through guided and interactive birding walks, youth engagement, and educational partnerships.

I am Nikhil Reddy, a senior at The Bolles School (Class of 2026). Feathered Friends embodies my passion for environmental science and its impact within the greater Jacksonville area. My love for birding, a pastime-turned-lifelong pursuit, guides my project's mission: to reveal the profound benefits of connecting with nature while emphasizing the importance of preserving it for generations to come.