Board of Directors

Orietta Estrada (She/Her/Ella)

Birders Fund and Amplify the Future Co-founder, Acting Executive Director, Board Chair based in Maryland.

Before starting her career as a content and media professional in 2013, Orietta worked for seven years in the tech industry as a technical writer and editor. She has bird-related bylines in several online and print publications from BirdWatching to Sierra. She is co-founder of IDEA Birders and the IDEA MD RBA, a birding group and RBA based on the values of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility; and co-founder of the Black & Latinx Birders Scholarship Fund.

Orietta volunteers as a master naturalist participating in community outreach focused on delivering information about raptors. She also volunteers as a judge and mentor for the American Birding Association’s Young Birder of the Year program. She holds a B.A. in Literature from New York Institute of Technology, an M.A. in Postcolonial Literary Theory from Stockholms University, and has both undergraduate and graduate coursework in geographic information systems and environmental biology from Hood College.

When she’s not thinking about birds or birders, she’s tinkering with the latest in tech-media, reading, taking courses, spending time with her daughter and their three dogs (Poochies, Princesa, y Frijolita), and playing music.

Twitter: @BirdsNatureLife Instagram: @Birds_Nature_Life

Price Holman (He/Him/His)

Board member based in the District of Columbia.

Price Holman’s love of the natural world began during childhood. The District of Columbia is both his home and a great place to admire nature despite the urban sprawl. Upon graduation from Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Price attended Rutgers University. He went to pursue a career that complimented his passion for the environment.

He aspired to protect it from unrecognizable damage as much as possible. Various academic, research, and professional experiences have developed him into a capable individual. One of many outstanding experiences was when he participated in Rutger University’s Aresty Research Program. This program, among others, sustained and expanded his natural curiosity for life. Price is on the path to make a positive impact for humans and other organisms alike in his lifetime.

This path has expanded his admiration of nature. His hometown is a hub for environmental science, research, and policymaking. He envisions himself in those spaces. He is eager for the next opportunity that will lead him there. Prices are using all avenues to make a difference in his community, his home planet.

Tykee James (He/Him/His)

Amplify the Future Co-founder, Board Chair based in Colorado.

Tykee James is an inspiring leader in the birding community, dedicated to promoting equitable access to nature’s benefits. With over a decade of experience, Tykee’s journey began as an environmental educator in his Philadelphia neighborhood, where he ignited his passion for birds. He leverages his love for birds to build trust, create coalitions, and make a lasting impact.

Through his co-creation of Black Birders Week in 2020, Tykee co-founded Amplify the Future with Orietta. His leadership extends beyond his professional endeavors, as he holds positions on the boards of several esteemed organizations, including Justice Outside, Green Leadership Trust, and DC Bird Alliance.

Tykee’s dedication to birds is further reflected in his roles on key committees at the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University, the Recording Standards and Ethics Committee at the American Birding Association, and the English Bird Names Committee at the American Ornithological Society.

In his personal life, Tykee enjoys pursuing his passions for salsa dancing, producing wildlife media, and cooking. With an approach to life that includes a lot of levity, he aims for harmony at the convergence of personal interests and professional achievements.

Instagram: @TykeeJames