Lauren Smith

Lauren Smith joined Montana Audubon in August 2023 as the Communications Specialist. Her background is in science communication, nonfiction writing, and bird research (songbird banding is her favorite, and she has handled wild birds ranging in size from Rufous Hummingbirds to Trumpeter Swans). She believes that clear, accessible communication is essential, and is excited to help share Montana Audubon’s conservation efforts with a wide audience.

Lauren first really got into birds while banding in her advisor’s backyard as an undergraduate at Ohio Wesleyan University, where she studied Zoology and English. After working in locations across North America as a seasonal researcher and environmental educator, she settled in Montana and earned a graduate degree in Environmental Studies with a writing focus from the University of Montana in Missoula. Lauren can often be found outside, where she enjoys exploring trails, climbing rocks, and collecting bird stories from everyone she meets.