Isaiah Scott (en)

He runs Ike’s Birding Hikes, an Avitourism brand and social media platform using birding to influence people, especially Black and People of Color, to explore, observe, and learn about the natural world. He is an outdoor brand ambassador and has done paid partnerships with New Balance, L.L.Bean, REI Co-op, Nocs Provisions, and currently Ford Bronco. He also collaborates with conservation organizations and travel agencies, working with VisitTucson and Lindblad Expeditions X National Geographic. His goal is to share the joy of birding, communicate diverse topics in ornithology to the public, and spread awareness of bird conservation through social media content.

Social media has become a part of how we communicate, share, and obtain new information, especially among young people. Whether it’s photos on Instagram or viral videos on TikTok, social media has the ability to influence the broader public. In the past 2 years, birdwatching has become very popular on social media, especially on Instagram, due to its accessibility. This creates a huge opportunity for bird clubs, ornithological societies, and conservation organizations to use social media to promote avitourism and spread awareness of bird conservation to new audiences all over the world.