This fall, the Thousand Islands Land Trust lost a friend, supporter and volunteer, Sherri (Gerry) Smith.

Our favorite "Bird Nerd," Sherri was a renowned ornithologist in the North Country and dedicated much of her time to helping the community care about and understand the importance of birds in our landscape. She had a real passion for grassland birds and was always excited to share this passion during our Zenda Community Picnic. Armed with binoculars, spotting scopes, booklets and guides, Sherri was always willing to engage with children and adults alike; teaching them how to identify local birds and sharing interesting facts about their role in the environment.

Sherri was also a frequent contributor to TILT's online presence, sharing unique facts and avian anecdotes in her Birds Rise Above It All series on social media. Her work also contributed to numerous grassland and songbird inventories on TILT Preserves; data that has been incredibly helpful with the stewardship of these lands. 

Sherri will be missed but much like her birds, we know she is Rising Above It All.