Nancy Brand

Nancy’s connection with St. Marks NWR happened as soon as she planned her move to Florida in 1990 and her 1st year was spent volunteering with school groups along with her young daughter Hannah. As a Board member of the SMRA (predecessor to the Friends of St. Marks) for several years, her love for the refuge has grown through outreach, biking and hiking its trails, field trips, and fishing its waters. A Master’s degree in Science Education from Florida State University helped her make numerous nature connections in and around the community which helped further the science teaching in her classroom.

Nancy would describe herself as an amateur birdwatcher, fisherwoman, gardener, and adventurer. Growing up in the Midwest (Peoria, Illinois), she spent most of her time in and around the Illinois River, creeks, and woods surrounding her neighborhood. She was drawn to Silverton, Colorado as a 2nd grade teacher. Her love for the outdoors grew as she took her students on trips to Mesa Verde National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, and the Denver Museum of Natural History.

It was a summer Colorado Wildlife class at Keystone Science School that connected her with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and their Squawfish Endangered Fish program. After spending 10 days at a time (during her summer break) in the field collecting samples and doing research in Dinosaur National Monument at the confluence of the Yampa and Green Rivers, it was suggested that she try the Peregrine Falcon project as she spent all of her extra time birdwatching up the canyons. Nancy traveled the state surveying for eyries (Peregrine nesting sites) and collecting data on fledglings. DDT was continuing to have a devastating effect on the eggs and helicoptering/hiking into remote areas to help with egg collection/banding was necessary. The Peregrine Falcon release in Denver was a part of the species recovery and as a Colorado Division of Wildlife employee, Nancy attended and tracked the young falcons throughout the downtown canyons of Denver for two summers.

As a recently retired educator (1974-2019), she might be found serving at the Kearney Center through St. John’s Episcopal Church, taking various nature and travel related OLLI classes, supporting St. Francis Wildlife, and volunteering for the Audubon Eagle Watch and Second Harvest when she is not traveling.