Katie Triest

Katie is a passionate bird educator and tour guide based in Telluride, Colorado. Before she started The Birding Co., Katie served as a licensed wild bird rehabilitator with the Wild Bird Fund in New York City where she helped injured birds recover and return to the wild. While at the Wild Bird Fund Katie worked as Director of Education, where she developed an immersive year-long bird curriculum for classrooms in the NYC area to inspire young students through experiential learning.  

Katie’s life in Telluride reflects her deep commitment to environmental stewardship, community engagement, and the simple joy of connecting people with the natural world around them.

Since founding The Birding Co. in 2023, Katie has spread her wings globally, leading bird tours in the bird paradise of Costa Rica. On these week-long immersive retreats, Katie spends time with participants teaching them the in’s and out’s of birds and birdwatching, helping to build new birdwatcher’s foundational knowledge in Costa Rica’s stunning landscape where more than 900 species of birds can be found.