Friends of Ballona Wetlands

Neysa is the Manager of Friends of Ballona Wetlands.  She will be telling us about their work in the wetlands! As the Manager of Scientific Programs for Friends of Ballona Wetlands, Neysa hopes to promote endangered and sensitive species habitat protection and restoration, while educating the public about the importance of nature, especially in the urban sprawl of Los Angeles.

Neysa has always had a passion for the environment. She graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. At college, Neysa discovered her fondness for birds and wetlands, and their importance in local urban ecosystems. Seeking to share this passion with others and to expand on it through biological research, Neysa came to work with Friends of Ballona Wetlands (FBW). This non-profit achieves the perfect balance between protecting wetlands, educating the public, and promoting wildlife appreciation and understanding.

Neysa completed a Master of Natural Resources Degree from Oregon State University, with an emphasis in Wildlife Management. Through this program, and the partnership with local Environmental Scientist, Dr. Edith Read, Neysa has done research in the Ballona Freshwater Marsh studying maintenance impacts on nesting wetland birds.