Florida teen raised butterflies at 7; now her research tracks bird recovery

Sophia Haakman, a 16-year-old from Sarasota, Florida, transformed her childhood passion for nature into significant conservation work. She initiated a bird monitoring project which provided evidence of habitat restoration benefits. Her research findings will be published in a national birding magazine this fall. Haakman also co-founded a local chapter of the Florida Young Birders Club. She is now exploring colleges to major in environmental studies and pursue biophilic design.