Chelsea Connor

Chelsea Connor is a Dominican herpetologist and birder. Her research concerns the interaction between native and introduced Anolis lizards in the Commonwealth of Dominica. While a student, she co-founded #BlackBirdersWeek. She is an advocate for Black people in the United States being out in nature, and feeling safer when they do so.

Personal life Connor grew up as a Black, queer woman in the Commonwealth of Dominica, part of the southeast Caribbean island group the Lesser Antilles. She developed a love of birds from watching flocks of sugarbirds (Coereba flaveola) and seeing Sisserou parrots (Amazona imperialis) for the first time. She continued working on anoles as a graduate student at Midwestern State University in Texas. In response to Central Park birdwatching incident, Connor along with several other Black scientists founded Black Birders Week; others include Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, Jason Ward, Sheridan Alford, Danielle Belleny, Joseph Saunders, and Tykee James.

Each day the social media campaign #BlackBirdersWeek had a different theme: #BlackWomenWhoBird, posting a picture of yourself in nature, #PostABird, and Question and Answer with Black birders. She advocates for Black people and their rights.