Adam Kozman studies English, Creative Writing, and Communications at Canisius University. He also runs for the track team, serves as the Opinion Editor for the school newspaper, and works on campus as a Writing Center tutor. He really likes movies, music, and books, and has been trying his hand at writing and creating short films as well as teaching himself to play the bass when he can.

Hi, I’m Farra! I am a third-year psychology undergraduate at Michigan State University. For a long time, I thought my interests had to stay separate—psychology as an academic pursuit and birding as a personal hobby. The Spark Bird Project has given me the opportunity to bring those interests together. As a research assistant for the project, I have coded more than 100 participant stories! 

My spark bird is the Malaysian Plover, which I discovered on my first solo trip to Singapore at age 16. Since then, I’ve been an avid birder and photographer, with a particular interest in capturing birds in their natural environments and highlighting human–bird interactions. While I don’t study photography formally, I’m proud to have had several of my photographs featured in exhibitions. You can view my portfolio here: https://farralie.myportfolio.com/work 

Janet McNally, MFA, is the co-host of The Spark Bird Podcast. She is associate professor of English and Creative Writing and director of the All-College Honors Program at Canisius University in Buffalo, NY. A novelist and poet, she is author of the novels Girls in the Moon and The Looking Glass (HarperCollins), and a collection of poems, Some Girls, winner of the White Pine Press Poetry Prize. She is a longtime studier of storytelling, and her spark bird is the Great Egret, a bird so beautiful and weird it almost seems fictional. Professor McNally is a scholar-in-residence with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute.

My name is Kayla Gajewski. I am a 2026 graduate of Canisius University with a dual majoring in Digital Media Arts and Creative Writing. I am passionate about combining storytelling and design to create meaningful and impactful projects. 

My love for storytelling began with books–whether I’m writing, designing, or imagining new worlds, I’m driven by the power of creativity to inspire and connect people. I was so excited to be the first person help edit and produce the Spark Bird Podcast from 2024-2026.

Hello, my name is Genevieve Fontana, the creator behind the Spark Bird Project logo. I am honored to have been chosen for this project. I am a 2024 graduate of Canisius with a dual major in both Animal Behavior Ecology and Conservation as well as Digital Media Arts with a concentration in graphic design. I am specifically interested in how effective digital art can impact conservation efforts. 

My love for birds has come from my relationship with my mom. We would spend all year long in our yard. Some of my most distinct memories are making snowmen during our cold Buffalo winters and filling the brim of their hat with black oil sunflower seeds, watching the wide variety of visitors come, including chickadees and cardinals. 

If you are interested in checking out more of my work here is my portfolio:

Portfolio