About Us
Our Mission
Cedar Nature Society connects people, communities, and cultures through birding, fostering meaningful relationships with nature, and advancing conservation for a sustainable future.
Our Vision
At Cedar Nature Society, we envision a world where birding is more than a hobby. It is a bridge between people, cultures, and generations.
We see Chinese communities rediscovering their connection to nature through birding. We see people stepping outdoors together, learning to observe, appreciate, and protect the natural world.
Our Value
We love birds.
We find joy in nature.
We respect and protect the wild.
Our Story​
Cedar Nature Society was founded in early 2025 by two passionate birders, Joyce Zhang and Junyan Wang, with a shared vision: to promote birding and an outdoor lifestyle within Chinese-speaking communities, and to build bridges between people and nature across cultures.
The story began in September 2023, when Joyce, a nature lover and new immigrant from China, launched the first Mandarin Bilingual Birding Trip Program within the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance (SCVBA). Having found her own sense of belonging in the United States through participating in bird walks, Joyce understood how powerful nature could be in helping newcomers feel rooted in a new place.
Soon after, Junyan, a former bird researcher and longtime nature educator, joined the effort. Together, they committed to organizing monthly Mandarin bilingual birding trips. What started as a small initiative gradually grew into a meaningful community program.
Through these experiences, they came to an important realization: participation in birding among Chinese communities remained relatively low, yet the potential for engagement was immense. Many Chinese residents were unfamiliar with local ecosystems, native wildlife, and the environmental challenges facing the Bay Area. At the same time, both first-generation and multigenerational Chinese American community members were seeking meaningful opportunities to build friendships, strengthen community connections, and deepen their sense of belonging.
Over time, their monthly trips successfully introduced many members of the Chinese-speaking community to birdwatching. Participants not only learned to identify birds, but also began to care more deeply about local habitats and conservation issues. The program created a welcoming space where Chinese speakers from diverse backgrounds could form friendships, while also fostering connections with birders from other communities. These cross-cultural exchanges felt deeply meaningful.
By early 2025, Joyce and Junyan realized that their work could grow beyond monthly trips. They envisioned a broader platform, one that would not only serve Chinese-speaking birders but also promote nature education, outdoor experiences, and international exchange. With that vision, they established Cedar Nature Society.