BIOGRAPHY
Romey Swanson is the Director of Conservation Strategy for Audubon Texas where he works with state, national, and international partners to identify and advance important conservation strategies to benefit birds, landscapes, and the communities that depend on them. He has spent over a decade as private lands biologist and technical guidance consultant working on a variety of land and wildlife conservation issues throughout Texas. Romey is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and President of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society - Texas’ largest professional society of wildlife managers and researchers. He is active within the Texas Land Trust Community and formerly served as Conservation Program Manager with Hill Country Conservancy. He received a Master’s Degree in 2009 from Texas State University studying Wildlife Ecology. Romey lives in Austin and enjoys spending time with his family hunting, camping, and photographing wildlife.

Carlos Bethancourt

Saturday, February 6th - 6:30 pm
La Posada in the San Agustin Ballroom (1000 Zaragoza St.) • $50 (Dinner Included)
Carlos Bethancourt was raised in the rural village of Huile, near Panama’s Canal Zone, where his mother and grandmother—both deeply connected to nature and conservation—introduced him to the natural world and inspired his lifelong passion for wildlife. After high school, Carlos received a scholarship to attend Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon, where he studied Natural Resources and received his first formal training in ornithology. He began his career at Panama’s Canopy Tower in October 2000 and, for more than 25 years, has shared his country’s remarkable birds and biodiversity with nature enthusiasts from around the world.

Today, Carlos is a Senior Guide, Marketing Manager, and business partner with the Canopy Family. He regularly represents Panama at birding festivals and conferences throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, leading field trips, conducting workshops, and presenting programs on Panama’s birds, biodiversity, and conservation.

Known for his birding expertise, engaging storytelling, and warm personality, Carlos was named “Best Nature Tour Guide” by EcoTripMatch in 2018. He is especially passionate about using responsible ecotourism to protect wildlife and create meaningful opportunities for Indigenous and local communities, particularly in Panama’s Darién region.

Janice Travis

Friday, February 5th - 6:30 pm
La Posada in the Tesoro Room (1000 Zaragoza St.) • Free
Janice’s interest in nature began at a young age with curious exploration of her Michigan backyard and nearby woodland. She always had a variety of field guides with her to study wildflowers, birds, reptiles, and insects. Janice discovered her passion for birding in an undergraduate ornithology class at Eastern University in Pennsylvania. After marrying a United States Marine, Janice embraced the opportunity to live and bird across the United States. She went on to complete her master’s degree in Biology with a concentration in Ecology at the University of North Florida. During this time, she accompanied fellow scientists on several research expeditions, always with binoculars in hand, including a month spent in Belize assisting with research of the critically endangered Hicatee Turtle. She delved into ecotourism at King Ranch in Kingsville, TX, as a bird guide and Tour Supervisor, searching for Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls and other South Texas specialties. Janice has continued her career as a guide with Sabrewing Nature Tours traveling the world for every birding opportunity.