Our Story

February 2017: We met during our ornithology class in Spring of 2017. This photo was from our class field trip!

May 2017: Christian's graduation

July 2017: The first official outing for the Bird Nerds! Maddie, Christian, Robert, Kiarra, and Gio.

September 2017: Shortly after this photo, feelings were shared, and our relationship began!

May 2018: Christian came down from his internship in Oregon for Maddie's graduation from CSUF.

August 2018: Christian did a 6-month internship in Newport, OR. While it was hard to be apart, we knew we could make it through.

August 2018: Our first road trip down from Oregon to SoCal. Little did we know that this wouldn't be our last time in the Redwoods.

April 2019: Meeting up on Santa Rosa Island during our first field jobs! Christian was a Raptor biologist and Maddie was a Song Sparrow field technician.

August 2019: Our first international trip together to Australia.

September 2019: A smoky sunset in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Spring 2020: Back to field work on the Santa Cruz Island.

Spring 2021: Shrike 6 and Shrike 7 reporting for duty on San Clemente Island.

August 2021: Some of the bird nerds helps us move up to Humboldt County, CA for Maddie to start grad school!

Spring 2022: We helped each other with our data collection for our master's research. We are in Napa, CA, working on Christian's project with the Barn Owls.

Summer 2023: We spent many hours together working with blood smears from our field collections!

July 2023: A trip to the Lavender Festival with some friends! Fun Fact: Christian had already asked Maddie's father for her mother's ring to propose to her!

January 2024: Lovely trip to Santa Rosa for wine tasting with friends! PC: Fabian Aguilar!

March 2024: Maddie performed in the Fiesta Folklorica concert, and Christian, of course, went twice!

May 22nd, 2024: Our engagement at Pelican Bay on Santa Cruz Island.

May 2024: Graduation ceremony for our Master's degrees!

July 2024: We stopped at many national parks along our road trip to Ohio, but this was one of the most anticipated treks of the trip! Delicate Arch Trail in Arches National Park!

August 2025: Engagement photoshoot in Inniswoods Gardens Metropark in Columbus, OH. Our photos were expertly taken by our roommate Greyson!