Bird watching in a Lowcountry wonderland

Leadership

Board of Directors

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  Nicole Marie Pettinelli

  Founder / President

  Nicole Marie Pettinelli is a Charleston-based naturalist, educator, and conservation advocate dedicated to connecting people with the natural world. As the founder of the Charleston Bird Club, she has cultivated one of the Lowcountry’s most vibrant outdoor communities — bringing thousands of members together through guided bird walks, educational initiatives, and community-driven efforts such as environmental cleanups and citizen-science events.

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  Lora Clarke

  Vice President

  As an environmental advocate, Lora has spent her career pursuing science that advances our knowledge of, and policies that protect, our natural world. She grew up exploring the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean in southeast Virginia and developed an early appreciation for coastal ecosystems. Her love of the environment led her to obtain a bachelor’s degree in biology from Christopher Newport University, a master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries conservation from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a doctoral degree in marine and atmospheric sciences from Stony Brook University.

  She currently works as a senior officer for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ US Conservation Project and supports efforts to improve the adaptation and resilience of coastal ecosystems and human communities in the Southeast United States. In this role, she leads Pew’s work on the South Atlantic Salt Marsh Initiative to protect, restore, and conserve the one million acres of marsh currently stretching from North Carolina to east central Florida. She also works to protect biodiversity and increase climate resilience across habitats in the region. Before joining Pew, she worked at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on a variety of habitat, protected resource, and climate issues.

  In her spare time, she is an avid lover of the outdoors — birding, hiking, kayaking, traveling, and playing tennis whenever she has a chance.

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  Richard Hayes

  Treasurer

  Richard Hayes grew up in Rockville, Maryland, a suburb of Washington DC. He attended the United States Air Force Academy and had a 30-year career in the United States Air Force; his last assignment was at Space Command in Colorado Springs. He and his family moved to North Charleston in 2001 and retired for the second time in 2019.

  Richard’s love of birding started in 1963, when he earned the coveted Bird Study merit badge in the Boy Scouts. After moving to the Charleston area in 2001, he revived his interests in birding, and started annual trips with fellow birders to the lower 48 states, including south Texas, the Tucson area, California, Colorado, and Minnesota in February (Sax-Zim Bog).

  Richard joined the Carolina Bird Club in 2012, and is currently on its Board of Directors representing South Carolina.

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  Jamie Perillo

  Secretary

  Spark Bird: Great Blue Heron

  Jamie has lived in the Lowcountry and Charleston area for nearly 30 years. She grew up as a “horse kid” and has enjoyed the outdoors and adventure from a young age. She’s an avid birdwatcher, traveler, camper, hiker and kayaker — often traveling with her teardrop camper to new and different birding locations.

  Jamie is a graduate of The College of Charleston with a degree in Non-Profit Arts Management and Trident Technical College with degrees in Culinary and Hospitality. She has worked in Charleston’s vibrant F&B scene for over 25 years and is currently the Director of Front of House Operations at Home Team BBQ after being with the company for over 12 years. She is thrilled to be a part of The Charleston Bird Club and help educate younger generations and protect our amazing natural resources for the future.

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  Charlie Stricklin

  Shorebird Stewardship Director

  Charlie was born in South Carolina in 1946, at the beginning of the Baby Boom generation, Charlie grew up in rural Richland County with a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Both of his parents served in the U.S. military during World War II, and service, community, and a respect for the natural world were important influences throughout his childhood.

  Exploring the woods and lakes of South Carolina came naturally to a young boy fascinated by nature. As a Boy Scout, Charlie spent even more time outdoors through camping, hiking, fishing, and other activities that strengthened a lifelong connection to the natural world.

  After graduating from A.C. Flora High School, Charlie attended the University of South Carolina and served in the U.S. Air Force through the South Carolina Air National Guard. Following college, he was recruited by BFGoodrich and began a 25-year career in the tire industry. He advanced from store management to commercial sales and ultimately became the owner of his own tire business.

  Throughout his professional career, Charlie maintained a strong interest in South Carolina’s plants, wildlife, and environmental issues. After selling his business and moving to Charleston, he returned to school to become a licensed massage therapist and established his own practice, working with clients experiencing acute and chronic conditions related to sports injuries, accidents, and everyday life. He continues to practice on a limited basis and considers being able to help others at this stage of his life a blessing.

  Nature and birds in particular has remained a constant throughout Charlie’s life. Bird walks at Botany Bay, Charleston County parks, local Wildlife Management Areas, and Beidler Forest introduced him to an even larger community of people dedicated to South Carolina’s birds and natural habitats.

  That involvement eventually led Charlie to become a Shorebird Steward with Audubon South Carolina, a volunteer role he describes as rewarding, inspiring, and educational. Through stewardship, Charlie has developed an even deeper commitment to protecting shorebirds, preserving wildlife habitat, and helping others understand the importance of South Carolina’s increasingly vulnerable coastal ecosystems.

  As our Director of Shorebird Stewardship for the Charleston Bird Club, Charlie brings a lifetime of curiosity, service, and appreciation for the outdoors to his work helping connect our members and community with the remarkable shorebirds that depend on the South Carolina coast.