Meet Your Retreat Leader: Molly Tsongas

There’s something about the way Molly Tsongas talks about birds—it’s not just observation. It’s relationship.

As a mindful birding guide and a pioneer in this emerging field in the United States, Molly invites people to experience birds not as distant subjects to identify, but as companions in the natural world. In doing so, she helps people return to a deeper sense of presence—both in nature and within themselves.

A life rooted in nature and awareness

Molly’s work lives at the intersection of mindfulness, somatic awareness, and ecological connection. She is certified through the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership, trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and completed her somatic coaching training with the Strozzi Institute.

She has led programs for organizations including Mass Audubon, the National Audubon Society, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Weaving Earth, and the Green Briar Nature Center. Her background also includes more than two decades working in communications for leading wildlife conservation organizations, shaping how stories about nature are told and shared.

A different approach to birding

While many birding experiences focus on identification, Molly’s approach is intentionally more expansive. Rather than narrowing attention, she encourages participants to slow down, sit quietly, and begin to notice patterns—movement, sound, and subtle shifts in the environment.

Over time, something begins to change. The birds in a place start to feel familiar, almost like neighbors, each with their own rhythms and roles in a larger, living story. What begins as observation becomes connection.

Molly’s inspiration for this work is deeply personal. As a mother of two young children, she understands how full and demanding life can be—and how rare it is to truly pause. Mindful birding has been one of the most restorative practices in her own life, offering a way to reconnect with calm, curiosity, and the natural world.

Spring, especially, brings a renewed sense of energy. Birds return, sing, build, and move through their seasonal cycles, while our own senses begin to reawaken alongside them. This retreat was created as a way to share that experience of restoration and wonder with others.

What to expect at this retreat

Throughout the weekend, Molly guides participants through a series of gentle, immersive experiences designed to cultivate presence and connection. Days begin early, when bird activity is at its peak, with quiet gatherings to listen to the dawn chorus and observe the landscape as it comes to life.

From there, the experience unfolds at a relaxed and spacious pace. Guests move through a rhythm of mindful birding walks, sensory awareness practices, and moments of stillness, including “bird sits,” where observation becomes a form of meditation. There is time for reflection, journaling, and shared conversation—along with space to simply be, whether that’s walking the shoreline, enjoying the spa, or resting between sessions.

The natural world becomes both the setting and the guide. Along the way, you may witness osprey diving for fish, herons gliding overhead, or the quick movement of sandpipers along the shore—all part of a dynamic spring landscape alive with sound and motion.

Special moments, including a beach bonfire and a floating sound bath, create opportunities to deepen that sense of connection—both to nature and to one another.

Why Ocean Edge?

Set within one of Cape Cod’s most diverse coastal ecosystems, Ocean Edge offers a rare opportunity to experience birds across shoreline, marsh, and woodland habitats in a single setting.

It is a place where the pace softens, where there is space to sit in quiet reverie, and where the natural world invites you to slow down and notice what’s already there.

What you'll take with you

What participants carry with them after this retreat is often subtle, yet lasting. A quieter mind. A sharper awareness. A deeper sense of connection to the world just outside their door.

Mindful birding does not require a destination. It can begin anywhere—at a window, in a backyard, or on a walk through a familiar place. Over time, these small moments of attention build into something more meaningful: a steady sense of calm, presence, and belonging.

As Molly often shares, the more we show up for the birds, the more the birds show up for us.

If you feel drawn to slow down, step outside, and rediscover a sense of wonder in the natural world, this retreat offers a thoughtful place to begin.

Learn more about Wings & Waves and reserve your place.

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