Dennis Wille Sáenz

Dennis Wille Sáenz’s love for wildlife was born in the vibrant landscapes of Costa Rica, where the rainforest canopy echoed with birdcalls and the mangroves whispered ancient rhythms. Growing up surrounded by the biodiversity of Central America, biology quickly became his favorite science—not just for its facts, but for its stories. His fascination with bird vocalizations led to a creative fusion of art and ecology: a DVD that blended piano compositions with the songs of native birds, celebrating the harmony between nature and music.

Today, Dennis continues to deepen his expertise in ornithology through studies with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, refining his field skills, and expanding his understanding of avian ecology and conservation. But his journey has never been confined to one place. His fieldwork and educational leadership have taken him across continents and cultures, always with a focus on connecting people—especially youth—with the ecosystems they inhabit.

In Central America, Dennis has explored everything from the volcanic highlands of Guatemala to the mangrove estuaries of Nicaragua. In South America, he’s ventured into the Amazon Basin, the mythic wilds of the Darién Gap, and the windswept coastlines of Patagonia. His work in Africa has brought him to the baobab forests of Madagascar and the coral-rich waters of the Seychelles, while in Oceania, he’s studied traditional diets and stewardship in Polynesia and led treks across New Zealand’s North Island.

From the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra to the arid interior of Australia, Dennis has followed the calls of hornbills, orangutans, and desert songbirds. He’s navigated Russia’s boreal wilderness, monitored migratory birds and marine mammals in the Arctic tundra, and stood among penguins and glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula, bearing witness to the stark realities of climate change.

In the Caribbean, he’s supported conservation efforts in island habitats rich with endemic species. And in Hawai‘i, he has explored the fragile ecosystems of the archipelago—from high-elevation cloud forests to coastal wetlands—where native birds like the ‘i‘iwi and nēnē face mounting threats. His work there blends ecological research with cultural respect, honoring the deep ties between Hawaiian stewardship and biodiversity.

For Dennis, every expedition is more than research; it’s a story waiting to be told, a lesson waiting to be shared, and a legacy waiting to be passed on.

Language spoken: English