About Us

sparrows.top was founded in 2021 by a team of ornithology enthusiasts, nature lovers, and casual game designers who wanted to combine the joy of bird-watching with immersive, educational gameplay. Based in Ithaca, New York—a city surrounded by state parks and a hub for environmental research—our small team of 8 is passionate about creating games that inspire appreciation for birds, teach players about natural habitats, and encourage real-world connection with nature. Our story began when our co-founders, Lila Marquez and Ethan Carter, met while volunteering at a local bird sanctuary. They dreamed of a game that would make bird-watching accessible to everyone—regardless of location or experience—by letting players "explore" diverse habitats, spot realistic bird species, and learn fun facts about sparrows and other birds through gentle puzzles and adventures. They left their jobs, recruited a team of like-minded creators (including a professional ornithologist), and set out to build sparrows.top as a platform for nature education through play. At sparrows.top, our flagship game, Winged Wander: Sparrow Quest, takes players on a journey through 15+ natural habitats—from sunlit meadows and dense forests to urban parks and coastal wetlands—where they observe, identify, and interact with over 50 bird species (with a special focus on sparrows). The game’s core is bird-watching and gentle exploration: players use virtual binoculars to spot birds, complete small puzzles to help birds (e.g., building nests, finding food sources), and unlock educational guides with photos, calls, and fun facts about each species. What sets us apart is our commitment to authenticity: all bird behaviors, plumage details, and habitat preferences are based on real ornithological data, and our sound designer works with field recordings to recreate accurate bird calls. Our team brings diverse expertise to the table. Dr. Elena Voss, our ornithology consultant, ensures all bird facts and visuals are scientifically accurate. Our lead game designer, Maya Chen, creates intuitive, relaxed gameplay mechanics that let players explore at their own pace—no time limits or pressure to "collect" every bird. Our art director, Carlos Mendez, crafts vibrant, realistic habitats and bird illustrations that make players feel like they’re truly outdoors. Our sound designer, Jake Wilson, composes immersive soundtracks featuring wind, rustling leaves, and authentic bird calls that enhance the nature experience. Since launching Winged Wander in 2022, we’ve grown to over 230,000 users worldwide, with feedback from parents, teachers, and bird lovers. Many users report using the game to introduce kids to nature, and some families have even been inspired to go bird-watching in real life after playing. We’ve released seasonal updates (e.g., spring migration events, winter bird-feeding missions) and added new bird species based on player requests, and we host "Sparrow Spotter Challenges" where players complete in-game tasks to unlock donations to our conservation partners. We value our community deeply. Every update is shaped by player input: for example, we added a "bird call identification" mini-game after users requested to learn bird sounds, and we expanded the urban park habitat based on demand from players in cities. Our forums and Discord server are spaces for players to share their real-world bird-watching photos, ask questions about birds, and suggest new features. We also offer free educational resources for teachers, including lesson plans that tie our game to science curricula about birds and ecosystems. Looking to the future, we plan to expand Winged Wander with a cooperative mode where players can bird-watch with friends, a mobile app optimized for on-the-go exploration, and augmented reality (AR) features that let users "spot" virtual sparrows in their own backyards. We also aim to partner with nature centers to create interactive exhibits that bridge in-game and real-world bird-watching. Our ultimate goal is to become a leading platform for nature education, proving that games can be both fun and a force for inspiring environmental stewardship. Whether you’re a kid curious about birds, a parent looking for educational entertainment, or a bird lover wanting to connect with nature from home, sparrows.top invites you to spread your wings and embark on a Winged Wander. Observe, learn, and fall in love with the world of birds—one sparrow at a time. Contact us to share feedback or learn more:sparrows.top789 Birdwatch Lane, Ithaca, NY 14850, USAEmail: [email protected]