birdability

There are some people whose presence changes the shape of a community simply because of how they move through it. Marcia Obara was one of those people.

Marcia was a longtime champion for accessible birding, a retired nurse, a past Birdability Captain, a Certified Access Leader, and someone who quietly and steadily helped countless people feel that they belonged outdoors. She led accessible birding outings in Tucson with care and attention to what people actually needed: smooth trails, shade, benches, accessible restrooms, a pace that welcomed everybody, and space for joy in birds.

This article, Seeing Further: Blind Birders Advance New Frontiers of Learning and Discovery is reprinted with permission from the birding in the 2020s issue of the ABA Magazine, Birding. Many thanks to the ABA and Ted Floyd, Birding Editor.

On May 18, 2025, the first-ever national Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon took place in 34 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, as well as Canada and Venezuela. Species recorded included everything from fluting Wood Thrushes to squeaky Bananaquits to whistling Venezuelan Troupials. This event was a signature moment to draw people who are blind or partially sighted to the outdoors and give new meaning to the word birdwatching—that birding is not only about the kaleidoscope of colors seen through binoculars but also an auditory adventure of discovery guided by sound rather than sight.

I was one of those blind birders. I have Usher syndrome, an inherited retinal disease that causes progressive hearing and sight loss, the latter due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) are an annual community science project, going on 123 years, in which teams of birders collect data on winter birds. The National Audubon Society organizes this event as an effort to track bird population trends and the data is valuable to biologists and conservation! Over the past few years, Birdability has encouraged birders to organize CBCs that are accessible to disabled birders. Historically, birders who experience access challenges were often unable to participate in the Christmas Bird Count, but we are working to create opportunities for these folks to be included in their local CBCs.

Good afternoon, 2020 spring birders. In the midst of this strange and difficult spring, with suffering and trauma and chaos continuously in the foreground, I was recently reminded that inspiration

Saturday, March 21 Richard Moya Park 8:00-10:00 am Hi, all. I hope you are ready for some good spring birding. Richard Moya is a wonderfully accessible park with great parking,