Birdability Week 2022

Monday, October 17th – Sunday, October 23rd

Birdability Week is a celebration of birders with disabilities and other health concerns, and an opportunity to share resources and ideas to help the birding community be accessible, inclusive and welcoming to everybody and every body! An annual event held in October and supported by National Audubon, it was inspired by #BlackBirdersWeek, Latino Conservation Week and Let’s Go Birding Together.

The first Birdability Week, held during October 2020, launched Birdability into becoming a nonprofit organization. Last year we celebrated inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) in the birding community and the outdoors. In 2022 we want you and your Audubon chapter, bird club or nature center to get involved!

Who?
An individual, local Audubon chapter, young birder’s club chapter, a bird banding station, a group of friends, families… Anyone can host an accessible bird outing! These outings are designed intentionally for birders (and beginner birders) who experience an accessibility challenge as a result of a disability or other health concern. (That’s 1 in 4 Americans, according to the US Census Bureau in 2020!) Read on to find out how easy it is, and check out the Birdability Guidance Documents at birdability.org to help as you plan your event.

What?
An accessible and inclusive birding outing. Check out Writing Bird Outing Event Descriptions when drafting the write-up of your outing.

Where?
Deciding where to hold an accessible outing can be tricky if you’re not sure where to start. Read about Access Considerations for folks with disabilities and other health concerns, then Contribute to the Birdability Map by submitting a Birdability Site Review for your location so potential attendees can find out important information ahead of time.

When?
Any time during October. Birdability Week is October 17th-23rd, but we are encouraging everyone to host accessible outings all month long! Ideally, accessible, inclusive outings will become a regular part of your field trip calendar – we hope that helping us celebrate Birdability Week will be the push you needed to start holding them monthly!

Why?
Because birding is for everybody! But not everybody knows that. Creating outings that are designed for folks who may need to go slower, take rests or who need some additional time and understanding to get on to a bird helps more people feel welcome and included in the birding community. With 25% of us having some kind of disability, and the vast majority of us experiencing an accessibility challenge at some point in our lives (perhaps just by virtue of getting older and slowing down), it’s in all of our best interests. We hope you’ll help us celebrate Birdability Week 2022 by hosting an accessible outing in your community!

How?
You may find it helpful to read the Steps to Implement Accessible Bird Outings. It’s one thing to think, ‘Build it and they will come’, but it’s a very different thing to be invited to participate. Make sure you reach out to folks with access challenges in your local community and invite them to come birding with you – they may not have realized they could be a birder. There are lots of ideas in the above Guidance Document for different community groups you might try and connect with and invite on your outing.

Once it’s planned, use this form to let us know about your event so we can share about it and help celebrate the work you’re doing to ensure that birding truly is for everybody and every body!

More resources that may be useful:

• Read some ideas for welcoming and inclusive birders (these suggestions are particularly important for bird outing leaders);

• Learn about inclusive language use if you’re not sure where to start;

• Check out some actions that inclusive organizations can take;

• Sign up to receive the Birdability newsletter to keep up to date with new resources, events and more; and

• Follow Birdability on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @birdability.

Don’t forget to share about Birdability and Birdability Week in your newsletter and on social media – you’re always invited to link to the Birdability website or share or repost any of our social media posts. And keep amplifying and uplifting birders in your community who experience accessibility challenges, and holding accessible outings. Together we can ensure that birding truly is for everybody and every body!

Did you already host an event this month? You are AWESOME and we’d love to hear about it! Please consider submitting information about your accessible event here so we can capture our collective impact!

Congratulations to these groups and organizations for being intentionally inclusive by holding an accessible outing! We hope these will become a regular part of your programming, thereby ensuring that birding truly is for everybody and every body!

For more information about any of these events, please visit the event’s or organizer’s website — Birdability is not involved in planning or hosting them, so directing your questions to the organizer is the best way to find out more. They are listed here so we can amplify and celebrate the work they’re doing, and in the hope it makes it easy to find accessible, inclusive events near you!

Saturday October 15, 2022

Accessible Bird Event, Upham Woods near Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Host organization or group: Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center

Date and time of outing: 10/15/2022, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Outing event description: Join Upham Woods on Saturday, October 15th from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm for a free bird-focused day. We welcome people of all ages and ability levels to attend our accessible birding event at Upham Woods. Explore the trails at your own pace or join a guided activity. These activities are designed with access in mind, but if you would like to request additional accommodations, please email Rachael at lewandowskis@wisc.edu at least 10 days before the event.

• 9:00-10:30 Guided Birding: This guided bird hike will stay on flat hard-packed trails and wooden boardwalks and focus on identifying birds both by sight and by sound. Instructors will provide walking sticks, portable seating, and binoculars, and will stick to trails near buildings/restrooms for folks who need a break.

• 11:00-12:30 Bird presentation: Join our indoor presentation as you learn about turkey vultures and meet “Uncle Butzie”. Chairs will be provided. This PowerPoint will include closed captions. If you need a sign language interpreter, please contact us ASAP.

• 1:30-3:00 Bird sensory exploration: Spend time exploring birds with different senses and at your own pace. There will be bird artifacts, like feathers and skulls, to touch, iPads to listen to bird sounds and binoculars for sight. Separate quiet rooms are available as needed.

• 1:30-3:30 All-Terrain Wheelchair Demo: We have reserved one all-terrain outdoor wheelchair (OWC) through Access Ability Wisconsin for this event. Come try the chair out and learn about how you can reserve this free to use outdoor wheelchair in the future. To learn more about Access Ability Wisconsin before the event, check out their website at: https://www.accessabilitywi.org/

This free event was made possible through the UW-Madison Dean’s Innovation grant. Light refreshments will be provided.

Find out more and register for this event!

Monday October 17, 2022

Birding with Access Ability Wisconsin

Host organization or group: Madison Audubon and Access Ability Wisconsin

Date and time of outing: 10/17/2022, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm Central

Location: Badger Prairie County Park 500 Silent StreetVerona, WI, 53593

Outing event description: Join us for a fun, accessible, and inclusive fall outing through beautiful Badger Prairie County Park with Access Ability Wisconsin to celebrate Birdability Week 2022! AAW will bring several of their Outdoor Wheelchairs (OWCs), designed to allow individuals with mobility challenges to explore the outdoors independently and safely. Nature is for everybody, and every body!

We’ll meet at the Verona Public Library Parking lot (42°59\’49.5\”N 89°31\’38.2\”W) by 4:30pm. We’ll say hello, AAW’s team will demonstrate how to use the wheelchairs, and we’ll have a guided bird tour through the prairie.

Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated; feel free to bring a camera, binoculars, and/or field guide. We will also have binoculars available to borrow.

To preview how others have used AAW OWCs, see client testimonials or AAW\’s Facebook page.

FIELD TRIP LEADER: Kaitlin Svabek, Wisconsin Birdability Captain (ksvabek@madisonaudubon.org)

ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES:
– Family-friendly and beginning birders are welcome!
– AAW’s OWCs will be available on site to try out and use (be sure to let us know you are interested in the RSVP form!)
– Meeting point parking lot includes accessible parking spaces, nearby Verona Public Library has restroom and water fountain facilities
– Field trip leader is adept at birding by ear and able to accommodate those with visual impairments

APPROXIMATE DISTANCE: 0-1 mile, can be adjusted based on participants’ needs and desires

RSVP REQUIRED? Yes. Participation is limited to 20 people plus a waitlist.

Find out more and register here!

Thursday October 20, 2022

Accessible Birding Outing to Celebrate Birdability Week

Host organization or group: Aullwood Audubon

Date and time of outing: 10/20/2022, 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm Eastern

Location: Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, Dayton, Ohio

Outing event description:

Join us for a leisurely birding experience – we will start in front of the Marie S. Aull Education Center and bird along the Cardinal Trail for approximately 0.4 mile. While high diversity of birds or numbers are not expected, this area is a good place to get long, clear looks at birds in a variety of environments – woodland, wetland, prairie and lots of edge habitat, which birds favor. We welcome all people who identify as disabled, neurodivergent, and/or chronically ill. This outing is made for and led by birds with disabilities. Beginning birders welcome! Extra binoculars and a scope will be available. The location\’s accessibility features can be found on the Aullwood Audubon Birdability Site Review on Birdability\’s Map to help you decide if you\’d like to attend.

Learn more about the event and the site here!

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Every Body Can Bird Outing in Dayton, MN

Host organization or group: Three Rivers Park District

Date and time of outing: 10/20/2022, 9:00 am to 10:00 am Central

Location: Eastman Nature Center, 13351 Elm Creek Road, Dayton, MN 55369

Outing event description:

Accessible and inclusive birding for every body! Borrow binoculars. Practice birding by ear. Enjoy the company of other birders.

Go birding with a Naturalist on the sidewalk around the nature center and move inside to the Observation Room where birds visit the feeders right outside the windows. For more detailed accessibility information find our site on the Birdability Map at birdability.org.

Free Program. All ages and skill levels welcome. Additional outings scheduled on November 17th and December 15th.

Questions? Contact emily.thomsen@threeriversparks.org

Find out more and register here!

Saturday October 22, 2022

Accessible Birding Saturdays with the Valley Forge Audubon Society

Host organization or group: Valley Forge Audubon Society and Plymouth Township

Date and time of outing: 10/22/2022, 8:00 am to 10:00 am Eastern

Location: Harriet Wetherill Park, 2642 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Outing event description:

From regular observations of woodpeckers, nuthatches, and wrens to happy surprises such as red-shouldered hawks and osprey, birding in this beautiful park is always a delight. Our 1+ mile accessible “wander” will take us through varied habitats of woods, stream, and fields on paved paths suitable for wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers, offering many opportunities for finding year-round resident birds and fall migrants.

Birders of all abilities and skill levels, including beginners, are welcome, as are children if accompanied by an adult. There are accessible restroom facilities on site.
This outing will last approximately 2 hours.

Learn more about this event!

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Accessible and Inclusive Bird Outing in Winston Salem, NC

Host organization or group: Forsyth Audubon

Date and time of outing: 10/22/2022, 9:00 am to 10:00 am Eastern

Location: Old Salem Strollway, Parking lot of Old Salem Visitors Center, 900 Old Salem Road, Winston Salem, NC 27101

Outing event description:

We will meet in the Old Salem Visitors Center parking lot. There is ADA parking available. We will go over how to use the site survey as we add this strollway to the Biradability Map. There is a sloped sidewalk from the lot to the strollway. The trail is flat and wide. We will bird and add information to the survey as we enjoy the beautiful fall colors and birds. Binoculars available. All abilities are encouraged. Bathrooms open inside the visitors center at 10:00 am.

No registration needed, email Joy Rochester jimnjoy@triad.rr.com with questions.

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Birding Without Barriers: Accessible Birding Tour in Kodak, Tennessee

Host organization or group: Seven Islands State Birding Park

Date and time of outing: 10/22/2022, 9:00 am to 11:00 am Central

Location: Seven Islands State Birding Park, 2809 Kelly Lane, Kodak, TN 37764

Outing event description:

Celebrate Birdbility Week at Seven Islands by joining Ranger Clare for a leisurely birding tour along our paved Accessible Bobwhite Trail. Wheelchairs and strollers are welcome. We will pass through grassland habitats, stop near Wayne\’s pond, and head out to the bridge over the beautiful French Broad River. Over 200 species of birds have been seen at Seven Islands. During October, we may see a mix of resident and migrating birds. This trail is paved and approximately 1 mile each way.

This outing is for birders of all skill levels. Bring your own binoculars, or borrow a pair of ours.

Pre-registration is required. Contact Ranger Clare at clare.dattilo@tn.gov for more information.

Register here!

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Accessible Bird Outing along Hike-Bike Trail at Fort Kearney

Host organization or group: Nebraska Watchable Wildlife, Nebraska Game and Parks, and Fort Kearney SRA

Date and time of outing: 10/22/2022, 11:00 am to 1:30 pm Central

Location: Fort Kearney State Recreation Area, Kearney, Nebraska

Outing event description:

Join Nebraska Game and Parks & Nebraska’s Birdability Captain to celebrate Birdability Week with a free, accessible, and inclusive bird outing along the Hike-Bike Trail at Fort Kearny State Recreation Area (SRA). Birdability Week is a celebration of birders with disabilities and other health concerns, and an opportunity to share resources and ideas to help the birding community be accessible, inclusive and welcoming to everybody and every body! We will have binoculars and field guides for people to borrow during this fun outing.

We will meet at the trailhead in the Fort Kearny SRA at 11 AM and bird until noon along a 1-mile roundtrip stretch of the flat, paved path to the wooden bridge over the Platte River trail.

Bring your own lunch for a picnic in the shelter after the walk. After lunch, we will go over how to add your favorite birding locations to the Birdability Map using the easy-to-use site review survey. A vault toilet is available at the trailhead.

Learn more here!

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Saturday Sit in Madison, WI

Host organization or group: Madison Audubon and Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired

Date and time of outing: 10/22/2022, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm Central

Location: Warner Park 2930 North Sherman Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704

Outing event description:

Autumn is a perfect season to be outside as migrating birds fill the air. The number of different species that pass through even a small area can be remarkable! Join us for a “sit,” where we’ll remain in one area while looking and listening for any birds who might be nearby. Co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired, this trip is designed to be intentionally inclusive and accessible to birders of all skill levels as part of our celebration of Birdability Week 2022!

We’ll be birding all day, so feel free to stop by any time between 7AM and 4PM and stay for as long as you’d like! We’ll be near the Rainbow Shelter (43°07\’46.3\”N 89°22\’12.4\”W) with snacks, light refreshments, and plenty of birdy conversation!

Fall weather can be unpredictable, so please do come prepared with layers; we may be in areas with insects and pokey plants. Feel free to bring a comfy camping chair or blanket to sit upon; you are also welcome to bring binoculars, cameras, and/or field guides.

FIELD TRIP LEADER: Kaitlin Svabek, Wisconsin Birdability Captain (ksvabek@madisonaudubon.org)

RAIN DATE: Event start/end time may be adjusted based on weather.

ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES:
– Beginning birders and families are welcome!
– Mostly stationary event with minimal walking
– Trails are relatively flat, paved asphalt at least 36” wide
– Field trip leader is adept at birding by ear and able to accommodate those with low vision or blindness

APPROXIMATE DISTANCE: 0-1 mile

Registration is optional: if you are interested, we recommend RSVP-ing to receive updates or reminders in case we need to adjust the time/location because of the weather.

Click here for additional info and optional registration!

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Accessible Birding Outing at Rowe Sanctuary in Nebraska

Host organization or group: Rowe Sanctuary

Date and time of outing: 10/22/2022, 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Mountain

Location: Rowe Sanctuary 44450 Elm Island Rd, Gibbon, NE 68840

Outing event description:

Join Rowe Sanctuary staff & volunteers on our biweekly birding outing to learn more about how you can contribute to community science efforts like eBird. Binoculars are available on loan as needed.
This event will be in coordination with the Birdability Captain for Nebraska to be as accessible as possible– because birding is for everybody!
For more information, call 308-468-5282 or email catherine.worley@audubon.org

Find more information here!

Thursday October 27, 2022

Accessible Birding Thursdays with the Valley Forge Audubon Society

Host organization or group: Valley Forge Audubon Society

Date and time of outing: 10/22/2022, 8:00 am to 10:00 am Eastern

Location: Norristown Farm Park, East Norriton, PA 19403

Outing event description:

With its varied habitat, Norristown Farm Park offers great birding in every season. At this time of year we may encounter year-round favorites such as bluebirds, newly arriving winter residents such as white-throated sparrows, and warblers traveling through on migration.

All ages, abilities, and skill levels are welcome to join us, including those new to birding and children who are accompanied by an adult. This approximately 2-hour field trip will follow a 1-2 mile route along a wide, paved path and possibly a section of flat dirt path which allows for easy walking and can also accommodate those who have limited mobility or utilize a scooter, walker, or wheelchair.

No registration is needed for this free program. Bring binoculars if you have them. An accessible portable restroom is available on site.

Learn more here!