Become a
Birdability Captain

Would you like to get involved with Birdability, and help implement inclusive and accessible birding in your community? Consider becoming a Birdability Captain to do just that!

Birdability Captains are birders interested in actively working to improve inclusion and accessibility in their communities. They may do this by intentionally seeking out potentially accessible birding locations and completing Birdability Site Reviews to populate the Birdability Map, by holding accessible birding outings, and by advocating for access improvements.

Birdability is also excited to announce the launch of the Birdability Captains Conservation Corps (BC3), a new initiative for 2025 aimed at professionals working in conservation, park management, nature preserves, arboretums, land trusts, and other public lands, as well as bird and other wildlife organizations. This program is designed to create a community of practice dedicated to enhancing accessible and inclusive birding opportunities and infrastructure.

The Birdability Captains Conservation Corps will bring together a diverse group of professionals committed to making the great outdoors more accessible and welcoming for folks with disabilities. By joining the Corps, you will have the opportunity to connect with others who share your passion for conservation and accessibility, learn from one another, and collaboratively work to create more inclusive spaces.

If you’d like to apply to be part of the Birdability Captain Network, please complete this form. Once you are a captain, you’ll be invited to our monthly Birdability Captain Meetings and/or our Birdability Captains Conservation Corps Meetings on Zoom to chat with other Captains, share ideas and resources, and be part of the Birdability community!

Just some of the ways to find out more about being a Birdability Captain and to take action once you join us:

• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Share our posts on social media to your page or birding or disability Facebook groups to help spread the word!

• Join our Birdability Birders Facebook group to meet others who are interested in this work, and share resources and ideas with them. (Just make sure you answer the question when you go to join, or we won’t be able to let you in!)

• Learn about access considerations, inclusive language use, and how to be a welcoming and inclusive birder.

• Learn more about how Birdability started and why it’s important by watching Virginia Rose present Birdability: Access for Everybody webinar during Birdability Week 2020.

• Learn more about birding with disabilities and other health concerns by watching Birdability: Perspectives on Access from the Field — the panel discussion from Birdability Week 2020, and hearing about different birders’ experiences.

• Submit Birdability Site Reviews to help populate the Birdability Map for birding locations (trails, bird blinds, observation platforms, and visitor centers) you visit. Even if they aren’t perfectly accessible, it’s helpful for others to know what kind of accessibility features are present. Set a goal to submit one Site Review each month!

• Offer accessible outings in your community!

• Advocate at your local Audubon chapter or bird club to hold accessible bird outings regularly, as part of their bird outing program. Offer to lead these outings, or co-lead them with a more experienced bird outing leader.

• Advocate for accessibility improvements at your local parks and other birding locations. Many organizations want to be accessible and inclusive, but don’t know how and are grateful for your feedback! You may find our template helpful to use as the basis for an email.

• Read our Steps to Implement Accessible and Inclusive Birding; reach out to local disability community groups and invite their members to come birding with you! (Yes, it’s as easy as that!) There are some suggestions for these groups in our Steps to Implement webpage. Ask them for guidance on what they’ll need to feel safe and comfortable attending, and make sure you follow their suggestions.

• Write about your experiences holding accessible outings or birding with an accessibility challenge for our Birdability Blog, so others can learn from your experiences.

• Ask your Audubon chapter, bird club, or nature-based organization to include detailed accessibility information for all their field trips.

• If your organization would like to hear from us to learn more about Birdability and inclusive birding, we offer guest speaking. Have your event organizer complete our guest speaking form to be in touch with us!