Birding, Mobility, and the Joy (and Grief) of Evolving Access Needs
Eventually, my access needs shifted again. The cane gave way to a forearm crutch, and I slowly started to accept that mobility aids weren’t just “last resorts”—they were tools for liberation. But still, I grieved. I missed the days when I could walk farther without pain. I missed the illusion of not being “that disabled.” And then my access needs changed again. I began using a powered mobility device, an electric scooter, just this week and once more, I found myself confronting some tender feelings.
Acknowledging a progression in disability is complicated. It’s not linear. There’s relief and grief, frustration and freedom, all bundled together. This new scooter represents the reality that walking, even with a crutch, is no longer sustainable for me. But it also represents something else—something much more powerful: possibility.
Team Nuthatch Returns to the World Series of Birding!
Birdability’s Team Nuthatch is back at New Jersey Audubon's World Series of Birding—and this year, the team is made up entirely of Birdability Captains with invisible disabilities!
Invisible disabilities—including chronic illnesses, neurodivergence, PTSD, autoimmune conditions, and more—aren’t always immediately apparent, but they impact millions. Over 90% of disabilities may be hidden, and yet, folks living with them are often underrepresented in outdoor spaces and events.
That’s why we’re proud that Team Nuthatch is once again showing up and showing out—for representation, inclusion, and joy in birding.
Captain's Spotlight: Carol Tepper and Her Journey as An Unbalanced Birder
At Birdability, we celebrate the incredible birders who are making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible, including Carol Tepper, a Birdability Captain whose journey has taken her from musical theater to the National Park Service and, ultimately, to a deep love of birds. Carol's story is about adaptation, resilience, and the joy of discovering new ways to engage with birding as her access needs changed while navigating a neurological condition that impacted her balance and coordination.
Birding Without Borders: A Global Movement for Accessible Birding
Across the world, accessible birding leaders are innovating to break down barriers and make birding more inclusive. From Chile to Costa Rica to Argentina to Venezuela, people are finding ways to create welcoming spaces and provide access to the birding experiences that bring so many of us joy. Birdability is honored to be in solidarity with these efforts, sharing knowledge, learning from one another, and helping to amplify the voices of those leading the charge in accessibility. These are just a few of those efforts.
Finding Connection Through Birds: Alex’s Journey to Accessible Birding
When Alex Wang began birding during the pandemic, she couldn’t have imagined how it would transform her life and the lives of others. Stuck at home, Alex started by photographing bees, then birds, in her local neighborhood. “I still love bees very much,” she shared with a laugh. But what began as a solitary pastime soon became a way to build connections and create inclusive spaces for others to enjoy nature.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is Citizen Science for Everyone
This February, your participation can help ensure that the Great Backyard Bird Count is for everyone. You have a role as we support bird conservation and show that inclusive participation strengthens both citizen science and our connection to the natural world. Ready…. Set…. Count!
Announcing the First-Ever Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon!
Save the Date for the first ever Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, a groundbreaking national event celebrating birders who are blind or have low vision. Designed by a group of blind birders and set to take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, this 24-hour birding marathon is all about connecting with nature and community, enjoying birds, and fostering inclusivity in the birding community.
Celebrating the Accessibility Internship (formerly Birdability Internship) Program's Recognition as 2025 Project of the Year
We are thrilled to announce that the Accessible Birding Internship (formerly the Birdability Internship) developed by Birdability, in partnership with Environment for the Americas' (EFTA) and the National Park Service (NPS), has been honored as a 2025 Project of the Year by The Corps Network.
This groundbreaking initiative is dedicated to creating inclusive outdoor experiences for individuals with disabilities while fostering professional development in conservation.
A Birder of a Different Feather
My daughter Kathleen never looked or acted like the birders she encountered each spring during the songbird migration. From April to June, southern Ontario abounded with bird enthusiasts, most of them able-bodied. They would stand with necks craned upward and binoculars at the ready, scanning the tree tops for a glimpse of the songsters they knew were overhead. Nearby, Kathleen would sit in her wheelchair with her shoulders hunched and head bowed, seemingly oblivious to the activity happening around her. The able-bodied would flock together and chatter about what they had heard, what they had been lucky enough to see. Kathleen was silent and made do with the company of only her dad Chris and me.
NYC Bird Alliance Tours For All Abilities and Disabilities
People of all abilities can and should participate in birding. My mission is to enhance and enrich experiences in order to create a more inclusive New York City birding public.
As a NYC Bird Alliance guide, I use my training and experience as a school counselor to make my tours accessible to all. Being familiar with notoriously tight school budgets, I’ve learned that small enhancements can make a big difference to learning and success for students. I try to do the same for my birding tours in New York City’s parks, tailoring my tours using various tactics and mechanisms to create more inclusive experiences. The results have been the ability to welcome a more diverse population, as well as cultivate a heightened sense of community and connection to our parks among participants.
Discover the Accessible Joys of Backyard Birding + Enjoy Free Project FeederWatch Participation!
Birding doesn’t always require traveling to faraway places. The joy of observing birds can begin right outside your window, in your yard, or on your balcony. During Birdability Week 2024, we were thrilled to host the (Accessible) Joys of Backyard Birding Workshop, featuring virtual yard tours and stories from Birdability Captains Heather Weber Langvardt, Eric Clow, and Mark Roser. These incredible leaders shared their tips, experiences, and passion for making birding accessible and deeply fulfilling, no matter where you are.
The Importance of Accessibility and Inclusion in Citizen Science: Winter/Christmas Bird Counts for Everyone
For over a century, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), or Winter Bird Count, has brought together birders and families as community scientists to count birds and contribute to one of the largest and longest-running citizen science projects in the world. Whether in the bitter cold of northern states or the mild climates of southern regions, thousands of volunteers annually gather to document bird populations and provide invaluable data that shape conservation efforts.
But for too long, these events have often overlooked a critical element: accessibility and inclusion.
Start 2025 with Birds + Creativity
We are excited to kick off 2025 by celebrating the transformative power of creativity, community, and connection with nature—just as Amy Tan beautifully illustrates in her book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles. Inspired by her journey back to art through nature journaling lessons with John Muir Laws, our January and February events invite you to explore your own creative spark while deepening your connection to birds.
Birding for Mental Health: New Video and Resources Now Available
Birding, the practice of observing or enjoying birds in their natural habitats, offers more than just an opportunity to connect with nature—it provides significant mental and cognitive health benefits. At Birdability, we are dedicated to making birding accessible to everyone, ensuring that people of all abilities and health concerns can experience these benefits firsthand.
Introducing the Birdability Captains Conservation Corps!
Birdability is excited to announce the launch of the Birdability Captains Conservation Corps (BC3), a new initiative 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.
Building Identity Beyond Illness Through Birding
For nearly a decade, I had a dream job: traveling around the country championing toys and games alongside players, designers, and artists from around the world. Full of energy, and burning the candle at both ends, it wasn’t until I experienced a catastrophic shift in my health that I was forced to abandon my life as I knew it and began to question who I was beyond my career, and ultimately, beyond the illness that upended my life.
Four years later, I live with dysautonomia, a dysfunction of my autonomic nervous system that developed after contracting COVID-19 on a business trip in the early pandemic.
Bird Breaks and the Path to Community Care
Birds offer lessons in interdependence, presence, and evolution if only we listen. They show us that we, too, are part of these ecosystems—connected, resilient, and worthy of care. The work of Birdability and disability justice is grounded in this understanding: that liberation requires that we care for one another, that we shape a future where everyone, regardless of physical or mental ability, has a place to rest, to heal, and to thrive. Birding offers that space for me and many others.
Celebrating Birdability Week's Inaugural Offbeat Photography Contest!
Birdability Week 2024 brought together birders of all abilities to capture the joy, quirks, and unexpected moments that make birding such an incredible experience. This year, we launched our first Offbeat Photography Contest, and we were blown away by the creativity and enthusiasm displayed in each entry! From playful pelicans to resilient shorebirds, every photo told a story, and we’re excited to celebrate our Best in Show winner, finalists, and honorable mentions!!
Embracing the Unseen - Birding, Invisible Disabilities, and the Importance of Evolving Accessibility
As we mark Invisible Disability Awareness Week during Birdability Week 2024, it’s crucial to acknowledge and celebrate the many birders with disabilities that may not be immediately visible. Invisible disabilities—like chronic pain, mental health conditions, neurodivergence, sensory sensitivities, and autoimmune disorders—can vary dramatically from person to person. They may also change for each individual from year to year, day to day, or even minute to minute.
At Birdability, we know how essential it is to create inclusive spaces that honor these dynamic needs.
Introducing the Birdability Outreach Program (BOP)
Birdability Week is all about celebrating accessible birding and the diversity of birders in our community. It’s also a time to highlight the work we’re doing year-round to ensure that birding is for everybody and every body. We’re thrilled to spotlight a new initiative that brings birding to people who might not have easy access to nature: the Birdability Outreach Program (BOP). This project aims to bring the joy of birds and the well-being benefits of nature to individuals with disabilities living sort or long-term in rehabilitation hospitals, mental health facilities, and other congregate living spaces.