Discover the Accessible Joys of Backyard Birding + Enjoy Free Project FeederWatch Participation!
Image description: Birdability Captain, Eric, sitting outdoors in a power wheelchair, facing a peaceful backyard shaded by a tree with green leaves and gazing toward a patio area with outdoor furniture and birdbaths surrounded by native plants.
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.
If you missed this enriching session, you can watch the recording here and discover how birding at home can bring joy, connection, and calm to your life.
Heather Weber Langvardt: Bringing Knowledge and Joy to Backyard Birding
Photo of Heather in a brown sweater with shoulder-length light brown hair. She is looking at the camera and there is a mountain range behind her.
As a franchise owner of Wild Birds Unlimited Colorado Springs (wbu.com/coloradosprings), Heather combines a wealth of knowledge about birding essentials with a passion for helping others enjoy nature from home. During the workshop, Heather emphasized the importance of native plants and water features as ways to attract a variety of birds without needing to maintain feeders.
Her expertise and approachable teaching style make backyard birding achievable for anyone, and her enthusiasm for creating inclusive and joyful birding spaces is contagious. Whether you’re new to birding or a seasoned observer, Heather’s insights make the backyard feel like a front-row seat to nature’s beauty.
Eric Clow: The Accessible Joys of Birding and Mental Health
Eric is sitting in a power wheelchair with a white t-shirt over a black thermal. He is smiling at the camera and there is a stream running alongside the paved trail he is on.
Eric Clow eloquently captures how birding meets us where we are, celebrating the fact that “it requires neither transportation nor a lot of money.” Eric, who also shares his thoughtful writing at Bird City News (birdcitynews.substack.com), reflected on the profound mental health benefits of backyard birding:
It allows us to connect with nature without exhausting our bodies.
It accommodates physical and mental health limitations.
It deepens our connection to the land and our place in the ecosystem.
Most beautifully, it allows us to form relationships with the birds that visit us.
Eric’s ability to blend personal reflection with practical tips reminds us that birding can be both accessible and transformative.
Mark Roser: Building Relationships with Backyard Birds
Mark looks to the left of the camera, wearing glasses, a cap, and a fleecy zip-up with trees and bushes behind him.
Mark Roser invited workshop participants into the world of building relationships with individual birds. From observing feather patterns to learning their food preferences and habits, Mark shared the joy of getting to know birds as individuals.
He offered invaluable tips for interactive bird feeding while emphasizing safety and ethical practices, including ethical hand-feeding. As Mark put it, “the rewards are limitless” when we approach birds with respect and care, developing a mutual relationship that fosters appreciation and love for the natural world.
For those eager to take the next step, Mark generously offered to provide additional guidance. You can connect with him through his Facebook page at facebook.com/LaughingBirdsCom.
What is Project FeederWatch? A Citizen Science Project for Everyone!
Project FeederWatch is a research and education program through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada. It invites bird enthusiasts of all abilities to watch and count birds in their own backyards, patios, or nearby green spaces. The data collected helps scientists monitor winter bird populations, track changes in bird behavior, and study trends in bird species across North America.
Why Join Project FeederWatch?
No experience required: It's perfect for birders at all levels!
Flexible participation: Count birds on your own schedule.
Make a difference: Your observations contribute to meaningful scientific research.
Connect with nature: Experience the joy of birding while staying close to home.
Birdability + Project FeederWatch = Free Access!
We are thrilled to collaborate with Project FeederWatch to make this citizen science project more inclusive of disabled birders. Thanks to this collaboration, you can participate for FREE using the coupon code BIRDABILITY24 at feederwatch.org.
This code is valid until January 15, 2025, giving you plenty of time to sign up and enjoy the program during the upcoming FeederWatch season. Whether you're watching chickadees dart around your feeders or tracking visiting cardinals, your observations help scientists while you enjoy the mental health benefits of birding at home.
Accessible Birding Starts at Home
Whether you’re building relationships with the chickadees in your backyard, setting up a birdbath, or simply watching sparrows hop around your balcony, backyard birding offers connection, peace, and purpose. As our Captains shared, birding doesn’t have to be far away or complicated—it can start right where you are.
Watch the workshop recording here, grab your free FeederWatch registration, and let the accessible joys of birding inspire you!
