Introducing the Birdability Outreach Program (BOP)
Birdability + Travis Audubon event, April 2024, photo by Mike Fernandez, National Audubon
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.
What is the Birdability Outreach Program (BOP)?
The Birdability Outreach Program is designed to connect individuals with diverse disabilities—including physical, cognitive, and sensory impairments—to the natural world through birdwatching experiences. We know that birding can be a powerful tool for enhancing mental health and reducing stress, so BOP integrates informal bird programs, adaptive equipment, and bird feeder initiatives within these spaces. The goal? To create a deeper connection between participants and nature while promoting inclusivity, accessibility, and a sense of community.
Key Objectives of BOP:
Inclusive Nature Connection: Facilitate access to birding experiences tailored for individuals with different disabilities, ensuring everyone can experience the joy of birding.
Wellness and Therapeutic Benefits: Leverage the mental health benefits of birding to enhance participants’ overall well-being, reduce stress, and foster a connection with nature.
Community Building: Promote a sense of camaraderie and shared experience among residents and staff through birding activities.
Educational Outreach: Raise awareness about accessibility in the outdoors and the importance of bird conservation through informal educational sessions and wide-ranging partnerships.
How Does the Program Work?
A Great Tit, a bird that has a black mask with white cheeks and grey and white feathers, clings to a bird feeder filled with seed.
The BOP pilot project is being implemented across sites nationwide, each tailored to meet the needs of the participating facilities. We’ll engage participants with birding sessions led by trained facilitators, Birdability Captains, and community volunteers who provide insights into local bird species and their habitats. In addition, bird feeders will be installed in accessible areas to foster ongoing birding opportunities. We’ll also provide adaptive equipment as needed, such as easy-grip binoculars and accessible bird guides, to ensure full participation.
To support the program’s success, we’re offering training sessions for facility staff, along with cohort opportunities for activities staff to connect and share best practices. Our Birdability staff and volunteers will also provide Zoom-based office hours for continued support and guidance.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Program
The pilot will run for a year, during which we’ll collect feedback and assess the impact on participants’ well-being. Afterward, Birdability plans to develop a comprehensive Birdability Outreach Program Toolkit to expand these efforts nationwide. The toolkit will include resources such as templates, community partner lists, and adaptive birding tools to help other facilities create their own accessible birding programs.
Let us know using this form if you’d like to recommend a site in your community or if you are a site interested in being part of the pilot project as a site or as a community volunteer!
An illustration of a White-breasted Nuthatch sits on a computer monitor with the Birdability logo on the screen. The bird is singing out the wifi signal symbol and above all of that in curved letters is text that reads Birdability Outreach Program Webinar Series. There is a QR Code in the left bottom corner.
There’s A Webinar Series Too
As part of BOP, we’re launching a webinar series in partnership with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, starting November 13, 2024. Held every second Wednesday of the month at 2:00 PM Eastern, these webinars will cover various topics related to accessible birding and outdoor exploration for people living with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. Sessions include technology-assisted birding, mental health benefits, and building a mindful birding practice .
These webinars are open to everyone—whether you’re new to birding, an experienced birder with a disability, or an advocate for accessible outdoor spaces. You can register for individual sessions or the entire series, and each event will feature opportunities to ask questions and connect with others in the community.
Join Us in Expanding Accessible Birding!
The Birdability Outreach Program and its webinar series are the next steps in our mission to make birding accessible to all. We invite you to participate, spread the word, and help us make birding more inclusive. Whether you’re joining the webinars, volunteering at a BOP site, or sharing this work within your network, we appreciate your support.
Happy Birdability Week!
