Team Nuthatch Returns to the World Series of Birding!
Image description: A blue box with the words “Introducing WSB 2025 #TeamNuthatch.” Below the text are three circular photos of Birdability Captains who make up Team Nuthatch for the 2025 World Series of Birding.
The top left photo shows Karaleah Reichart Bercaw smiling on a beach with two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
The top right photo features Gary Herritz, standing on a sandy shoreline at sunset, holding a Black Skimmer in his hands (with all appropriate permits).
The bottom center photo shows Katie Fenyar smiling and giving a thumbs-up gesture, wearing glasses and a headband.
At midnight on May 19, 1984, the first-ever teams set out on a 24-hour birding blitz across New Jersey—each racing to count as many bird species as possible by sight or sound. Their goal: raise funds for conservation and spotlight the urgent need to protect migratory bird habitats. That inaugural effort gave rise to the World Series of Birding (WSB), now one of the most spirited and inclusive conservation fundraisers in North America.
In 2022, Birdability’s Team Nuthatch made history by becoming the first team made up entirely of birders with access challenges to compete in the WSB—and even won their category. This year, in 2025, we’re back—and this time, our team is made up entirely of Birdability Captains with invisible disabilities.
Invisible disabilities are common, yet often misunderstood. They can include chronic illnesses, neurodivergence, autoimmune diseases, hearing or vision loss, mental health conditions, and much more. Though not immediately visible to others, these disabilities can deeply impact how a person navigates the world—including the outdoors. More than 61 million adults in the U.S. have a disability, and as many as 90% of these may be invisible.
Image description: A graphic with a blue background and the Birdability logo at the top. Below the logo is the text: "Not All Disabilities Are Visible". The graphic is divided into two halves: On the left side is the caption: "Some disabilities look like this:" Beneath it is an illustration of a person with short hair and glasses, smiling while using a camera. They are seated in a wheelchair, wearing an orange outfit with polka dots. On the right side is the caption: "And some look like this:"
Beneath it is an illustration of a person standing and looking through binoculars. They are wearing a light orange sweater, a backpack, and white pants. At the bottom of the graphic, a blue banner contains the message: "Remember that not all disabilities are apparent. And some folks have both types."
Meet Team Nuthatch 2025:
Karaleah Reichart Bercaw (she/her)
Kara is a Birdability Captain for North Carolina and a disabled birder that has birded in all 50 states, Europe, South and Central America. She is a passionate advocate for integrating mindful birding into her clinical practice as a licensed clinical mental health counselor specializing in the treatment of chronic illness and trauma recovery. Her disabilities include lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, and GAD65 autoimmunity.
Gary Herritz (he/him)
Gary is an Autistic Birdability Captain, Birdfy Brand Ambassador, and volunteers with nonprofits focusing on accessibility, inclusion, and conservation. He also experiences PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, and is immune-compromised from a solid organ transplant. While unhoused in 2024, he followed bird migration around the lower 48 states with his scope, camera, and binoculars. Gulls, shorebirds, and sparrows are his passion but is always on the lookout for anything with wings.
Katie Fenyar (she/her)
Katie is a neurodivergent educator and Birdability Captain who found her calling through a lifelong love of animals, outdoor exploration, and a winding journey to birding and environmental education. After earning a degree in Animal Science from Rutgers University—where an ornithology class first sparked her interest in birds—Katie began combining her passion for nature with her talent for teaching. Her lived experience as a neurodivergent person deeply informs her work. For years, she felt different without knowing why, navigating the confusion and challenges that often come before a diagnosis. Finally having language for her experience helped her understand herself more fully—and fueled her desire to create welcoming, stigma-free spaces for others to connect with nature, community, and themselves.
These amazing Captains are not only advocating for access in their local communities—they’re breaking barriers by taking the field at the WSB as Team Nuthatch. We’re proud to support their efforts, and we’re asking for your help!
We’re aiming to raise $10,000 to support this team and the broader Birdability Captains network—volunteers across the U.S. who are working to ensure birding truly is for every body.
Donate now to support Team Nuthatch and help make sure everyone, including folks with disabilities, can experience the joy of birding.
