Events
Birdability Outreach Program Webinar Series #3 : Birding from Accessible Trails and Public Spaces
Learn how to locate and explore accessible birding locations using the Birdability Map, featuring stories from birders who’ve enjoyed birding from accessible sites.
Birdability Book Club
January 15, 2025 - The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
Birdability is thrilled to continue the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club will meet every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
WRITE - Spark Bird Salon
Kick off 2025 with Birdability and our partners as we celebrate the transformative power of creativity, community, and connection with nature through birds. Inspired by Amy Tan’s journey back to art through nature journaling lessons with renowned naturalist and educator John Muir Laws, we’re hosting a series of events to spark your creativity and deepen your connection to birds.
WRITE - January 23: Participate in the Spark Bird Salon featuring the Spark Bird Project. Share the story of the bird, person, or experience that ignited your love of birding, and help ensure the project reflects the voices of folks with disabilities. This ongoing community science initiative gathers stories to inspire and sustain birders everywhere. Registration is here for both WRITE and DRAW.
DRAW - John Muir Laws Workshop on Sketching Birds
Kick off 2025 with Birdability and our partners as we celebrate the transformative power of creativity, community, and connection with nature through birds. Inspired by Amy Tan’s journey back to art through nature journaling lessons with renowned naturalist and educator John Muir Laws, we’re hosting a series of events to spark your creativity and deepen your connection to birds.
DRAW - February 7: Join John Muir Laws for a workshop on sketching birds! Discover tricks and shortcuts to draw the birds you see outside your window or on your birding adventures. No prior experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm! Registration is here for both WRITE and DRAW.
Anyone is welcome to join any or all of these sessions! Please note that the February 7th workshop will focus on drawing birds using traditional tools like pencils and paper, which may make it less accessible for those who do not have the use of their hands. We celebrate all forms of creativity and encourage adaptations to ensure everyone feels included.
Birdability Outreach Program Webinar Series #4 : Introduction to Mindful Birding
Discover how to begin a mindful birding practice and learn about the benefits of birding, focusing on mindfulness, stress reduction, and connection with nature, particularly for those with disabilities.
Birdability Outreach Program Webinar Series #5 : Adaptive Birding Equipment
Explore specialized equipment designed for birders with physical disabilities, from scope mounts to lightweight binoculars to mobility aids for navigating trails.
Birdability Book Club
March 19, 2025 - 12 Birds to Save Your Life: Nature's Lessons in Happiness by Charlie Corbett
Birdability is thrilled to continue the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club will meet every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
Birdability Outreach Program Webinar Series #6 : The Power of Birdsong
Birdsong is more than just pleasant background noise—research shows it has profound effects on mental and emotional well-being. Studies have found that listening to birdsong can reduce stress, improve mood, and promote mental restoration, making it a valuable tool for those seeking healing in nature.
Birdability Outreach Program Webinar Series #7 : Citizen Science Opportunities for Birders with Disabilities
Join us to learn about programs like Project FeederWatch, eBird, and Great Backyard Bird Count, among others, that allow you to contribute to science while enjoying birds.
Birdability Book Club
May 21, 2025 - Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration by Rebecca Heisman
Birdability is thrilled to continue the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club will meet every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
Birdability Book Club
July 16, 2025 - The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham
Birdability is thrilled to continue the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club will meet every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
Birdability Book Club
September 17, 2025 - Birding for a Better World: A Guide to Finding Joy and Community in Nature by Molly Adams and Sydney Golden Anderson
Birdability is thrilled to continue the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club will meet every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
Birdability Week 2025
Birdability Week 2025
October 20-27, 2025
Join us for our annual celebration of accessible and inclusive birding! Birdability Week is a time to uplift and amplify the experiences of birders with disabilities and other health concerns, fostering joy, community, and connection with nature.
What to expect:
Virtual panels and workshops featuring voices in accessible birding
Interactive activities like nature journaling, backyard birding, and photography
Accessible Bird Outings held in communities across the country
Opportunities to learn, connect, and make the outdoors more inclusive
Stay tuned for the full schedule and registration details!
Mark your calendars—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Birdability Book Club
November 19, 2025 - The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl
Birdability is thrilled to continue the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club will meet every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
Birdability Outreach Program Webinar Series #2 : Resources from the National Paralysis Resource Center & the Outdoors for Everyone Campaign
Learn about valuable resources and supports available from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's National Paralysis Resource Center, as well as explore their Outdoors for Everyone campaign.
Birdability Outreach Program Webinar Series #1 : Technology-Assisted Birding
Discover the latest tools and technologies that make birding accessible from home or yard, such as camera feeders, nest cams, and other innovative technological approaches to birding. Birding often starts at home!
Birding CAN Change the World - presentation for Boyce Thompson Arboretum - Virual
Discover how accessible birding can make a significant impact on individuals with access challenges and learn practical ways you can contribute to a more inclusive birding community. This engaging talk will cover the mission and work of Birdability, highlighting the importance of accessible trails and the profound benefits of connecting with nature for mental and physical well-being. Whether you’re a birding enthusiast, a nature advocate, or someone interested in promoting inclusivity, this presentation will equip you with the knowledge and tools to make a difference. Learn how you can get involved, advocate for accessibility improvements, and help ensure that birding locations and communities are accessible to everyone.
Free Registration link: 7830.blackbaudhosting.com/7830/Birds-CAN-Change-the-World-presented-by-Birdability
Birdability Week 2024
Birdability Week is an annual celebration dedicated to birders with disabilities and other health concerns. It serves as a platform to share resources and ideas, fostering an accessible, inclusive, and welcoming birding community. Inspired by other inclusive celebrations such as #BlackBirdersWeek, Latino Conservation Week, and Let’s Go Birding Together, Birdability Week aims to ensure that birding is a joyful and enriching experience for everyone.
This year, we are planning a variety of virtual events and activities, including:
Virtual Panels and Speakers: Engaging discussions featuring experts and advocates in accessible birding.
Workshops on Backyard Birding and Nature Journaling: Practical sessions to help birders with disabilities connect with nature in their own spaces.
Offbeat Photography Contest: A creative competition celebrating the unique perspectives of birders with disabilities and turning a typical Best Photo category upside down.
Bird(ability) Your Way! Weekend (October 24-27, 2024): Encouraging participants to bird in any way they prefer—whether it’s a “big sit,” car birding, backyard birding, or hosting an accessible outing. We will share photos and sightings from these events to help build community and awareness of the incredible diversity of birders.
Multiple Birding Livestreams and Virtual Events: Showcasing adaptive equipment, birding locations, and the experiences of birders with disabilities and health concerns across the country.
Birdability Book Club
Birdability is thrilled to announce the launch of the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club is scheduled every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time. Please register here to receive the link for our virtual meeting.
Latino Conservation Week 2024
Save the dates for #LatinoConservationWeek2024, a project of Hispanic Access Foundation, which is happening September 14-22, 2024 this year. You can find out how to get involved by checking out latinoconservationweek.com and either sharing your own event or choosing one to attend that week. They have mini-grants available for events, so check them out and start planning.
Birding is for Everyone and Every Body Outing - NE
Birding is for Everyone and Everybody
Aug. 31 at 2 p.m., Rock Creek Station State Historical Park by Fairbury, NE. Meet Birdability Captain Cassandra Dean at the Visitor Center for a free birding activity that is accessible and inclusive, open to everyone including beginner birders and families with small children. Join a guided bird outing or view birds from the Visitor Center lobby. The birding trail is a mowed grass trail with a slight slope. It is about 1 mile, a half mile in and a half mile out, from the Visitor Center. Picnic table seating will be available about a quarter mile from the Visitor Center. The guided outing will take about one hour and will be limited to the first 20 people. Birding may also be done from the Visitor Center lobby by viewing birds at the feeding station through the large picture windows. A Nebraska state park entry permit is required.
Birdability Book Club
Birdability is thrilled to announce the launch of the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club is scheduled every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time. Please register here to receive the link for our virtual meeting.
Birdability at the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival
re you a trip leader, educator or interpreter who wants to offer more inclusive outings? Join Birdability team member Lindsey Stone at the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival for a field workshop focused on how you can make your bird outings welcoming for people with disabilities and other access needs. You’ll learn engagement and outreach tips and practical strategies to identify and address access challenges. Don’t miss this opportunity to create more welcoming birding experiences for everybody! Find more information at the Tucson Audubon's Festival website and join us August 7-11, 2024!
Let's Go Birding Together, Iowa City!
Let’s celebrate the end of LGBTQIA Pride (June) and Disability Pride Month (July) with an opportunity to bird and build community. This is an opportunity for anyone interested in birds and birding to join us for an INCLUSIVE and ACCESSIBLE slow birding event with coffee and community! We will meet at Terry Trueblood Shelter #1, which is to the right of the Lodge if you are facing the Lodge. There are accessible parking spots in the parking lot, a paved trail (with little to no slope or incline) to the shelter, and restrooms available nearby. We will convene at the shelter which offers a paved slab, shade, tables, and grassy area near the water. We will observe whatever birds we can from there, and there will be opportunities to venture out onto the path beside the river for those that would like to participate in a walk/roll/stroll/crutch. For those joining the walk, we will move at the pace of the slowest birder. No birding experience is necessary. We will have a few pairs of binoculars and a scope for use.
Let's Go Birding Together outings are for everyone who loves birds and the outdoors. We welcome those who identify as LGBTQ, allies, families, and anyone who wants to enjoy an outdoor experience that is inclusive. Why do we do this? Because the outdoors has not always been a welcoming place for folks with disabilities or other health concerns, for BIPOC birders, and for LGBTQIA people. This is an opportunity to celebrate that birding is for everybody and every body!
Birdability Information Session - Leading Accessible Bird Outings
In June, join us for our Birdability Information Session on 'Leading an Accessible and Inclusive Bird Outing: Considerations and Conversations.' Gain insights on making your outings more accessible, and engage in discussions about building programming that centers and celebrates individuals with various access needs due to disabilities and other health concerns. Our session on June 27th will provide resources and tips for creating inclusive, accessible outings!
Be sure to RSVP and join us in our work to build inclusive birding!
Birdability Book Club
Birdability is thrilled to announce the launch of the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club is scheduled every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time. Please register here to receive the link for our virtual meeting.
Birding is for Everyone and Every Body Outing NE
June 19 at 8:30-9 a.m., Riverside Park in Beatrice, NE during Homestead Days. Meet at the picnic shelter in Riverside Park. The paved trail will be 1/4 mile. Accessible parking and restrooms are available. Please bring binoculars, but if you don’t have any, binoculars will be provided.
Birding is for Everyone and Everybody Outing
Birding is for Everyone and Everybody
June 15 at 2 p.m.; Aug. 31 at 2 p.m., Rock Creek Station State Historical Park by Fairbury, NE. Meet Birdability Captain Cassandra Dean at the Visitor Center for a free birding activity that is accessible and inclusive, open to everyone including beginner birders and families with small children. Join a guided bird outing or view birds from the Visitor Center lobby. The birding trail is a mowed grass trail with a slight slope. It is about 1 mile, a half mile in and a half mile out, from the Visitor Center. Picnic table seating will be available about a quarter mile from the Visitor Center. The guided outing will take about one hour and will be limited to the first 20 people. Birding may also be done from the Visitor Center lobby by viewing birds at the feeding station through the large picture windows. A Nebraska state park entry permit is required.
Birding is for Everyone and Every Body Outing NE
May 25, 3-4 p.m., Indian Cave State Park by Shubert, NE. Everyone is welcome for this free, inclusive birding activity, including beginning birders and families with small children. Meet Dean at the museum gazebo for a 30-minute guided birding outing through the new trail near the pollinator gardens. The birding trail is a 1/4-mile loop, with no benches and lots of shade cover. It is a mowed grass trail with a slight slope. At 3:30 p.m., join the group for a 30-minute Big Sit at the bird feeders. Bring your own lawn chairs; binoculars will be available to borrow, or bring your own. Afterward, stay for more activities during the park’s Migratory Birding Day event. Paved parking and restrooms are available at the museum. A Nebraska state park entry permit is required.
Black Birders Week
#BlackBirdersWeek2024 is this week! Have you checked out the schedule of events at blackafinstem.com/black-birders-week-2024 to see how you can celebrate and amplify? If not, go on and do that now, because there are fantastic events and opportunities in lots of places, and virtually, that started Sunday, May 26, 2024, and continue through June 1st.
Birdability Captain Information Session
Dive into the world of accessibility advocacy with us on May 23, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. ET!
Are you passionate about making birding more inclusive in your community?
Join our upcoming Info Session to learn about becoming a Birdability Captain - a role that's all about championing accessibility and inclusion in the wonderful world of birding!
Our international network of Birdability Captains are dedicated volunteers working to improve accessibility and inclusion in their local birding communities. Whether it's completing Birdability Site Reviews or organizing accessible birding outings, these Captains are making a real difference.
At this session, you'll hear from a panel of current Birdability Captains, sharing insights and experiences from their volunteer work. Learn what it takes to be a part of this incredible network and how you can make a meaningful impact in your area.
We're investing in the growth of our volunteer community and creating opportunities for learning and collaboration. Whether you have an hour a month or more to spare, there's a place for you in our inclusive network.
What's expected of Birdability Captains? We operate on an "opt-in" model, but there are minimum expectations for engagement. From attending meetings to organizing local events and participating in ongoing education, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Save the date - May 23, 2024, and join us on this journey towards a more welcoming, inclusive, and accessible world of birding!
Birdability Virtual Wingspan Game Night
Birdability knows the importance of virtual social opportunities to people who experience disabilities and health concerns. It can be difficult to socialize when you have an access challenge, and that is why we’re bringing the popular bird-themed board game, Wingspan, to monthly games nights on Zoom! Join Birdability right from the comfort of your home to make friends and play birds on the second Thursday of each month at 6 PM Central Time! Join us via Zoom here!
Birdability Map Information Session
Mark your calendars for April 25, 2024, and join us for an information and co-working session that'll leave you ready to make a lasting impact.
Monterey Audubon Birdability Trip - Via Parasio Park, Monterey
Apr 18, 2024, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT
Via Parasio Park, Monterey, 100 Vía Paraiso, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
Trip Leader: Amanda Preece, MAS staff and Birdability Captain.
Description: Likely birds include Townsend’s and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Acorn Woodpeckers, Red-shouldered Hawks, and others! Birders of all abilities (birding or otherwise) are welcome on this trip. We’ll take every opportunity to sit and listen in quiet areas to better learn our bird calls and songs. We will walk at a slow pace to better hear and locate birds. This trip is open to all levels of birders! Bring binoculars if you have them or note that you need binoculars when you RSVP. We have nice ones to lend out.
Meet: 9:00 am at the parking lot near the tennis courts on Via Parasio Road in Monterey.The GPS point for parking is located HERE. This park is in the neighborhood up the hill from downtown Monterey. Trip Difficulty: The trail will be ADA accessible, with a few benches to stop at along the route. We’ll move at a slower pace to better hear and observe the birds and wildlife at the park. Bring a small chair if you like to sit and listen. We will travel approximately 0.5 miles with no elevation gain.
Facilities: Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are available at this park.
To RSVP, contact the trip leader at montereyaudubon@gmail.com.
Birdability at FeatherFest
Join Birdability’s founder, Virginia Rose, at FeatherFest in Galveston, TX.
FeatherFest and Birdability because Birding is for Everybody! Presentation on APRIL 18 @ 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM - $20
Accessible Exploration of Galveston’s West End Field Trip on April 19 @ 8:00 am - 11:30 am - $45
Accessible Exploration of Galveston’s East End Field Trip on April 20 @ 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm - $45
Read the Coast Monthly article here:
https://www.coastmonthly.com/features/my-life-changed/article_a557a7ed-f719-5a0f-98cb-4b41e9c3c63e.html
Birdability Book Club
Birdability is thrilled to announce the launch of the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club is scheduled every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time. Please register here to receive the link for our virtual meeting.
Birdability Virtual Wingspan Game Night
Birdability knows the importance of virtual social opportunities to people who experience disabilities and health concerns. It can be difficult to socialize when you have an access challenge, and that is why we’re bringing the popular bird-themed board game, Wingspan, to monthly games nights on Zoom! Join Birdability right from the comfort of your home to make friends and play birds on the second Thursday of each month at 6 PM Central Time! Join us via Zoom here!
Tough Broad : Caroline Paul in Conversation with Virginia Rose
Caroline Paul, author of Tough Broad, in conversation with Birdability founder Virginia Rose, who is featured in the book!
Birdability Virtual Wingspan Game Night
Birdability knows the importance of virtual social opportunities to people who experience disabilities and health concerns. It can be difficult to socialize when you have an access challenge, and that is why we’re bringing the popular bird-themed board game, Wingspan, to monthly games nights on Zoom! Join Birdability right from the comfort of your home to make friends and play birds on the second Thursday of each month at 6 PM Central Time! Join us via Zoom here!
Birdability Book Club
Birdability is thrilled to announce the launch of the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club will debut in February, with subsequent meetings scheduled every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time. Please register here to receive the link for our virtual meeting.
Birdability Virtual Wingspan Game Night
Birdability knows the importance of virtual social opportunities to people who experience disabilities and health concerns. It can be difficult to socialize when you have an access challenge, and that is why we’re bringing the popular bird-themed board game, Wingspan, to monthly games nights on Zoom! Join Birdability right from the comfort of your home to make friends and play birds on the second Thursday of each month at 6 PM Central Time! Join us via Zoom here!
Birding for Every Body Presentation for the Discovery Speaker Series
The Puget Sound Estuarium's Discovery Speaker Series welcomes artists, educators, scientists, and earth advocates to share their recent or current work to raise awareness and spark conversations. These 45 minute webinars allow the audience 15 minutes for questions and answers at the end.
We are pleased to welcome Virginia Rose, founder and board president of Birdability! Birdability is a nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible outdoor birding. Learn how you can be aware of accessibility challenges and get involved in making sure that birding is for everybody and every body. If you are interested in creating these welcoming spaces you’ll want to tune in and see what Birdability is looking forward to as they continue to grow!
Birdability Week 2023
The 4th annual Birdability Week is scheduled for October 16th-22nd! More information coming soon!
Southeast Arizona Birding Festival - Nature Expo
We hope you’ll stop by the Nature Expo in Tucson, AZ!
Photo in page header: Melanie Furr. Taken during a Georgia Audubon and Shepherd Center accessible bird outing in Atlanta, Georgia.