This week’s challenge for new birders: try going with a group for an outing, or go birding with at least one new person.
Let us know how it goes comment here. And if you’re already part of a bird community, tell us about it. Have you met friends – or even your partner – through birding? What’s in it for you? We’ll share participant highlights in a future post.
In early 2020, as Black Lives Matter protests were taking place worldwide and the pandemic was beginning to unfold, Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera founded Flock Together, a group for bird watchers of color in Britain.
“I go to these remote towns where there are no people of color, where there is no diversity,” Olanipekun, 38, said. “On your own, those looks you get feel like daggers.” Numbers gave a sense of security.
Since then, Flock Together has expanded its range to include walks in New York and Toronto; the group is most active in London and Tokyo. Thousands of people around the world have now joined Flock Together. Halfway through a typical walk, participants sometimes share poetry or other reflections. “It’s the perfect balance between nature nerds and creative minds,” said Mr. Perera.
In 2020, 26-year-old Hannah Kirshenbaum helped found a Brooklyn-based group called NYC Queer Birders primarily for LGBTQ bird lovers. This was just before the pandemic hit; Mrs. Kirshenbaum had developed an interest in birdwatching, but as an odd person she was not always at home with traditional birding groups. “We didn’t really see our specific demographic there,” they said.
The group has grown in popularity; the walks, which were initially only attended by a few people, now regularly attract 50 to 100 people. The draw is social as well as to nature. “We hope people make friends — or lovers,” Ms. Kirshenbaum said.
Here are some tips for finding a group that’s right for you. Start close to home: Check the schedule at nearby parks or nature reserves, where events may already be taking place, Mr. Olanipekun said. “Many people don’t understand the incredible programming that takes place in local parks,” he said.
As part of The Times’ Summer Birding Project, BirdLife International and some chapters of the Audubon Society organized special outings from July 28 to 30. See below for more details.
Mr Olanipekun said aspiring birdwatchers should not let a lack of knowledge hold them back. “The barrier to entry for birdwatching is super, super, super low,” he said.
Ms. Kirshenbaum recommended scouring social media for events. “I’d just type ‘queer birding’ on Instagram, and I bet your city has something,” they said. “And if not, then you should start.”
