Birding by Ear is a wonderful way to experience birds without relying on sight! Join volunteers and staff affiliated with the Birding by Ear class, Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance for this great opportunity to advance your leadership skills.
Kerry Wilcox will provide expertise on birds, and Council staff will provide expertise on accessibility. Join us to learn more about leading accessible bird outings!
Participants of this field trip will not learn bird songs or how to bird by ear; rather the focus will be on how to lead field trips to make them more accessible to individuals with vision loss. This is a great opportunity for people who currently lead nature outings or would like to in the future!
We will explore the beautiful and dynamic landscape of Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Paths there are mowed grass and crushed gravel, and wide for individuals using mobility devices.
Prior to the field trip, participants are asked to read the Bird-focused Field Trips for All: Recommendations for maximizing inclusiveness and accessibility outdoors document, set of guidelines put together by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired to help field trip leaders feel confident in serving all attendees and delivering the most accessible experience possible.
WHEELCHAIR USE: Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon) has one electric-powered wheelchair available for anyone to use for free. You can learn more about it here, and request it in the form when you register.
Or, if you want to use a more rugged, all-terrain, outdoor wheelchair for this field trip, Access Ability Wisconsin offers them for free! To reserve a chair and trailer, visit their website.
Questions? Contact Brenna Marsicek, bmarsicek@swibirds.org or 608-255-2473
FIELD TRIP LEADERS:
Kerry Wilcox (volunteer who teaches Birding by Ear)
Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired staff members: Denise Jess, Brent Perzentka, and Kathleen Callen
Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance staff member Kaitlin Svabek
Aldo Leopold Nature Center staff member Sarah Voss
ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES:
Wheelchair accessible
Trail grade and #/type of trail impediments are ok for those with difficulty walking or wearing children in packs
Field trip leader is adept at birding by ear and can accommodate those with visual impairments
APPROXIMATE DISTANCE: 1-3 miles
RAIN DATE:
RSVP REQUIRED? Yes, participation is limited to 25 people.
Cover photo: Kerry Wilcox leads a small group of Birding by Ear participants through Pheasant Branch Conservancy during an outing in 2019. Photo by Brenna Marsicek / SoWBA
