#BlackBirdersWeek

#BlackInNature: Top birding spots

#BlackBirdersWeek2021 wraps up today, and Saturday’s theme is #BirdsOfAFeather! Black birders all over the world are invited to go birding and submit eBird checklists of the birds they see. Scroll down for virtual events.

If you’re looking for some great local places to explore, check out these favorite birding spots preferred by our friends Dexter Patterson (@wiscobirder on Instagram, he’s awesome) and Jeff Galligan (educator, photographer, naturalist, one of our amazing board members).

Photo by Dexter Patterson

Lifer Story: Western Tanager

In 2017, I had the opportunity to spend a bit of time in northern New Mexico. While there, I worked closely with a group of other BIPOC students and instructors, workshopping field research skills and techniques. That afternoon, we had pulled over on the side of a forested road and split into small groups. Today, we learned, my small group would be birding. Before this moment, birds were creatures that I admired from afar. I never dedicated myself to seeking them out. I had an image of my mind of what a birder looked like, and I didn't fit it. With doubts, my teammates and I slung binoculars around our necks, grabbed our guides, and headed into the woods.

Photo by Milcah Rimmer

Lifer Story: Escapades with a Red Knot

Lifer Story: Escapades with a Red Knot

Locating and observing a lifer has, for me, always combined the wonders of my youthful, imaginative fascination regarding birds with the actual physicality of the whole experience, from planning to conclusion. Whether from a deliberate journey, or something happenstance that occurs during a regular birding walk, there is anticipation, elation, dejection, determination and a plethora of other emotions involved every time. In order to describe a seminal lifer experience for me, I feel it important to first set the backdrop and provide a bit of historical context of what birding has meant to me. Especially during Black Birder’s Week, I believe this perspective is important to share.

Photo by Jeff Galligan

Lifer Story: My first Yellow-headed Blackbird

Hello, my name is Dexter Patterson. My birding story started about a month after the pandemic shut everything down across the country, including here in Dane County. I have always been fascinated by birds, but I never gave my curiosity the attention it warranted for anything substantial to come of it. Suddenly, I found myself outdoors a lot and taking pictures of birds I seldom ever noticed before in my neighborhood with my iPhone.

Photo by Dexter Patterson

,

Binocular Drive!

,
Binocular Drive!

Donate new or gently used binoculars, or donate funds to help buy new binoculars.

This year for #BlackBirdersWeek2021, we are supporting and celebrating budding birders in Madison. We partner with Bayview Foundation and Vera Court Neighborhood Center for our after-school and summer programming. These are outstanding community centers that support a diverse population of kids.

Our goal is to collect 20 - 30 pairs of new or gently used binoculars to donate to these community centers. If you have binoculars that need a new home, send them our way!

Madison Audubon photo