The third Black Birders Week is in full swing, presenting a slate of online activities, workshops and in-person events.
Whether flying solo or as part of a crowd, more Black birdwatchers are finding solace in nature observing sky-bound creatures they find divine.
The third annual Black Birders Week is in full swing, presenting a slate of online activities, workshops and in-person events. According to , Cooper recently landed a show on the National Geographic network called Extraordinary Birder that will, according to a press release, take viewers “into the wild, wonderful and unpredictable world of birds.”
While Cooper probably made a friend or two in New York, there is a chapter of Black birders in Los Angeles that, as noted by The Los Angeles Times, is celebrating this special week with events that are about more than reveling in nature but also finding real healing there.
“People don’t associate us with the outdoors. I want to break that normality and make sure every Black person can go outdoors and feel safe,” 17-year-old Jayden Samuels told The Times.
Samuels explained his birdwatching passion, describing the featured creatures as having “the coveted power of flight, the most amazing colors you could ever imagine, and they are capable of interacting with humans on a deeper level than other animals.”
“Birding makes me feel happy and almost free,” he continued, “because going into nature is already fun, but when you have a genuine purpose while out in nature, it makes it that much better.”
There are other benefits to the hobby, including the fact that it’s easily accessible and free.
“People are generally unaware because we don’t stop to look up. Going on a walk in your neighborhood can be very eye-opening — especially for new birders,” one enthusiast told The Times.
While there are many opportunities and spaces for Black birders’ enjoyment, the infamous encounter in Central Park two years ago serves as a reminder to also keep safety in mind.
“The Christian Cooper incident was a turning point for Black people in the outdoors,” says Dr. Earyn McGee, one of the original Black Birders Week organizers, who has since relocated to Los Angeles. “These are spaces where we are not expected to be. Any one of us could be a Christian Cooper.”
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