Frequently Asked Questions

What do you mean by ‘accessibility challenges’?

In terms of Birdability, accessibility challenges describe the difficulties someone experiences interacting with the physical or social environment when engaging in a meaningful activity such as birding. These may be the result of mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, intellectual or developmental disabilities (including autism), mental illness, being Deaf or Hard of Hearing or other health concerns.

It’s worth noting that this is not the only kind of accessibility challenge that birders, or potential future birders, may encounter. People may face accessibility challenges when trying to go birding for other reasons, such as racism in the outdoors or as a result of economic barriers. Birdability condemns racism and homophobia, and we want to help break these barriers down too! However, Birdability is particularly focused on health and wellness-related accessibility. 

I want to hold an accessible bird outing. How do I go about doing so?

Fantastic! We're so excited to have you on board! 

Please start by reading our Access Considerations for Accessible Birding Locations and Steps to Implement pages. There is guidance on inclusive, appropriate language to use during your outing and in your write up of the event, as well as lots of great suggestions for holding accessible bird outings in the Birdability Week 2020 panel discussion and webinar.

Our aim is that accessible bird outings are incorporated into every bird club and Audubon chapters’ regular programming, and we are especially looking forward to Birdability Week 2021 (and the whole month of October!) celebrating the accessible bird outings across the country!

Please contact us if you’re planning an accessible bird outing – online or in-person – so we can include you on our Events page and celebrate your commitment to inclusivity!

Can I call my accessible bird outing a “Birdability outing” or my birding group a “Birdability group”?

Birdability is a registered trademark and the name of our nonprofit organization. Our volunteer Birdability Captains represent our work at the local level and may hold ‘Birdability’ events or outings. If you aren’t currently a Captain but would like to state that your group or outing has been inspired by the work of Birdability that would be lovely; if you do, please include a link to this website for interested people to learn more.

How can I support your work?

Starting a nonprofit costs money. So does keeping it running! Please consider donating to support our work if you can.

Birdability is entirely volunteer-run and we are always on the lookout for sponsors who can provide grants, ongoing funding or in-kind donations (such as birding-related products or services like grant writing and promotion). We are in need of financial sponsorships to continue our work, and welcome invitations to collaborate on fundraising opportunities. Please contact us if you are able to help us with this.

There are lots of ways to support Birdability that don’t cost any money and we are certainly grateful for your help!

  • Learn more about accessibility challenges and how they affect birders by exploring this website.

  • Add accessible birding sites to the Birdability Map. This only takes about five minutes, and we hope you’ll consider this a necessary task once you’re home from your bird outing…. just like submitting an eBird checklist!

  • Encourage your bird club or Audubon chapter to hold accessible bird outings regularly. This website is a wealth of knowledge to get you started on how to do this. Start by learning about Access Considerations for Birding Locations.

  • Participate in and share about Birdability Week every October.

How can I get involved or stay in touch with Birdability?

We’re so excited to have you join this movement! Here are some ways to keep up with Birdability and stay in the loop: 

  • Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to learn more and keep up to date.

  • Sign up for our monthly newsletter, full of information on upcoming events, Birdability successes, and new resources for birders who experience accessibility challenges and for birders who want to be inclusive and welcoming.

  • Join our Birdability Facebook Group to network and share resources with National Audubon’s Birdability Affinity Group and other birders interested in Birdability.

  • Become a Birdability Captain! Learn more under the Who We Are page.

Photo in page header: Roniq Bartenan of Shebirds. Taken in Lincoln Park, Seattle, Washington state.