Black Birders Week 2025
Planning Team Virtual Events
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SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2025
ANNIVERSARY OF MURDER OF GEORGE FLYOD
ANNIVERSARY OF CENTRAL PARK INCIDENT WITH CHRISTIAN COOPER
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MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025
MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
6:30 PM EST
Female Bird Day & Community Building within Black Women Leadership Spaces
Speakers: Sam DeJarnett (Always Be Birdin’ Podcast) and Indigo Goodson-Fields
Hosts: Nicole Jackson
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TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025
7:00 - 8:00 PM EST
Building Community for Black Birders Community Discussion
Hosts: Danielle Belleny & Deja Perkins
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025
7:00p- 8:30pm EST
Mental Health Virtual Social
Hosts: Nicole Jackson & Jen Reid
This event is for Black-identifying persons interested in birds and nature. Zoom will not be recorded.
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THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025
TIME TBD
Cultivating Belonging in Your Yard
Hosts: Danielle Belleny & Briana Amingwa
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FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025
2:00 - 3:00 PM EST
Virtual Sensory Workshop w/ AfroFuturism Collective
Hosts: Nicole Jackson & Deja Perkins
VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON UPCOMING EVENTS
VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON UPCOMING EVENTS
May 25, 2025
Prospect Park (Lincoln Road and Ocean Parkway)
Brooklyn, NY
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Field Meridians — “Birding, Poetry and Power”
Nature is for the birds! In this community bird walk, participants will become familiar with our local "backyard birds" and migratory birds and be able to identify them with sight and sound. This walking workshop will allow us to discuss community and bird behavior across themes of migration, symbolism, and more.
Each walk will end with a moment of reflection and journaling in response to a writing prompt provided by the artist.
About Facilitator: Indigo Goodson-Fields is a poet, writer and birder based in Brooklyn. She served as a New York Birding Consultant on the For the Birds exhibition committee at Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. Indigo is featured on an episode of Always Be Birdin’ Podcast and The Brian Lehrer Show.
Contact LinYee Yuan linyee@fieldmeridians.org for more information.
May 25, 2025
Shirley Chisholm State Park
Brooklyn, NY
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Beginner Birding with NYC Bird Alliance
Join us for a hike where we will focus on tips for beginner birding! Join Giselle from NYC Bird Alliance, park educators, and other bird enthusiasts to discover the incredible birds at SCSP.
Binoculars and ID guides will be provided to borrow for the duration of the hike.
This program is free! All ages are welcome. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
We will meet at Hendrix Creek Patio, near the Penn Entrance parking lot. Please wear comfortable shoes for gravel trails, and bring enough water to stay hydrated during this outing.
LOCATION: Shirley Chisholm State Park: 1750 Granville Payne Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11239, Meeting at Hendrix Creek Patio
CONTACT: Jenna Otero - Phone: 9176481442; Email: jenna.otero@parks.ny.gov
May 25, 2025
Marsha P. Johnson State Park
Brooklyn, NY
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Feathered Friends: Meet and Greet
Meet the folks from Wildlife Center of Long Island and the birds that they care for this special demonstration in honor of Black Birders Week. This is a Drop-In program. Stop by any time, but remember the early bird gets the worm!
In collaboration with the organizations Black AF In STEM and NYC Bird Alliance, join the NYS Parks’ New York City team in celebrating Black Birders Week 2025! Let's support budding Black birders, expert Black birders, and all birders and wanna be birders in between!
All programs are FREE and materials are provided. Family friendly.
LOCATION: Marsha P. Johnson State Park, The Blue Park House near the flower gate, 90 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, New York, 11249; Cross streets – N 8th and Kent Ave
CONTACT: Emily Gaines,nycee@parks.ny.gov
Join us in celebrating Black Birders Week 2025 by getting outside, spending time with your community, and learning about the birds of the East Bay. The week-long program series is a collaboration between EBRPD Naturalist staff and EBRPD Black Employee Collective members to create safe spaces for guided discussions about Black experiences and the outdoors, while exploring and enjoying the parks of the East Bay.
Binoculars and snacks provided!
Flocking Together (May 24) with Outdoor Afro Indiana: Witness birds and connect with other birders during our gathering along the trails. Join for a guided bird outing led by community partners, enjoy birds from a bench or chair at the Trailhead, explore resources to enhance your bird knowledge, and meet fellow birders. This event celebrates Black Birder's Week and is designed to uplift Black participants, though allies are welcome to attend in a supportive role.
Sunset Stroll (May 28): Take an evening stroll with fellow nature enthusiasts and engage in insightful conversations about birds, birding, and nature. A make-your-own trail mix station and cash bar will be available for the first 45 minutes of the event. The Trails stroll will last 60-75 minutes, concluding with a sunset viewing at Hilltop Pavilion. This event celebrates Black Birder's Week and is designed to uplift Black participants, though allies are welcome to attend in a supportive role.
Community Book Discussion (May 30): Join author and photographer Dudley Edmondson for his presentation entitled “The Browning in America and its Impact on Conservation and the Outdoors” based on his 2025 book People the Planet Needs Now.
As America’s demographics evolve, so does the face of conservation and outdoor recreation. In this thought-provoking keynote address, acclaimed author, photographer, and advocate Dudley Edmondson explores the intersection of race, representation and environmental stewardship. Drawing from his compelling book, People the Planet Needs Now, Dudley shares powerful stories from 25 Black and Brown scientists and activists whose lived experiences and groundbreaking work offer new perspectives on addressing the world’s most pressing environmental social changes. Through vivid storytelling and full-color photography, Dudley will illustrate how these diverse voices are leading the charge for environmental justice and innovation – while emphasizing why the work of land trusts is essential to fostering meaningful connections to nature for all communities. By protecting the land and making it accessible, land trusts play a pivotal role in building bridges between people and the outdoors, cultivating a deeper sense of belonging, and inspiring future generations of environmental leaders. Join us for this inspiring presentation to discover how representation and inclusion in conservation can spark solutions and affect global change. Leave empowered to amplify voices, broaden outreach, and ensure that natural world becomes a space where everyone feels at home.
LOCATION: Conner Prairie Museum, 13400 Allisonvile Road, Fishers, IN 46038
CONTACT: Michelle Morton, morton@connerprairie.org
9:00 a.m.
Outdoor Afro (DMV) x Black Birders Week - Intro to Birding at Lake Roland Park
Start your Memorial Day with some morning birding at Lake Roland Park in Baltimore, MD with local wildlife biologist, Sharon Dorsey. Using our eyes, ears, and apps, we will catalog avian activity in this urban forest outside Baltimore City.
It is encouraged that participants to bring their own binoculars and to download the eBird (https://ebird.org/about/ebird-mobile/) and/or Merlin (https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/download/) phone apps prior to the trip.
NOTE: Participation is limited to 15. Registration required. RSVP via Outdoor Afro app.
The Streets is Cawing
On The Porch
Meet us on your porch or patio to see what's happening right outside your door.
More info coming soon!
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Sunset Birding with NYC Bird Alliance
Celebrate Black Birders Week at Shirley Chisholm State Park with a FREE exclusive guided hike after the park closes its gates. Join the park educators in hiking the trails and watching the sunset from the highest point in Jamaica Bay! Learn about the birds in the park, and experience the changes that happen from day to night.
Binoculars and flash lights will be available to borrow, but feel free to bring your own!
The hike will be approximately 2 miles long on gravel trails. Please wear shoes you are comfortable walking in, and bring water!
Registration is REQUIRED for this event, since it takes place after park operating hours.
This program is held after park hours on the Fountain Ave Side of the park. You cannot enter the park on the Pennsylvania Ave Side.
LOCATION: Shirley Chisholm State Park - Fountain entrance, 950 Fountain Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208
CONTACT: Ciara Scully - (929)8107080, ciara.scully@parks.ny.gov
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Anacostia Park has a rich history and culture in the Black community and remains one of the best hotspots in DC. Registration required.
LOCATION: Meeting at the Boat Ramp, 1500 Anacostia Drive, SE, Washington, DC 20020
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Kenra Shaw - Backyard Bird Haven
Kenra's back yard can be a hot spot, boasting and incredible variety of species that just keeps increasing every year. Join us in conversation with Kenra to hear all about her avian oasis and about the platform, Birding While Black, for people of color to have a safe place to share the passion for watching, feeding and photographing birds.
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sunset Pontoon Ride on the Patuxent
Join us for a quick bird walk along the boardwalks before we head out for a lovely evening on the Patuxent. Meet us at Jackson Landing Boat Ramp, past the visitor center, follow the gravel road to the bottom of the hill. Registration required.
LOCATION: 16000 Croom Airport Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Puppets at the Park: Karen Cardinal's New Neighbors
Diversity is important, even in nature! Puppets at the Park House presents "Karen Cardinal's New Neighbors!" When some migratory birds settle into Karen Cardinal’s neighborhood, she learns that our differences are what make us special. Learn what this year's BBW theme "Grounded in Community" really means!
Showings at 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm (runtime ~20min)
In collaboration with Black AF In STEM, join the NYS Parks’ New York City team in celebrating Black Birders Week 2025! Let's support budding Black birders, expert Black birders, and all birders and wanna be birders in between!
All programs are FREE and materials are provided. Registration not required. Walk-up!
LOCATION: Marsha P. Johnson State Park, The Blue Park House near the flower gate, 90 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, New York, 11249; Cross streets – N 8th and Kent Ave
CONTACT: Emily Gaines, nycee@parks.ny.gov
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Black Birders Week at the Bronx Zoo
This bird walk will happen at the Bronx Zoo on the Mitsubishi River Walk. Afterwards, WCS will provide a light breakfast at Dancing Crane Pavilion and participants are free to explore the Bronx Zoo for the remainder of the day.
Binoculars will be provided.
CONTACT: Lou Bankston (lbankston@wcs.org)
6:30 p.m. -8:00 p.m. (Optional brewery portion 8:00pm-9:00pm)
Birds & Brews!
Come bird as the sun sets behind the Manhattan skyline. After you can attend a free tour of the Brooklyn Brewery and receive a drink voucher. Learn about the connections between birds and beer, while making new connections with other Black Birders. All experience levels welcome!
In collaboration with the organizations Black AF In STEM and NYC Bird Alliance, join the NYS Parks’ New York City team in celebrating Black Birders Week 2025! Let's support budding Black birders, expert Black birders, and all birders and wanna be birders in between!
All programs are FREE and materials are provided.
LOCATION: Marsha P. Johnson State Park, The Blue Park House, 90 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, New York, 11249; Cross streets – N 8th and Kent Ave
CONTACT: Jenna Otero - (917)6481442, nycee@parks.ny.gov
MORE EVENTS WILL BE POSTED…STAY TUNED!
May 25 - 31, 2025
East Bay Regional Park District
Northern California
May 24-31, 2025
Conner Prairie
Fishers, Indiana
May 26, 2025
Lake Roland Park
Baltimore, MD
May 26, 2025
VIRTUAL
March 28, 2025
Shirley Chisholm State Park
Brooklyn, NY
March 28, 2025
Anacostia Park
Washinton, DC
March 28, 2025
VIRTUAL WEBINAR
March 29, 2025
Patuxent River
Upper Marlboro, MD
March 29, 2025
Marsha P. Johnson State Park
Brooklyn, NY
March 30, 2025
Bronx Zoo
Bronx, NY
March 30, 2025
Marsha P. Johnson State Park
Brooklyn, NY