Uplift and Amplify.
Exploring nature through our lens.
Black Birders Week 2024 is coming!!!!
Be sure to Mark Your Calendars!
May 26 - June 1, 2024
Check out our official announcement of
Black Birder Week 2024 including a Press Statement introducing this year’s Themes, Hashtags, and Graphics.
Get Involved
We work together to promote and educate about the significance of birding among the Black community. You can support us in our mission by becoming a Black Birders Week partner or sponsor, providing raffle giveaways, supplying resources such as tutorials and coloring pages, participating in Black Birders Week activities, or simply spreading the word. If you are still interested in getting involved, find out how you can contribute and join us in achieving our mission!
🔍Looking for #BlackBirdersWeek Panelists & Moderators🔍
Are you a passionate Black birder with stories to share? We're excited to announce a virtual panel discussion during #BlackBirdersWeek, where we'll dive into the experiences and perspectives of Black birders.
Theme: "Birding While Black" - Sharing Your Experiences as a Black Birder
Dates: Tuesday, May 28th AND/OR Friday, May 31st [5-6pm ET]
We're looking for panelists to share their stories, insights, and challenges faced while birding as well as moderators to help guide the conversation. Whether you're a seasoned birder or just starting, your voice is important!
Interested in joining us or know someone who might be a great fit? Comment below or tag them! Let's amplify Black voices in birding together. 🦜✨
✨DEADLINE✨
FILL OUT FORM by 1pm ET, Sunday, May 12th (FORM LINK IN BIO).
#BlackBirders #BlackBirdersWeek #BirdingWhileBlack #DiverseBirders #BlackNatureLovers #BirdWatching
Want us to share your #BlackBirdersWeek event?
Do you have an exciting birding event coming up that you'd like to share with our community? Whether it's a guided birding walk, a virtual birding event, or a local birding club meeting, we want to hear about it!
We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the birding community. As part of this commitment, we are prioritizing events organized by Black organizations, groups, or individuals. If you identify as Black and are hosting a birding event, please let us know so we can support you!
Deadline to submit form: May 20, 2024 (LINK IN BIO; also on our website).
Happy May 1st! #DYK? May is also Mental Health Awareness Month!
To our Black birding and naturalist community, this month is a reminder to prioritize your mental well-being. Birding is not just a hobby; it's a form of therapy that connects us to nature's beauty and and helps us find peace amidst life's challenges. Take time this month to care for your mental health. Whether it's through birdwatching, mindfulness, or seeking support, your well-being matters. Let's break the stigma and open up conversations about mental health.
Together, we can soar higher and support each other in our birding journeys. 💚 #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #BlackBirders #BirdingForMentalHealth
Happy May 1st! #DYK? May is also Mental Health Awareness Month!
To our Black birding and naturalist community, this month is a reminder to prioritize your mental well-being. Birding is not just a hobby; it's a form of therapy that connects us to nature's beauty and and helps us find peace amidst life's challenges. Take time this month to care for your mental health. Whether it's through birdwatching, mindfulness, or seeking support, your well-being matters. Let's break the stigma and open up conversations about mental health.
Together, we can soar higher and support each other in our birding journeys. 💚 #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #BlackBirders #BirdingForMentalHealth
Check out our list of 5 Ways Nature and Birds Improve Your Mental Health
1. Stress Reduction
2. Mood Enhancement
3. Mindfulness & Relaxation
4. Physical Activity
5. Connection to the Environment
Have something to add? Share your thoughts in the comments.
How do you plan to celebrate #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth?
Have you been out birding yet today? Well, if you haven't, there's a reason you should definitely go...it's #NationalGoBirdingDay 🐦🦆🥳
The holiday is for celebrating the wonderful ways of our feathery friends, the birds. Earth is home to nearly 10,000 different bird species, with the chicken being the most common. Two-thirds of all bird species reside in rainforests and are seen throughout the year. There are specific times during the year when more of them are seen.
INTERESTING FACTS (www.nationaltoday.com):
➡️Ability to mimic humans
Some birds, such as parrots and ravens, can mimic human speech.
➡️The largest mammal eyes
Ostriches have the largest pair of eyes of a mammal.
➡️Birds migrate
Depending on the time of year, birds move in search of food and shelter.
➡️Sleep with one eye open
Some ducks sleep with one eye open to keep guard when they nap in groups.
➡️Nearly 10,000 species
There are 9,600 bird species in the world, with over 2,000 in North America.
Share what birds you're seeing or hearing with us in the comments.
#DYK today is #InternationalCrowandRavenAppreciationDay!
This day celebrates two of the most intelligent and often misunderstood birds in the avian world: crows and ravens. Observed annually, this day aims to shed light on the fascinating characteristics of these birds and to promote their conservation.
So how are Crows and Ravens different?
CROWS:
➡️SIZE & BUILD: closer to size of pigeons
➡️TAIL: have a shorter, rounded tail
➡️BEAK: typically features a pointed, conical structure that tapers to a sharp tip; The length and curvature of the beak may vary among individuals and species, allowing for adaptation to different ecological niches.
➡️VOCALIZATIONS & BEHAVIOR: does higher-pitched, more repetitive cawing; less likely to do aerial acrobatics like the raven; often seen in larger groups or ‘murders’, particularly in urban areas.
RAVENS:
➡️SIZE & BUILD: larger and heftier than crows, with a more robust, muscular appearance. A typical raven is about the size of a Red-tailed Hawk.
➡️TAIL: longer, wedge-shaped tail that appears diamond-like in flight
➡️BEAK: large, stout, and sharply pointed
➡️VOCALIZATIONS & BEHAVIOR: deep, resonant croaking sound; often perform aerial acrobatics, such as somersaults and rolls; more solitary or found in pairs.
Share your what you love about Crows and Ravens in the comments.
#Crows #Ravens #Corvids #AppreciationDay
🌟NEW ANNOUNCEMENT🌟
This year's #BlackBirdersWeek Bird Theme is...the Corvid family!!! The Corvid family, or Corvidae, includes more than 120 species including crows, ravens, jays, magpies, jackdaws, nutcrackers, treepies, rooks, and choughs.
Out of the more than 120 species of Corvids, we are highlighting the Blue Jay, the American Crow, and the Black-billed Magpie. These three species were chosen due to their intelligence and widespread range across the US. Blue Jays, American Crows, and Black-billed Magpies can be found in natural open fields, oak forests, and meadows, but they can also be found in more developed habitats (urban and suburban areas).
These birds are communal, meaning they are social and can be found in flocks, have tight family bonds, or mate for life. These birds are also known to be brave enough to face hawks and large predators by participating in “mob” behavior or dive-bombing hawks and other large predators. Blue Jays, American Crows, and Black-billed Magpies are intelligent species that are known for their ability to use survival strategies like storing food or using tools for foraging and food access. All of this year’s species are of low conservation concern.
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) - This common, large songbird is familiar to many people, with its perky crest; blue, white, and black plumage; and noisy calls.
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) - are familiar over much of the continent: large, intelligent, all-black birds with hoarse, cawing voices.
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) - are familiar and entertaining birds of western North America. Their white wing patches flashing and their very long tails trailing behind them.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT CORVIDS? SHARE IN THE COMMENTS.
#BlackBirdersWeek #CorvidFamily #BlueJay #AmericanCrow #BlackbilledMagpie
ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
Exciting News!!! Fiscal Sponsor for Black Birders Week announced and it’s Amplify the Future, @birdersfund 🥳
Amplify the Future is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in outdoor spaces with scholarships and outdoor education programs.
This partnership will enable us to accept tax-deductible donations to organize more events, create educational programs, and offer opportunities for Black birders and naturalists to connect with nature and each other. With the backing of our fiscal sponsor, we are excited to continue growing and making a positive difference in the outdoor community.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Amplify the Future. for their generous support and belief in our cause. Together, we will continue to celebrate diversity and create a more inclusive environment for all who enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.
Join us in celebrating this exciting news and stay tuned for updates on upcoming events and initiatives for Black Birders Week!
DON’T FORGET TO DONATE! LINK IN BIO.
🌍 Happy Earth Day from The Black AF in STEM Collective ! 🌿 Let's celebrate the beauty of our planet and the diverse bird species that call it home. As we enjoy nature, let's also commit to protecting it and promoting environmental justice for all. Together, we can make a difference!
#EarthDay #BlackBirdersWeek #EnvironmentalJustice