What is Black Birders Week?

was founded in the late spring of 2020 by a passionate group of Black-identifying birders. Black Birders Week was founded under the group Black AF in STEM, which includes birders, herpers (or herpetologists), scientists, and more. From coast to coast, outdoor enthusiasts flocked to a group chat to discuss a potential week celebrating and honoring Black birders. The week was established due to the lack of representation in the outdoor space.

Many of the birders already knew each other, but others were connected through social media and then a group chat. If you hopped on Twitter or Instagram in the spring of 2020, you may have come across hashtags like #BlackInNature, #BirdingWhileBlack, and #BlackWomenWhoBird. These hashtags became the catalyst for a movement– a movement to recognize and honor Black birders.

Who are our partners?

There are BBW events across the country, including walks with Feminist Bird Club, one of the most well-known birding clubs in the U.S. The group was specifically founded around the need for more representation outdoors.

Black Birders Week has partnered with groups beyond The Feminist Bird Club. In 2020 and 2021, the Monterey Aquarium hosted a bird-watching event for Black Birders Week. The Monterey Aquarium is just one of our of many partners and supporters of Black Birders Week. Check out a list of some other organizations and businesses we’ve worked with since 2020:

• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• National Audubon Society

• Bird Collective

• BirdNote

• The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 

• Wildlife Conservation Society - BLAC