By Jerry Berrier | From BayLines Express, March, 2025
A couple of months ago, Martha Steele, an expert blind birder from Massachusetts, approached me and asked if I might be interested in collaborating with her on planning a bird-a-thon for birders who are blind. We then reached out to Donna Posont, a blind birder from Michigan, and she agreed to join us.
Next I contacted my friend Cat Fribley, Executive Director of Birdability, and we became a team of four. (Through education, outreach and advocacy, Birdability works to ensure the birding community and the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible for everybody.)
On May 18, we will hold the first-ever blind birder bird-a-thon. We have high hopes that it will become an annual event.
No experience is needed, and you can participate from your own backyard, a porch, a park, or anywhere else where birds can be heard and seen. We will tell you how.
For all of the details, and to register, please visit https://www.birdability.org and find a link to the Blind Birder Bird-a-thon.
There is a list of questions and answers that will help you understand all about this unique opportunity.
By the way, after the event, we will schedule a Zoom social to get your feedback about the bird-a-thon, and to hold a random drawing for several very nice prizes.
Please spread the word, and Happy birding!