Birdwatching is a fun hobby that everyone can enjoy. Being in nature with people who share your interests can be very fulfilling. However, not everyone has equal access to these experiences, especially those with disabilities or chronic illnesses. While people with disabilities may not be able to explore trails without help, we should be wary of assuming that they are not interested in experiencing the joys of nature, and that they do not care deeply about the wellbeing of the environment. 

Virginia Rose, disability rights advocate and founder of the non-profit Birdability, who has been a wheelchair user for over forty years knows how challenging it can be to enjoy nature as a disabled person. But her use of a mobility aid did not diminish her curiosity about the world around her. As she inspiringly shared, “the only thing that I felt really changed was that I had to manage getting around in a wheelchair.”

It is this desire to explore and connect with the world that has fueled her dedication to  increasing access to nature for people of all abilities and helping them find community.  Inspired by movements like #BlackBirdersWeek, Latino Conservation Week, and Let’s Go Birding Together, Virginia founded Birdability in 2020. Birdability’s vision is that birding is for everyone — including those with disabilities and other health concerns. We at BirdsCaribbean wholeheartedly support this vision. Over 1 million people in the Caribbean are living with some form of disability and face daily discrimination and exclusion. 

But our partners in Antigua and Barbuda, the Dominican Republic,  Puerto Rico, Cuba and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are exploring ways to make their birding events more welcoming and inclusive.  For this year’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, our partners at  the University of Havana Bird Ecology Group (UHBEG) visited the Solidarity with Panama school for disabled children to give a talk on the endemic birds of Cuba. They were then taken to the National Botanical Garden for a short birdwatching tour and ended the day painting, building puzzles, and playing bird-themed dominoes. Alieny González Alfonso, member of UHBEG and event organizer,  beautifully captured the curious spirit of the students, noting, “They participated in many activities with such enthusiasm and eagerness to learn about Cuba’s birds.”

We would love to see more of these events taking place throughout the region, whether it’s allowing visually impaired participants to “see” birds by handling carved wooden birds, as done by Sociedad Ornitólogica Puertorriqueña, or learning to ID birds using bird songs, as done by Simón Guerrero. 

Simón Guerrero was a founding member of the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds. An engaging teacher and speaker with a great sense of humor, he influenced many to become fans and defenders of nature for many decades.

University of Havana Bird Ecology Group brought the wonders of birds and birdwatching to differently abled students. (Photo by University of Havana Bird Ecology Group)

A member of the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Persons with Disabilities birdwatching with staff from the Environmental Awareness Group. (Photo by Sherrel Charles)

Birdability Week (21st-27th October 2024) offers the opportunity for birding groups, non-governmental organizations, and groups of family and friends to host an accessible bird outing. With some thoughtful planning this event asserts that birding can be enjoyable for every body. 

Birdability also has a week of virtual events and activities planned. Check their events page for more information and follow them on Instagram and Facebook @birdability.  

Birdability focuses on people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and those who are neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing, or have other health concerns. So if you are looking for Information and resources to help your organization be more mindful and inclusive of these birders please check Birdability’s their website!

Watch the Birds or Follow the Birdsong — Birding is for ALL

Here are some steps to implement accessible and inclusive birding. Additionally, you will need to take into account access considerations for birding locations such as making sure that trails are safe for those in wheelchairs and interpretive signs are a good height for everyone. Adaptive birding equipment for birders who are blind or have low vision, rely on wheelchairs to move about, need to rest often, or experience other disabilities can truly enhance the experience for them. 

Estos recursos también están disponibles en español.

Help Put Accessible Birding Locations in the Caribbean on the Map!

There is also a Birdability Site Map which allows you to search for potential accessible sites near you. The majority of the locations are in North America and a few have been identified in Central America and South America. If you know of accessible birding locations on your island we encourage you to complete on-site, in-person Birdability Site Reviews and add them to the Birdability Map. 

Attend a Virtual Event and Connect with Differently Abled Birders

There are a number of virtual events already scheduled — from panel discussions about making organizations inclusive to nature journaling and social meetings for Birdability Week 2024. You can register for one or all of the events via this Google form.

There are lots of exciting and interesting events already planned for Birdability Week 2024. (Graphics designed by Birdability)