Campaign for diversity in birding, conservation, and the natural sciences
Black Birders Week
Type
Environmental
Significance
Increase the visibility of Black birders
Ends
First week of June
Date
Last week of May
Duration
1 week
Frequency
Annual
Black Birders Week is a week-long series of online events to highlight blacknature enthusiasts and to increase the visibility of blackbirders, who face unique challenges and dangers when they are engaged in outdoor activities.[1] The event was created as a response to theCentral Park birdwatching incident andpolice brutality against Black Americans. The inaugural event ran from May 31 to June 5, 2020. The week of events was organized by a group ofSTEM professionals and students known as the BlackAFinSTEM Collective.[2]
Black Birders Week was announced onTwitter on May 29, 2020.[3][1] The initiative was prompted in part by the murders of African Americans such asAhmaud Arbery,Breonna Taylor, andGeorge Floyd, and by theCentral Park birdwatching incident in which a white dog walker called the police over the actions of a black birder who she considered to be "threatening" her.[4][5][6] According to co-founderAnna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, the goal of the initiative is "normalizing the fact that Black people exist in the birding and natural sciences community".[7] Black people have historically been excluded from academic and professional spaces and lack visibility and representation in the natural sciences community and among birders in particular.[7][8]
The first event series ran in 2020 from May 31 to June 5 using the #BlackBirdersWeekhashtag on Twitter andInstagram. Through these events and others, the series highlighted research carried out by Black birders, the happiness they find in nature, the racism experienced, and the importance of inclusivity in the outdoors.[17] Furthermore, the series drew attention to several Black birders and naturalists, includingBirds of North America's host Jason Ward, wildlife biologistJ. Drew Lanham, wildlife conservationist Corina Newsome,National Audubon Society's government affairs coordinator Tykee James, and herpetologistEaryn McGee.[18][19] The series was endorsed and promoted by advocacy groups, conservation organizations, and government agencies including: the National Audubon Society,[20] theAmerican Birding Association,[21] theAmerican Bird Conservancy,[22][23] the USNational Park Service,[24] and theEcological Society of America.[25] Additionally, it garnered attention from various science and mainstream media outlets.
In 2022, Black Birders Week was continued. The Smithsonian Institution hosted several programs to support the week's effort to increasing representation in bird watching communities.[29] TheNational Museum of Natural History hosted a panel withChelsea Connor, Lynette Strickland and Amelia-Juliette Demery with opening remarks byDara M. Wilson.[29]
Both institutions continued holding Black Birders Week events in 2023.[30] In New Hampshire, for example, the event continued previous years' focuses on nature awareness, accessibility, and equity.[31] Events continued in 2024.[32]
In response to the 2020 series, theNational Wildlife Federation planned to dedicate part of their Conservation Fellowship and Intern Programs[33] to young biologists of color.[34] The organisers intend to continue the series in future years.[4] The event also inspired other similar week-long events celebrating Black people in various STEM fields,#BlackInAstro week, #BlackBotanistsWeek,#BlackInNeuro, and#BlackInChem.[35][36]
