On May 25, 2020, Christian Cooper – a Black man – was birding in Central Park when he encountered a white woman with her dog in the Ramble and politely asked her to put her dog on a leash so as not to disturb nesting birds. In response, the woman called 911 and asserted that a Black man was threatening her and her dog.
The video of this encounter went viral, making national news and demonstrating the challenges Black people face when engaging in outdoor activities. The incident, and others like it, led to the creation of Black Birders Week. The week itself aims to celebrate and uplift budding Black birders, expert Black birders, and all birders in between.
Each year, New York State Parks’ New York City region collaborates with partners BlackAFinSTEM, NYC Audubon, Latino Outdoors, Feminist Bird Club, and Outdoor Afro to convene Black Birders Week events, in 2024 from May 26th through June 1st.
Together, these organizations have created a birding network of support for historically marginalized people in communities that call the diverse and populated New York City metropolis home.
Black Birders Week is just one example of how an injustice can inspire a community of people to come together to advocate and inspire change. It’s estimated that some 100 million Americans spend time watching birds.
Each year Black Birders Week events are scheduled at three New York City parks named after historic Black and Afro-Caribbean leaders: Marsha P. Johnson State Park, Shirley Chisholm State Park and Roberto Clemente State Park.
Although not an official Black Birders Week event, in the Great Adirondack Birding Celebration is now underway (until June 1st). The event is designed to introduce birders of all ages and skill levels to the unique boreal bird species and habitats in the Adirondack Park.
New to birding? Check out these tips for new birders.
Want to read more? New York Almanack posts regularly about birds and birding here.
Photo: Birders Christian Cooper and CBS reporter Nancy Giles watching birds in the Ramble in Central Park (CBS Sunday Morning video screenshot).
