Registration is now open!

What is the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon?

A Bird-a-Thon is a birding event during which birders try to see or hear as many bird species as possible during a set period of time, in this case, a 24-hour period within two days in May (May 3-4, 2026).

The goal of the 2nd Annual Global Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon is to encourage blind and partially sighted birders of any age, experience, or location to head outdoors, tune in, and celebrate the sounds and songs that make birding such a powerful practice of connection.

Birders can identify species by sound or whatever sight is available to them, solo, in a group, or as part of a team, from any location in the world.

When and where?

Dates: Sunday and Monday, May 3–4, 2026
Timing: 12:01 a.m. to midnight local time either day

Participants may choose one of the two days that best fits their schedule and transportation options, and bird for at least two hours - all at once or spread throughout the day. You can bird in your neighborhood, backyard, local park, favorite trail, or anywhere you find birds.

A few of the community events that we are aware of across North America are listed below, in case you would like to find an event near you:

• New York State Office of Parks and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology are partnering to offer an event with multiple options at Allan H. Treman State Marine Park in Ithaca, NY from 10:00-12:00 on Sunday, May 3rd. Contact Elijah.Kruger@parks.ny.gov or find additional information here.

• Metrolina Association for the Blind in Charlotte, NC will be hosting an event on May 4th at 10:00 A.M. https://4x5d5.share.hsforms.com/2EMo2uGn8TAyoIEMrC3A2vQ

• There will be an event with Bird-a-Thon organizer Martha Steele at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA, on Sunday, May 3rd. Contact marthajs@verizon.net for more information.

• The DC Bird Alliance and Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes (MWABA) are hosting an event at Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, Maryland, on Sunday, May 3, 9AM - 11AM. Email maria-elena@dcbirdalliance.org for more information.

• Mass Audubon is hosting an event at the Boston Nature Center with Bird-a-Thon organizer Jerry Berrier. The event will begin at 9:00 AM on Sunday, May 3 and you can email jerry.berrier@gmail.com for more information.

• Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, NY will be hosting an event on May 3, 2026 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. and you can find out more by contacting Park Ranger Jonathon Green at jonathan_green@nps.gov .

• Experience a leisurely birding exploration along the 0.5-mile wheelchair accessible loop trail at Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve on May 3, 2026 10:00 am - 11:30 am. Interested in attending or learning more about accessible trail features? Please contact Michele Burnat (twitcher320@gmail.com)

• The Toronto Ornithological Club is organizing an outing in High Park on Sunday, May 3, meeting at 9:00 A.M. Contact Steve Garrett, steve.garrett@gmail.com

• Three Rivers Parks in Oseeo, MN is hosting an event at Eastman Nature Center on Sunday, May 3, from 1:00-3:00 P.M. Contact Megan Peralez at Megan.Peralez@threeriversparks.org or find more information and register here.

• Maryland School for the Blind is hosting a Little Sit and guided listening tour on May 3, 2026 from 1:00-3:00 P.M. at the MSB Campus. jenniferk@mdschblind.org for more

• Mass Audubon and Birdability are hosting a Discover Birdsong event at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, Cummaquid, MA on Monday, May 4 from 10:00-12:00 with either a stationary or guided trail opportunity. Find out more at this link and register for the event.

• An event will be held on May 3, 2026 from 9:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at Wehr Nature Center, 9701 W College Ave, Franklin, WI 53132. For more info or to register, contact holly.walz@milwaukeecountywi.gov

• There are multiple options near Dearborn, MI, for joining a group. Email Donna Posont, Birding by Ear and Beyond, at donnabutterfly50@gmail.com for more information about any of the following: 

  • 1. Michigan Environmental Interpretive Center, 4901 Evergreen Road at 8:00 A.M. on Sunday, May 3rd. in Westland, Michigan

    2. Nankin Mills, at 33175 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland, MI 48185 at 1:00 P.M. , on Sunday, May 3, 2026.

     3. New Boston, Michigan, Cross Winds Marsh 27600 Haggerdy Road 9:00 A.M. on Monday, May 4

    4. Brownstown, Michigan Lake Erie Metro Park 32481 West Jefferson 1:00 P.M on Monday,  May 4

    5. Dearborn, Michigan at the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus 4901 Evergreen Road, at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, May 4

• Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, and Aldo Leopold Nature Center are hosting BIRDING BY EAR: Learning techniques to identify birds without relying on sight on Saturday, May 2, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center and online (hybrid) format. Learn more and register here.

Who can participate?

Anyone who is blind or has low vision is warmly invited to take part. Birders may participate individually, in groups,  or as a team, and may choose to bird with or without sighted volunteers.

All are welcome,  from experienced birders to beginners just discovering their first birdsong.

How does it work?

Participants count any bird species they hear or see during their 24-hour period, which will be reported to your country’s species compiler. You may use tools such as the Merlin Bird ID app or recording devices to assist in identification. If you bird with a sighted partner, birds they identify can be counted if you also hear or see them yourself.

There is no cost to participate - this is about awareness and community building!

All participants must follow the Birding Code of Ethics (adapted below from the American Birding Association’s Code of Birding Ethics), which prioritizes the welfare of birds and respect for people, property, and place.

Blind Birder Community Conversations

In anticipation of our 2026 bird-a-thon, we are hosting a series of opportunities for learning and community-building each month. All sessions will be held on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. ET. Recordings will be available for all registrants. You don’t have to attend any of the sessions to participate, but you are welcome to attend as many as you would like.

November 18, 2025 – Mnemonics and Birding by Ear with Jerry Berrier

The video recording of the 1st Community Conversation is available at https://youtu.be/xnOaknMFuCY for those who weren’t able to join us for this session, which offered participants an introduction to birding by ear and practical tools for remembering bird sounds using mnemonics.

December 9, 2025 – Merlin Identification with Alli Smith from Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The video recording is available now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkcdrGbXrb8Merlin Bird ID app has connected over 30 million people to the world of birds with its almost magical ability to identify species by sound. This talk will cover how Merlin works behind the scenes and the vital role that birders play in building and improving it.

January 20, 2026 – Using Equipment & Apps to Record Bird Sounds with Jerry Berrier The video recording is available at https://youtu.be/xnOaknMFuCY for those who weren’t able to join us for this session.

Curious about how to capture the soundscape around you and bring those recordings home to enjoy and study later? In this session, longtime blind birder and audio enthusiast Jerry Berrier will discuss a variety of accessible tools for recording bird sounds, from simple smartphone apps to more advanced gear. We will talk about what equipment works well for blind and low vision birders, how to get started without spending a lot of money, and practical tips for organizing and sharing your recordings so that listening can deepen both your bird identification skills and your connection with the natural world.

February 3, 2026 – The Pleasures of a Bird Soundscape with John Kricher recording is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qQ0-4LZJno for anyone who is interested.

Birds are commonplace and diverse in virtually all of the world’s habitats.  They are audio-visually oriented as to how they perceive their world and audio perception is often more important than visual.  John Kricher will explain how being attuned to bird sound provides knowledge, learning, and satisfaction.‍ ‍

March 10, 2026 – Living on the Wind: How and Why Birds Migrate with Scott Widensaul is now available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0L-VgA4xWE‍ ‍

Scott will discuss how migratory birds travel extraordinary distances each year, navigating through means that seem more like science fiction than natural history, undergoing almost incomprehensible physical changes as they move across tens of thousands of miles.

April 14, 2026 – Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon Info Session

The Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon Info Session is a gathering created by and for blind and low-vision birders, as well as sighted allies, to learn about this global celebration of birds and belonging. Join us to explore how the event works, receive practical tips for accessible birding by ear, and discover resources that can help you and your community participate.

These sessions are open, informal, and designed to support both new and experienced participants. You’ll learn birding-by-ear skills, explore technology for recording and identifying sounds, and connect with a growing community of blind and low-vision birders. You can register for sessions at this link.

Prizes and celebration

All registered participants in the U.S. will be entered into a drawing for donated items. Other participating countries may hold their own drawings, and a list of other countries participating and their contact information will be made available as the event approaches.

After the event, we’ll gather virtually for a post-event celebration to share stories, celebrate results, and reflect on what we learned.

Questions?

For questions, contact Martha Steele at marthajs@verizon.net

Resources

For blind and low-vision organizations or individuals:

The Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon 2026 Event Toolkit is designed to support organizations that want to work within their organization to create opportunities for community participation in the global Bird-a-Thon. The toolkit offers clear, practical guidance on how to partner with birding organizations to plan accessible, welcoming outings - from identifying partners and choosing locations to structuring events that emphasize birding by ear and shared connection. There is also a brief case study of a partnership between the Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes (MWABA) and DC Bird Alliance for the 2025 event.

Jerry Berrier has created a tip sheet for using Merlin with Voice Over. You can find the Tip Sheet HERE.

For sighted volunteers and bird clubs:

For sighted folks or birding clubs interested in supporting the Bird-a-Thon, please check out these resources:

The Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon 2026 Event Toolkit has a section designed for bird clubs, Audubon chapters, and others interested in creating partnership with blind-serving organizations to organize and host events for the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, as well as a case study of a partnership between the Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes (MWABA) and DC Bird Alliance for the 2025 event.

Brookline, MA created a video called How to Guide a Person With Vision Loss which is a good explainer of how to offer assistance and then guide someone desiring your assistance. Produced by the Town’s Commission on Disability, along with Brookline Age-Friendly Cities TV and Brookline Interactive Group, the video is simple and offers repetition in the demonstrations to make learning and remembering easy.

In addition, you can find even more birding-specific information in this guide called Birding Field Trips for All that was created by Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, in collaboration with Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Resources for birders who are blind or have low vision:

Resources that have been compiled by the organizers and particpants: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5M3H2WrHiTyOXhZlaUB9LTjzhs5379aA is the link to the playlist of all Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon Community Conversations.

https://thomasconry.podbean.com/e/bird-watching-while-blind-join-the-movement/ podcast about Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon

Recording of "The Power of Birdsong" Birdability Webinar featuring Susan Glass and Jerry Berrier is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJjJvopF0tU&feature=youtu.be

Merlin Bird ID https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Larkwire https://www.larkwire.com/

Cornell All About Birds https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/

Accessible digital recorders https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/news/zoom-releases-the-first-handy-recorders-with-accessibility-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired/

A Birdsong Tutor and other books available on BAR - A Birdsong Tutor for Visually Handicapped Individuals: A Narrative Introduction to the Sounds Made by Common Birds, Frogs, Insects, and Mammals of Eastern United States and Canada.-Lang Elliott. 1989. Ithaca, Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology.

Birdability website page Tips and Resources for Birders who are Blind or have Low Vision https://www.birdability.org/birders-who-are-blind-or-have-low-vision

Birdability Week event by BirdNote, An Afternoon of Birdsong https://birdnote.org/explore/field-notes/2024/10/watch-afternoon-birdsong-birdnote-and-birdability

Lang Elliot's website https://musicofnature.com/

Jerry Berrier's website https://birdblind.wpcomstaging.com/

Donna Posont's program featured in Audubon Magazine https://www.audubon.org/magazine/donna-posont-helps-blind-people-become-birders-and-whatever-else-they-want-be

Michael Huben's website https://legallyblindbirding.net/

Birding By Ear webinar recording w/ Susan Glass by Nature for All at BORP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh_8Jrtq1-4

Donald Kroodsma's website https://donaldkroodsma.com/ with links to many of his books and research projects