A Birding Conversation for Every Body and Every Mind
Image description: This is a screenshot of a webinar with five Zoom boxes. The moderator, three panelists, and an ASL interpreter are frozen in mid-conversation as they discuss accessible birding for mental health.
As May draws to a close, so does Mental Health Awareness Month, but the conversations we’ve had and the healing connections we’ve built are far from over. At Birdability, we marked this month with an important webinar: Accessible Birding for Mental Health. We’re thrilled to share that the full recording is now available to watch on YouTube:
🎥 Watch the conversation
This panel brought together disabled birders, mental health professionals, and advocates to explore how birding offers calm in the chaos, joy in the everyday, and connection when we need it most. Panelists shared research, personal stories, and strategies to make birding’s mental health benefits more accessible to all.
Birdability’s Executive Director Cat Fribley opened the session by sharing:
“I'm a trauma survivor. I'm somebody who received a diagnosis of PTSD early in my life and who has used birding as a tool for mental health for many years… I was really grateful to find Birdability and the work they were doing, and knew this was my home.”
Image description: Elizabeth Monje stands outdoors on a green lawn wearing a black graduation cap and gown with a white collar and red trim. She has long dark hair, red lipstick, large hoop earrings, and round black glasses. She holds a pair of binoculars in her right hand and is smiling slightly. Behind her are leafy green trees and a light-colored building with teal window panels.
Elizabeth Monje, MSW and founder of Part-Time Birds, shared insights from her recent research on birding and mental health:
“Participants shared that [birding] really did improve their mental health—specifically, depression and anxiety symptoms. Some ADHD symptoms, too. They expressed it as a way for them to really be present and grounded.”
Image description: Eric Clow, using a power wheelchair, is on a paved trail next to a canal, surrounded by grassy fields under a cloudy sky. He has short brown hair and a beard, and is smiling at the camera. He wears a white T-shirt with an abstract design, gray pants, and black shoes. A clear tray is mounted to the front of his wheelchair, and the scene has a peaceful, open feel.
Eric Clow, a Birdability Captain and writer, spoke about how birding helped reawaken his creativity and mindfulness:
“Birds really unlocked my creativity and were a ceaseless wellspring of inspiration… I had these tremendous experiences where the birds themselves seemed to say, ‘You should really be paying attention to us.’ There’s something really magical happening.”
Image description: Tammah Watts stands outdoors in front of leafy green trees, looking forward with a calm expression. She has long black and white braids and wears an olive green coat and broad-rimmed hat. She holds a pair of binoculars in both hands, ready for birding.
And Tammah Watts, LMFT and author of Keep Looking Up: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Birdwatching, reflected:
“The birds really are the catalyst for change. They're out there all the time doing what they do… They’re modeling how to live and keep going, and when I quiet myself and tune in, I remember I can do that, too.”
The conversation reminded us that birding isn’t just a hobby, but can act as a lifeline. A sensory bridge to the present moment. A tool for healing, connection, and joy.
Image description: A logo from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on the left with a red, orange, and yellow graphic and the words ”Today’s Care, Tomorrow’s Cure” and a logo from Birdability on the right that has an illustrated White-breasted Nuthatch perched on the B of the name.
We’re especially grateful to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for sponsoring this event and for their commitment to creating access to the outdoors for people living with paralysis through the National Paralysis Resource Center and their Outdoors for Everyone campaign.
We hope you’ll take time to revisit this powerful conversation and share it with others:
Accessible Birding for Mental Health Webinar
If Birdability’s work resonates with you, please consider donating. Your support helps us continue building a world where birding is accessible, inclusive, and joyful for every body and every mind.
