Birding by Ear (and Building Community) at the First Ever Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon
Image description: a group of people walks together along a paved path in a lush, green park. Several individuals at the front of the group are using white canes. Some people are smiling and conversing as they walk. Most wear casual clothing and hats for sun protection, and many carry backpacks. Trees and grass surround them, with more people visible in the background, at this event on Sunday, May 18th, for the first national blind birder bird-a-thon at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton. (Photos by Robb Hill/For The Washington Post)
On May 18, 2025, more than 200 birders, all of them legally blind, stepped outside or found an open window and tuned in. They were listening for birds. They were also listening for connection, joy, and community. Together, they participated in the first ever Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, an event envisioned and led by blind birders Jerry Berrier, Donna Posont, and Martha Steele in partnership with Birdability.
With participants from 34 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Venezuela, the event represented something never before done. It was a national (and even international) moment where blind and low-vision birders took center stage and celebrated the powerful ways they bird, often by ear.
This event was about counting birds, and it was also about creating space for disabled-led joy, community, and skill-sharing. As one participant wrote, “Thank you for allowing me the privilege of being a part of this incredible event. I hope you do it again next year.”
Singing in the Rain
Pam Durant, who participated with her guide dog Dancer and a friend, captured the heart of the experience in her vivid and moving field notes, titled Singing in the Rain:
“Do I really want to go walking in the rain just to hear more birds than I can discover from my front deck? Ok… it's the very first time blind birders will go forth in a national and unified way to explore the world of birding together. So yes, I will put forth the effort…”
Pam’s day included Merlin app discoveries, soaked shoes, the rich voices of Marsh Wrens and Winter Wrens, and even a startled guide dog moment thanks to a curious leopard frog. “All in all,” she reflected, “it has been a fruitful day hearing 32 bird species singing in the rain.”
Image description: a photo of a Winter Wren perched on a branch, with twigs silhouetted behind it. Photo by Jan Meeus, courtesy of Unsplash.
Birding Alone, Together
Others birded in their backyards, local parks, or through virtual connections. Cathy Flesher coordinated a chat group with three other blind friends birding in Virginia, Connecticut, Vermont, and Ohio, sharing real-time updates on their discoveries.
“It was fun sharing and learning how my friends were hearing different birds than I was… Birdability’s Blind Bird-a-Thon day gave me the opportunity to brush up on my bird songs and calls and learn some new ones.”
For Kim Shoffner, sitting outside and listening quietly was its own kind of joy:
“This was a very calming and joyful activity.”
And for Tim Potter, the Bird-a-Thon became a milestone in both birding and independence:
“ I had moved to the neighborhood where my apartment is located back in November of 2024… I have had mobility and orientation training to walk safely in the area. Until today, I had been taking walks in the safe area with my instructor from Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB). Today, I attempted the route that we have been taking by myself. Not only did I accomplish that, but I heard a few birds. I heard a Crow, Blue Jay, a House Sparrow, and a Cardinal on my walk. Later today, I will spend my other hour block of time either taking the same walk or just sitting outside. I think this is a great event!”
Image description: four people are gathered outdoors on a grassy area near a paved path and picnic table in a wooded park. One person in the foreground is taking a selfie and smiling at the camera. Two individuals are standing with guide dogs, and one person is using a manual wheelchair and wearing a Birdability T-shirt. The group appears happy and relaxed, enjoying time together and birding for the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon on May 18, 2025 in Austin, TX. Trees and green foliage fill the background. Image courtesy of Virginia Rose
Seeing Through Sound
Sighted birders also showed up, not to lead, but to support. Elizabeth Lamb served as a guide for her friend Carla, a legally blind birder. In her reflection, Seeing Through Sound , Elizabeth wrote:
“Describing in words what I’m hearing, translating the soundscape into language, forces me to listen more carefully and process more deeply… To guide is to see the world in a fuller way, not just through sight, but through sound, sensation, and shared presence.”
Others echoed that theme of mutual learning. One participant shared how the Bird-a-Thon reconnected them with birding:
“I had birded several years ago with a sighted friend… I let it go there for a while, but now I’m always listening to birds.”
Showing Up, Rain or Shine
Many birders braved challenging weather. One group explored Erie State Park in the rain and discovered that the accessible disc golf course paths led them straight into a migration hotspot:
“We wouldn’t have gone out of our cabin if it wasn’t for the Bird-a-Thon… all the migratory warblers were singing and talking… It was the most amazing experience.”
Alexandra Wang and the PossABILITIES Club Alumni Association hosted a group outing in Fort Tryon Park a day early to accommodate participants with a range of disabilities. Their flexibility was part of the larger spirit of inclusion that ran through the event nationwide.
Image description: the PossABILITIES Club Alumni Association and Alexandra Wang hosted a bird-a-thon in Fort Tryon Park, NYC for the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon. Here a group of nine people poses for a photo on a sunny day in a lush garden in the park area. Eight individuals are standing in a row on a paved path, and one person is kneeling in front holding a red plush bird and wearing binoculars around their neck. The group includes people of different ages and appearances, with one child among the adults. Behind them is a beautifully maintained landscape of green foliage, flowering plants, and a large shady tree.
What We Learned and What Comes Next
From Vermont to Venezuela, this Bird-a-Thon brought awareness of blind birders and affirmed what many of us already know. Birding by ear is not only a valid and important way to bird, it is also powerful, joyful, and full of wonder. This event also introduced so many legally blind folks to birding, which will hopefully become a daily joy!
As one participant said during the post-event Zoom celebration:
“Thank you guys for putting this on. I've learned so much... But just by being more conscious about birding and what I could do, I've already done so much more with all of our birds out here in the Rockies.”
This was not just an event. It was a movement. And it has only just begun!
Image description: with her guide dog, a yellow lab named Igloo, Tracy Carcione participates in the first-ever Blind Birders Bird-a-Thon. She uses an interpoint slate and stylus to record in Braille the species she hears near her home in Teaneck, New Jersey. She is wearing a hat and jeans and is smiling on a trail with a tree beside her and Igloo. Photo: Sydney Walsh/Audubon
We are already planning next year’s Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, guided again by the leadership of blind birders and the shared vision that everyone deserves access to the joy of birding. Next year will be even better, with our planning able to apply the learnings and generous feedback from participants during this initial pilot year.
There were multiple requests for ongoing opportunities to stay connected between the (hopefully now annual) Bird-a-Thons, so the planning committee has created a listserv for any legally blind birders and will also be offering regular opportunities to gather via Zoom for learning about birds and birding and continuing to build this community. For more information, you can sign up for the listserv by emailing blindbirders+subscribe@groups.io.
Thank you to everyone who birded, supported, listened, and shared. You helped us remember that access is about more than ramps and apps. It is about community, creativity, and making space for every way of being in the (birding) world. And sometimes, it is about standing in the rain and letting the Winter Wren sing just for you.
To check out some of the amazing press coverage of the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, visit the following links:
WGBH article https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2025-06-06/for-blind-and-low-vision-nature-lovers-birding-is-by-ear
Audubon Magazine https://www.audubon.org/magazine/first-its-kind-event-helps-blind-birders-build-community
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/05/21/blind-birders-bird-a-thon-brookside-gardens/
