Read
Publications and Accessible Trail Guidelines
Mass Audubon All Persons Trails Manual Downloadable PDF (73 pages) published by Mass Audubon in 2016 detailing the processes behind creating their All Persons Trails, which are currently available at twelve wildlife sanctuaries across Massachusetts. Fantastic resource for trail builders, nature centers, parks and more who are interested in creating inclusive and accessible trails.
Guidelines for Providing Trail Information to People with Disabilities. A downloadable PDF (81 pages) published by Access Recreation, explaining each piece of information about a trail that can be valuable for someone with a disability. The aim is that this information will be made available on the venue’s website, so folks can make their own decisions ahead of time before visiting. Includes advice about disability etiquette on pages 23-26.
Boulder OSMP Accessible Trails & Sites: Downloadable PDF (39 pages) published in 2015; authored by Topher Downham, a wheelchair user and staff member of Boulder OSMP, reviewing 30 accessible Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks sites. Includes information on the gradient, cross slope, surface material, width, rest areas/benches and shade coverage, as well as photos and information on the natural history of the location.
Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG) Pocket Version published in 2015 details the technical requirements and legally enforceable standards for accessible trails and features in the US Forest Service system.
Books
Ornitherapy: For your mind, body and soul. Written by Holly Merker, Richard Crossley and Sophie Crossley, 2021.
Parking lot birding: A fun guide to discovering birds in Texas. Written by Jennifer L. Bristol; published by Texas A&M University Press, 2020.
Finding easy walks wherever you are. Written by Marjorie Turner Hollman, 2020.
Easy walks in Massachusetts (2nd edition; 2016) and More easy walks in Massachusetts (2nd edition; 2020). Both written by Marjorie Turner Hollman.
Articles
Please note: if you’d like to read about Birdability founder Virginia Rose and articles covering Birdability as an initiative and then an organization, please check out our Press and Publicity page.
Making inclusive and equitable access to nature real: an interview with Meghadeep Maity and Mass Audubon, August 2021.
Accessible birding for every body. Blog post on the Golden Gate Audubon Society’s website by Chris Okon, who has multiple sclerosis, April 2021.
Accessibility trail blazers: Meet the women ensuring access to nature for everyone. Article about Georgena Moran and Sharon Mitchell of Access Recreation, written by Dana Bivens, US Fish and Wildlife Service, March 2021.
A Pandemic, a Cancer Diagnosis, and a Year List Like No Other. Article by Rebecca Heisman, National Audubon magazine, December 2020.
Ptasiarstwo bez barier/Birding without Barriers: Article in the Polish veterinary magazine Animal Expert about Birdability Week 2020, by Professor Piotr Tryjanowski, November 2020.
Audubon’s Society’s Birdability Program Helps Spread Joy of Birding To People With Disabilities Virginia Rose appeared on the Arizona radio station KJZZ 91.5 on October 30 2020.
This New Program in Denver Is Paving the Way for Birders With Reduced Mobility: Article by Andy Carstens for National Audubon about the Birding without Barriers program at Denver Audubon, and it’s creator, Bob Roark, who is a wheelchair user, October 2020.
Good birders: Meet Virginia Rose, founder of Birdability: Article by Matt Mendenhall from BirdWatching magazine, October 2020.
Joseph Saunders: Macro Photographer and BlackAFinSTEM Member: Article from Portland Audubon by Ali Berman. Joseph is a wheelchair user and talks about accessibility and inclusivity in birding, as well as the intersection of this with race, September 2020.
Virginia Rose featured in Paralyzed Veterans of America magazine, July 2020.
Why Autism Makes the Outdoors More Beautiful – And Complicated: Article by Alysa Joaquin of National Audubon about birding with Autism, April 2020.
Bird is the Word. Article by Josie Byzek from New Mobility magazine, October 2019.
Virginia Rose featured in Audubon magazine, spring 2019.
How Do You Blaze a Trail that Everyone Can Enjoy? Article by Lexi Krupp, published by National Audubon about blind birder Jerry Berrier and Mass Audubon creating accessible birding trails, April 2019.
Fly something new. Article featuring Virginia Rose from Austin Fit Magazine by Meara Isenberg, February 2019.
Birding Blind: Open Your Ears to the Amazing World of Bird Sounds: Article by Trevor Attenberg, published by National Audubon about birding as a young blind man, October 2018.
The new faces of birding: Young, urban, more diverse. Article by Matt Mendenhall from Bird Watching magazine, October 2018.
A Movement to Make Birding More Inclusive and Accessible: Article by Tom Foster from National Audubon Society, May 2018.
She explores Austin’s bird world from a wheelchair. You can, too. Article by Asher Price from Statesman, April 2018.
‘Birding’ in a wheelchair? Woman hopes her story inspires others in wheelchairs to explore. Article from KVUE-TV Austin by Molly Oak, April 2018.
Wildlife for All. Article by Bo Beolens, from BBC Wildlife Magazine, March 2018.
New nature trail offers a safe, invigorating space for hikers with special needs. Article from National Audubon Society, July 2016.
Websites and Blogs
FSHD Birder: Blog by Birdability Captain Paul Miller about birding with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), and his gear set-up for his binoculars and scope. Includes photos and the components he uses.
Birding Despite Disability: Blog by Birdability Captain Michael Hurben, who has Retinitis Pigmentosa (which causes low vision), documenting his quest to see half the world’s bird species (5,400!).
Michael wrote Birding by Ear: An article for Foundation Fighting Blindness, June 2021.
Birding with Parkinson’s: Blog about birding with Parkinson’s disease, written by Rob Scott.
Accessible Nature, created by Cecilia Travis, lists information on accessible trails in the US and Canada, by state and province, that has been collected via searching the internet. Note: sites have not been ‘vetted’ by someone on-the-ground. A wonderful stop if there aren’t yet Birdability Site Reviews near you on the Birdability Map. If you visit any of these locations, please submit a Birdability Site Review for the Birdability Map.
Arizona: Birding Without Barriers: Blog with information on accessible birding locations in Arizona, created by Peggy Thomas. If you visit any of these locations, please submit a Birdability Review for the Birdability Map.
California: Access Northern California lists accessible outdoor locations including trails and unusual accommodations, including a lot of technical information about accessible features. There’s more about wheelchair-friendly locations in California at A Wheelchair Rider’s Guide to the California Coast and at Access Northern California.
Massachusetts: Accessibility at Mass Audubon: Detailed information on the accessibility features of Mass Audubon’s wildlife sanctuaries and programs.
North Carolina: Access North Carolina: A vacation and travel guide for people with accessibility needs. 514 pages; published by the State of North Carolina, 2015.
North Carolina: Blue Ridge Mountains: Wheelchair accessible waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina are described here.
Ohio: Accessible Facilities: Webpage from Birding in Ohio that lists accessible birding locations in Ohio. Note: no further details on each site’s accessible features is provided; if you visit any of these locations, please submit a Birdability Review for the Birdability Map.
Oregon: Portland: Access Recreation’s website Access Trails describes accessibility information of more than 35 trails in Portland, including maps and videos.
Washington: Seattle: Urban Birding, Accessible Birding, Birding by Bike: Written by Roniq Bartanen of Shebirds, discusses the accessibility of 15 accessible birding locations in Seattle, WA, including public transport information.
Washington: Vancouver (USA): Wheelchair-friendly locations, including a National Wildlife Refuge, are described here.
Washington, DC: DC Audubon Society have an interactive map with birding hotspots around DC; those that are wheelchair accessible are clearly marked.
Toronto, Canada: Nature: Accessible for everyone? Thoughts from our 2020 Environmentalist in Residence: Blog post from Andrés Jiménez, Toronto Public Library’s 2020 Environmentalist in Residence, about accessible birding sites in Toronto. This follows from the panel discussion he hosted; watch that here.
Costa Rica: Creating a world of Birdablility: From the Shebirds blog, Roniq Bartenan details two accessible birding locations in Costa Rica.
Lonely Planet’s Accessible Travel Online Resources: 170 pages covering global accessible resources and destinations. Available for free download from the Lonely Planet website.
Rogue Birders featured Virginia Rose in their This is What a Birder Looks Like series, November 2020.
How to be a Welcoming and Inclusive Birder: Working as the Outreach Coordinator for the radio show and podcast Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds, Freya McGregor has some ideas for being a welcoming and inclusive birder, especially for birders with accessibility challenges, birders who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color, and birders who identify as LGBTQIA+. Includes suggestions for individual birders, leaders of bird outings, and bird clubs and Audubon chapters. Also includes a list of resources.
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Photo in page header: Freya McGregor. Taken overlooking the Green River at the Echo River Springs Trailhead, Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky.