Haley Scott leads bird walks with the Feminist Bird Club in New York City. And she tries to make her walks comfortable for newcomers and experienced birders alike. “We’re all in the process together, we’re all learning the birds together,” she says. She values the inclusive approach of the Feminist Bird Club and makes sure that participants, especially people from historically excluded backgrounds, feel welcome on her walks.
BirdNote®
Haley Scott on Leading Bird Walks
Written by Conor Gearin
This is BirdNote.
Haley Scott leads bird walks with the Feminist Bird Club in New York City. And she tries to make her walks comfortable for newcomers and experienced birders alike.
Haley Scott: You know, everyone’s knowledge of birds is different, so like if someone doesn’t know a very common species, sometimes people can be judgmental. So I try not to be judgmental. And I’m continuously learning new birds as I go along as well. I try to be as open to newcomers … we’re all in the process together, we’re all learning the birds together. And if we don’t know we can figure it out together. Like there are resources for us to figure it out during the walk, you know?
[Saltmarsh Sparrow song, ML 93807821, 0:02-0:04]
Haley Scott: So sometimes I go on a walk that I’m leading, in a park that I’m very familiar with, but then I’ll get a lifer bird — a bird that I’ve never seen before.
Like when she saw her first Saltmarsh Sparrow, Haley was so excited to share it with the group.
[Saltmarsh Sparrow song, ML 93807821, 0:02-0:04]
She values the inclusive approach of the Feminist Bird Club and makes sure that participants, especially people from historically excluded backgrounds, feel welcome on her walks.
Haley Scott: [6:38] When I started birdwatching, I was birdwatching in a place that is predominantly white. And there were times when I felt uncomfortable being in a space where I’m the only person of color in a group that’s going to look at birds. So I welcome everyone from all backgrounds. The Feminist Bird Club specifically, I just love the fact that it’s such a diverse community, and also open to learning more about other people’s backgrounds through connection through birding.
To learn more about the Feminist Bird Club and to find a chapter near you, visit our website, BirdNote dot org. I’m Conor Gearin.
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Senior Producer: John Kessler
Content Director: Allison Wilson
Producer: Mark Bramhill
Managing Producer: Conor Gearin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Saltmarsh Sparrow ML 93807821 recorded by A. Spencer.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2022 BirdNote May 2022 Narrator: Conor Gearin
ID# scotth-01-2022-05-19 scotth-01
Conor Gearin
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The Feminist Bird Club is a birding organization that takes an inclusive approach to birding and incorporates social justice into their work. Find a chapter near you.
