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Black Birders Week 2025
Listen to all of this year's Black Birders Week episodes!
© Black AF in STEM
This year's Black Birders Week will take place on May 25th to May 31st. The event's organizers, Black AF in STEM, explain that the week "celebrates Black birders, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts, highlighting their contributions to the natural world and advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the birding community."
Under the theme “Grounded in Community,” the week celebrates Black joy, liberation, and collective power in the outdoors. And, this year's theme honors the Sparrow Family — resilient, adaptive, and thriving in connection. Like sparrows, we find power in community, lifting our voices together to transform the outdoors into spaces of belonging and liberation. Often dismissed as "little brown birds," sparrows symbolize adaptability and community — qualities that deeply resonate with the Black community. Just as sparrows are frequently overlooked in favor of more "charismatic" species, Black birders have historically been underrepresented in environmental and naturalist spaces.
Join us and Black AF in STEM as we celebrate Black birders, nature enthusiasts, and the joy of birdwatching. This year’s event promises to be bolder and more inspiring than ever! Learn more about the week's events and how to participate here. Below, find information about shows co-produced by Black Birders Week organizers and BirdNote.
Black Birders Week on BirdNote Daily
Listen to a week of shows co-produced by Black Birders Week organizers and BirdNote!
Sunday, May 25th: "Miraculous Shades of Brown"
Sparrows are remarkable birds that come in a wide range of brown hues. Just as sparrows are frequently dismissed in favor of more "charismatic" species, Black birders have historically been underrepresented in conservation spaces.
Monday, May 26th: "Witnessing Lifers While Honoring a Life Loss"
In June 2024, environmental educator and co-organizer of Black Birders Week Dara Miles Wilson traveled to Camden, South Carolina to attend her cousin’s funeral. Despite the somber circumstances, two birds surprised her with unanticipated brightness.
Tuesday, May 27th: "Lessons From Mixed Flocks"
There are many benefits for birds that form mixed flocks, from safety and survival to care and feeding. We can see the power of community through the actions of birds every day. And it’s time we took a note from their book.
Wednesday, May 28th: “The Robin Rescue"
When Adé Ben-Salahuddin stopped to help a trapped young bird on his way home from work, he found an unexpected source of help: an older Black woman walking by who had just the skills for the problem at hand.
Thursday, May 29th: "In Defense of Big Black Birds"
Grackles, vultures, and other big black birds are often disparaged by people who’d rather they stay out of sight. But Marcus Rosten, an environmental educator and co-organizer of Black Birders Week, appreciates these birds for the important roles they play in nature and the ways their stories reflect his own experience as a Black birder.
Friday, May 30th: "Migration Stories: The House Sparrow"
Deja Perkins, an urban ecologist and co-organizer of Black Birders Week, remembers seeing House Sparrows all over Chicago as a kid. These little brown birds are native to Eurasia and North Africa, but were forced to adapt to many places around the world where they were introduced. Though many people consider House Sparrows to be urban pests, Deja admires them and draws parallels between their natural history and the story of her own ancestors.
Saturday, May 31st: "Bonding with Mom Through Birding"
In this episode, environmental educator and nature enthusiast Nicole Jackson tells the story of an unexpected backyard birding experience when she visited her mom in 2021. When she arrived, Nicole saw typical birds such as robins and jays, but then saw something less common: a brightly colored Blackburnian Warbler! Nicole’s mom asked what she was looking at, and Nicole showed her pictures of all the nearby birds on her phone. Nicole helped her mom create an account on Merlin Bird ID and document her first bird sighting.