Birding For Everyone: Encouraging People of Color to Become Birdwatchers

by John C. Robinson

Bird watching is the favorite hobby of millions, and a perfect activity for families to share, so why don't more people of color choose to become birdwatchers? In this book, you'll discover how easy it is for anyone to identify birds and connect with mentors who can help you start bird watching or become a better birdwatcher. Since 1979, John has introduced thousands of people to birds & birding.

Genres: Birds, Nature

170 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2008

About the author

A world-renowned speaker and author, John C. Robinson has worked as a wildlife biologist and professional ornithologist for over 30 years, including stints with the USDA and US Fish & Wildlife Service. He has led bird watching and natural history tours to exotic locations throughout the world and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Birding Association. John is also the author of numerous books, including Common Birds of Mount Diablo, Secret of the Snow Leopard, and the comprehensive North American Bird Reference Book CD-ROM. In 2011, Robinson was nominated as a TogetherGreen Fellow and is currently working with Toyota and the National Audubon Society to introduce thousands of young children to nature and the outdoors. Find John C. Robinson on the web at www.OnMymountain.com

Reviews

[Stephan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birding for Everyone: Encouraging People of Color to Become Birdwatchers is such an important book, one that starts a conversation about the general lack of diversity in the birding community. The author also provides a brief introduction to birding for those readers who may have come to the book not as an enthusiastic birder interested in changing things, but perhaps as a bird-curious individual who has never before had a potential role model in an activity and a community so dominated by whiteness (not to mention issues of gender identity/expression, sexual orientation/identity, able-ness, and socioeconomic status). The future of conservation depends on real efforts to make positive, nonconsumptive outdoor pursuits like birding more inclusive and accessible. Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Celebrate Urban Birds is an awesome and pretty prominent example of this. Check it out, check this book out, and if you've never officially "birded" because you felt too intimidated by the community (this was my experience for years), just start exactly where you are. Birds are everywhere, and they can provide hours of free entertainment and enrichment to anyone who can see or hear them!

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this after seeing John Robinson speak at an event a few months ago. Good message, but I found the organization of the book a little odd.