One of our favorite springtime events, Birding by Ear, returns on Saturday, May 10! Just like color and shape, bird songs are unique. Experienced birders know that you identify birds as much by hearing them as by seeing them. The Council is once again partnering with the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and the Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Monona, which will also serve as host for this event.
As in past years, Birding by Ear will start with a classroom learning session at 8 a.m., where participants will learn different bird songs and listen to examples. The classroom portion of the event will also be offered virtually. Then, those in attendance at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center will hit the trails to put what they have learned into practice as they listen to identify the birds that frequent the Center’s grounds. Last year, attendees identified nearly 50 different species of birds! The field portion of the event will be fully accessible and inclusive of the diverse mobility needs of participants. Those attending virtually will listen to audio clips of different bird songs to practice their listening skills.
The Council is pleased that the Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Monona is once again a partner in the event, and we’re excited to be returning to their location as the birding site. “The staff at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center love Birding by Ear, because they too get to learn new things to make birding more accessible to everyone,” says Aldo Leopold’s Cara Erickson. “This helps us reach new communities who might not traditionally come and visit the Center.”
Birding by Ear helps demonstrate that when accessibility is thought of up front, disabilities need not be a barrier to participating in most hobbies. Both the indoor facility and outdoor trails are accessible to a wide range of mobility users. Additionally, returning to a familiar setting makes the event less stressful for those who are blind or low vision.
“We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, the Aldo Leopold Nature Center and our field instructor, Kerry Wilcox,” says Executive Director Denise Jess of the Council. “This strong collaboration ensures a positive experience for participants. The diverse environments of ponds, woods and open meadows at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center allow birders a rich listening experience, and the wide, well-maintained trails create accessibility for attendees. If you’ve joined us in the past, you are warmly invited to attend again to deepen your learning and experience this beautiful site.”
The Center is also more accessible than ever for those living within the Madison area, as the Madison Metro Transit recently expanded bus service into Monona, with a stop near the Center’s entrance.
Registration for Birding by Ear is limited to 25 participants, so be sure to register soon! You can learn more and register for Birding by Ear on the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance website.
Like last year, we are also hosting a Birding by Ear Leader Training to help people gain the skills to lead their own accessible birding outings. That training takes place at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center on Saturday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. You can learn more and register for that training on the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s website as well.
If you want to participate in Birding by Ear but don’t live in the Madison area, consider organizing an outing in your own community! If there is a birding group in your community, reach out to them to talk about bringing Birding by Ear to the trails and parks around you. You can learn more about Birding by Ear on the National Audubon Society’s website at Audubon.org/Birding-By-Ear, or find more Wisconsin-specific resources on the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s website at SWIBirds.org/Resources-Bird-Outings.
