As an inclusive birding community that supports social and environmental justice, the Chicago chapter of the Feminist Bird Club organizes several different types of events with the hope of creating birding opportunities for individuals who may have not felt comfortable with other groups or in other settings. All are welcome, but in particular FBC-Chicago encourages LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people of color, women and anyone who may be new to birding but unsure of more traditional bird groups, to join their bird walks, bird sits, and very popular bird game nights.
Unique to the FBC is its mission to fundraise for local causes. Zelle Tenorio, one of the FBC-Chicago organizers, explains that it’s “built in to our structure that we fundraise at all of our in-person events, depending on what is going on. So right now we’re fundraising for the Chicago Abortion Fund.” The cause changes monthly. “At every walk we ask for optional donations, and the funds are pooled together to make one large donation from FBC-Chicago. Also sometimes there is a mutual aid need for someone in our community, or something hyperlocal to Chicago and we’ll ask for support.” Recent organizations have included the Southeast Environmental Task Force; My Block, My Hood, My City; and Centro de Trabajadores Unidos.
How do birding and social and environmental justice go together? “Our mission is to facilitate inclusive spaces for women, disabled, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC folks to connect to the natural world – birding is an avenue to connect folks, and through that relationship we incorporate the identity and shared (feminist) values of our members,” explains Tenorio. “For us, it’s all connected.”
Events are put together by FBC-Chicago organizers. Upcoming events include:
Woodcock birding on March 29 at Kent Fuller Air Station in Glenview;
Wingspan game night on April 16 at Skunk Cabbage Books in Chicago, and
Queer Family Day on June 29 at Dan Ryan Woods, partnering with Forest Preserves of Cook County, Southside Nature Play and other community partners.
Events fill up and usually have long wait lists, so FBC-Chicago is looking for more collaborators and organizers to build capacity to host additional events. Forms are available for sharing ideas for events or to express interest in becoming an event organizer. For more information about the Feminist Bird Club Chicago chapter visit their website, follow them on Instagram, or sign up for the newsletter.