Congratulations to the 34 birding leaders who successfully completed the Bird Outing Leader Training program, hosted by the Chicago Bird Alliance (CBA) and the EcoWomanist Institute (EWI)! There were two cohorts offered this year, with one meeting on Saturdays from April 5th to May 17th and the other on Tuesdays from April 8th to May 20th. Each week the groups met at Rainbow Beach in South Chicago to learn different aspects of birding and to build a community.
It was fascinating to hear how everyone will utilize what they learned. Felicia Minley is a manager of a nature and healing program that is part of the Southeast Environmental Task Force. She reports: “This training has given me the opportunity to expand my curriculum. Birding is not only a good way of being out in nature, it can also have a positive impact on your mental health.”
V (Vicki J) is a forager and has perceived how mushrooms/fungi and birding go hand in hand. She will be incorporating birding and foraging together. V is not the only person to creatively combine interests; what Jordyn Harrison took away from the experience was to “make it your own,” with the innovative idea to intertwine birding and music.
This summer, Amaré Villalobos will be heading ArtSeed, which provides art and nature-related education for kids, and plans to “bring what I learned to help the youth.” Especially for those affected by violence in the city, birding can help kids “zoom out of their inner thoughts” and ground themselves. Veronica Sanchez-Buenrostro is interested in bird outings for families and kids, in particular for beneficial mental health.
Others found that this experience broadened their ability to lead walks. Janet Nunez, who is part of the West Lawn Conservation Club, plans to lead bird walks on the southwest side for the Club. Sarah Powers wants to support people who don’t normally go out or have others to bird with. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she is looking for ways to make birding more inclusive and create space for different viewpoints.
Kendra Malone is eager to “start with my friends and explore different parks and areas both in and outside of Chicago” and to “connect with nature in ways that feel meaningful to me.” With additional experience, she will then expand her birding tour circle. Nayla Hale plans on "doing more than the three walks” required and plans to collaborate with “the other birding organizations that I learned about in the class.” Nayla and all the participants would be valuable assets for any birding association.
A hotspot for birds, there is always something to see at Rainbow Beach. Notable birds identified during the training include a pack of Blue Jays. It was Felicia’s first time seeing these jays and she observed that their color was “just amazing.” V, Janet, and Kendra all mentioned excitement at seeing a Great Egret at Big Marsh, and both Janet and Sarah highlighted the Baltimore Orioles that came their way. Sarah also noted that they drove by a Monk Parakeet nest, and Amaré described how all were able to see different types of woodpeckers.
Jordyn had two examples of standout birds; the first was a hummingbird, as it was her first time seeing one, and the second an American Kestrel, which they got a chance to observe every week. Jordyn had read about kestrels before the training, and it was a “special treat to be able to see it where I was at.” Nayla also mentioned the hummingbird, as “I’ve only seen hummingbirds at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, so I didn’t know that there were some in my own neighborhood.”
Moreover, Nayla recounts sharing her excitement after the very first class: "When I went to church the next day, I was able to spot a Bald Eagle. I got to show some of my friends at church the Bald Eagle too, and they were very happy to see it.” But even “more spectacular” than the array of birds seen, Kendra noted that she observed “a community of people committed to sharing a love of birds and nature come together and share that with others. That is the most beautiful and coolest thing that I saw.”
Unsurprisingly, there was immense gratitude for the guest lecturers and trainers: Zelle Tenerio, Jacob Drucker, Christina Harber, J'orge Garcia, Edward Warden, Lillian Holden, and Jennifer Johnson. The organizers of the training also made a big impact: Veronica Kyle and Melanie Moore from EWI, and Matt Igleski, Sunshine Soledá de Vries, and Judy Pollock from CBA.
Per Felicia, the training was well-designed and everyone received personal attention. Towards the end, everybody had 15 minutes to give a mock training, which was a great way to receive feedback. Amaré found that it “wasn’t long enough” and was a “really regenerating experience.” They underscored how you didn’t “have to be an expert. Everything is appreciated.” V said that she could “be myself here,” Janet found everyone to be “very welcoming,” and Nayla asserted “I think this is a program that everyone should do.” Sarah wanted to impart her “thanks for this opportunity and for everyone who showed up.” She now has a “community that I didn’t have before” and that she “was really missing the perspectives shared in this training.”
Jordyn appreciated the emphasis on the “historical, cultural, and social aspects of birding”. For instance, indigenous names of birds and the history of different organizations were covered. Kendra “appreciated the intentional way the organizers made this very inclusive” with respect to mobility, gender, and race. They “very purposefully made sure that there was diverse representation” with the participants, facilitators, and leaders in the training. Veronica, the owner of BuenGro in South Chicago, stated that this opportunity was “so therapeutic for me, and such a great thing for community on the South Side.”
The Bird Outing Leader Training program culminated on May 24th with a celebration of everyone’s accomplishment. Thanks to the commitment, dedication, and enthusiasm of all the participants, this program was a great success. The EcoWomanist Institute and Chicago Bird Alliance are excited to see the future achievements of these leaders!
