\n<\/p>\n
TUCSON, Ariz. \u2014 Marcia OBara, equipped with an oxygen pack for her COPD, is passionately leading a group eager to explore the world of birds. They stroll along easy trails with walking sticks, moving at their comfortable pace, relishing the camaraderie around them.<\/p>\n
This is “Birding for Every BODY,” one of the many programs organized every month by the Tucson Bird Alliance in partnership with Pima County. It\u2019s part of a growing movement across the country aimed at making birdwatching accessible to everyone, regardless of physical challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a chance for anyone to enjoy birdwatching without any pressure, no matter how slowly we go or how many birds we spot,\u201d OBara, a retired nurse with three years of experience leading these walks, explained. She noted that traditional birdwatching trips can often be hard for those with disabilities, especially with the competitive nature that some birders bring.<\/p>\n
OBara carefully selects trails that are easy for all to navigate, ensuring that facilities like restrooms are spacious enough for mobility devices, and there are ample spots for shade and refreshment. During the walks, she keeps an eye on the group\u2019s pace, making adjustments as necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked in rehabilitation, so I have a good sense of people’s needs,\u201d OBara shared.<\/p>\n
Despite the welcoming environment, OBara noted that attendees who use wheelchairs or scooters are rare, as many may feel they can\u2019t keep up. \u201cWe really encourage them to join us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
During one of the February outings, OBara highlighted a beautiful phainopepla, a slender bird with a distinctive crest, resting in a mesquite tree adorned with clusters of bright red desert mistletoe. Nearby, mallards quacked and swam in the ponds.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to just be outside and let my mind rest,\u201d remarked Rhea Guertin, a retired snowbird from Rhode Island now enjoying her winter in Tucson, using a walking pole for support. \u201cI just take my time,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Evelyn Spitzer, a retired teacher from the Tucson area, also utilized a walking pole due to her heart condition and recent surgery recovery.<\/p>\n
This initiative to promote inclusive birding started gaining momentum back in 2018 when Virginia Rose, a retired Texas teacher, founded Birdability after spending years in a wheelchair due to a spinal injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal is to ensure that birdwatching is truly for everyone, no matter their disability,\u201d stated Cat Fribley, executive director of Birdability. The organization supports individuals with various challenges, from mobility issues to vision impairments, chronic conditions, and more.<\/p>\n
Fribley, who uses a mobility scooter, enjoys birdwatching on accessible paths in her community in Iowa City and even from her back deck with a cup of coffee during colder months.<\/p>\n
Accessible birding can also take place from cars, canoes, or even from a kitchen window, as advocates highlight.<\/p>\n
Birdability has collaborated with the National Audubon Society to create a map featuring birding spots that are accessible nationwide, and it provides guidance to able-bodied birders on fostering inclusivity.<\/p>\n
The organization\u2019s website offers a wealth of resources, including adaptive devices like mounts for birdwatching cameras, and apps designed to help those with visual impairments recognize and record bird songs. Occupational therapist Freya McGregor suggests using binocular harnesses for easier handling, especially for those with shoulder or neck issues.<\/p>\n
McGregor, who dealt with a knee injury herself, runs Access Birding to support various nature organizations in enhancing accessibility on their trails.<\/p>\n
\u201cBirdwatching brings so much happiness,\u201d shared Jerry Berrier, a 73-year-old lifelong birder from Massachusetts who is blind. His love for birds began in college when he learned to identify various bird calls and songs for a biology class.<\/p>\n
Berrier has since created a website to help visually impaired bird enthusiasts record and share their experiences. He also co-hosts the \u201cAny Bird, Any Body\u201d podcast with a friend and helped organize the first national bird-a-thon for blind birders in the U.S., which saw impressive participation last year and is set to expand internationally this May.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe invite local organizations to support blind participants during these events,\u201d Berrier encouraged. \u201cLiving with a disability can often feel isolating.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Tucson, efforts like those of OBara and the Tucson Bird Alliance strive to ensure that everyone can enjoy the simple pleasures of nature and connection through birdwatching.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Birding for Everyone in Tucson: A Community Adventure TUCSON, Ariz. \u2014 Marcia OBara, equipped with an oxygen pack for her COPD, is passionately leading a group eager to explore the world of birds. They stroll along easy trails with walking sticks, moving at their comfortable pace, relishing the camaraderie around them. This is “Birding for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26241,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[33608,4139,1990,19,4338,33609],"class_list":["post-26240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-birding-accessibility-disabled-mobility-nature","tag-general-news","tag-health","tag-lifestyle","tag-u-s-news","tag-vision-impairment-and-blindness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indiabulletinusa.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}