In May, the Council joined the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and the Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Monona for another fantastic Birding by Ear event. We had a full house at the Nature Center on a fantastic spring morning where we heard over 50 different species of birds passing through Dane County. Birding by Ear once again showed that birding can be enjoyed by anyone, and that having a disability need not prevent you from participating in the activities you love.
“This year, we had a great, diverse group of people of all ages, experience levels and physical ability,” says Council Executive Director Denise Jess. “It’s so great to be able to partner with these organizations so that we can expand our work and show more people that when accessibility is considered up front, everyone can participate in nature events.”
Birding by Ear is the perfect example of the importance of accessibility in any recreational activity. Just like their colors and shapes, birds’ sounds are unique, and experienced birders know that you identify birds as much by hearing them as by seeing them. That makes it a wonderful outdoor activity for people with vision loss. It can also be an accessible recreational option for people with mobility barriers. While most traditional birding events involve long hikes to try and see as many birds as possible, Birding by Ear encourages birders to slow things down and sit and listen.
Betty Downs understands the importance of accessibility in nature. Betty formerly worked as a naturalist, leading Madison schoolchildren on birding hikes for years. Today, she relies on a four-wheeled walker to get around and can’t go on the long nature hikes she used to love. She says that the slower pace of Birding by Ear is perfect for her. “I really missed going birding, so I am so glad for this event,” Betty says. “Being around other people who are passionate about birding is wonderful, and the accessibility created by the Council is really important.”
Ensuring that activities like birding are inclusive and accessible to everyone does more than enable people to continue doing what they love after they’ve lost their vision; it makes the great outdoors more welcoming to everyone. According to the American Psychological Association, spending time in nature can make a big difference in improving mental health and emotional well-being. VisionServe Alliance’s Big Data Report on Working Age Adults with Vision Loss found that people who are blind or low vision experience depression at over twice the rate of people with no vision impairment. Events like Birding by Ear can help address that disparity.
Hosting Birding by Ear at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, right in the heart of Monona, also helps to make the event more accessible. Nature is all around us, even in more urban areas of Wisconsin. You don’t have to travel out to the country to get into nature. It’s often right in your backyard.
If you live in the Dane County area and couldn’t join us for Birding by Ear, you still have a chance to learn! The Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance is hosting regular Birding by Ear meetups throughout the summer. The next meetup is Saturday, June 14. You can learn more and register for that event at SWIBirds.org/All-Events/2025/6/14/Birding-By-Ear-Meet-Up. Please note that past Birding by Ear participants receive registration priority.
If you don’t live in the Dane County area, consider reaching out to a birding group in your community and encouraging them to bring Birding by Ear to a park near you! You can learn more about Birding by Ear on the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s website at SWIBirds.org/Resources-Bird-Outings.
