Black Birders Week

Black Birders Week is organized by TheBlackAFinSTEM Collective—a collective that “seeks to support, uplift, and amplify Black Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics professionals in natural resources and the environment through professional development, career connection, and community engagement.” 

Black Birders Week launched in 2020 in response to an incident in Central Park, NY where Black Birder, Christian Cooper, was subjected to racism and falsely accused of threatening a woman and her dog. The incident went viral on the same day news hit of the murder of George Floyd. This led to a larger conversation around safety for Black individuals in and out of the STEM field. The week-long event was conceived and organized by members of a group of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals and students.

The Black Birders Week movement continues annually with a dedicated week of virtual and in-person events and programs to uplift Black nature enthusiasts and highlight the visibility of Black birders in nature. Some of these previous programs have been in collaboration with Smithsonian institutions. 

Read our latest blog on Black Birders Week: What you need to know about Indiana's first-ever Black Birders Week