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| A Focus on Diversity: Changing the Face of American Birding October 13, 2012 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Bloomington, MN |
Check out Blair Underwood's Funny or Die clip to get a sense of what we're looking to
address at the conference! Of course, you could substitute "birder" for "hiker".
address at the conference! Of course, you could substitute "birder" for "hiker".
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| The Focus on Diversity Conference is being made possible through the support of... American Birding Association BirdCallsRadio BirdStars BirdWatcher's Digest Black Swamp Bird Observatory Clemson University Eagle Optics Great Birding Projects Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Kaufman Field Guides National Audubon Society National Bird-Feeding Society Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter Stackpole Books U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wild Bird Centers of America Wild Birds Unlimited Sponsorship opportunities are still available! |
American birders have over 800 species to satisfy our bird watching desires. From a
Calliope Hummingbird to the California Condor, from the Painted Bunting to a Clay-
colored Sparrow, the diversity of our North American birds is one of the most compelling
factors that draws millions of people to birding at some level.
Yet, does the birding community itself reflect a similar diversity?
The revered American melting pot has been stewing for generations. Based on the 2010
census, more than 35 percent of the American populace falls into the “non-White”
categories of Hispanic, African-American, Asian, and Native-American. Yet, these groups
make up significantly less than 10 percent of the birding community. Clearly, birding does
not look like the rest of America. This underrepresentation poses a real threat to the
sustainability of the birding community, the birds’ habitat, and, ultimately, the birds
themselves.
The Focus on Diversity conference will open an honest dialogue, take an introspective
look at the birding community, identify barriers to birding for various groups, and facilitate
effective outreach to new audiences in an effort to promote a broader appreciation of
nature and, in time, a societal conservation ethic.
Calliope Hummingbird to the California Condor, from the Painted Bunting to a Clay-
colored Sparrow, the diversity of our North American birds is one of the most compelling
factors that draws millions of people to birding at some level.
Yet, does the birding community itself reflect a similar diversity?
The revered American melting pot has been stewing for generations. Based on the 2010
census, more than 35 percent of the American populace falls into the “non-White”
categories of Hispanic, African-American, Asian, and Native-American. Yet, these groups
make up significantly less than 10 percent of the birding community. Clearly, birding does
not look like the rest of America. This underrepresentation poses a real threat to the
sustainability of the birding community, the birds’ habitat, and, ultimately, the birds
themselves.
The Focus on Diversity conference will open an honest dialogue, take an introspective
look at the birding community, identify barriers to birding for various groups, and facilitate
effective outreach to new audiences in an effort to promote a broader appreciation of
nature and, in time, a societal conservation ethic.
| REGISTER NOW for the Focus on Diversity: Changing the Face of American Birding Conference |