Birding, Poetry, & Power

ABOUT FACILITATOR

Indigo Goodson-Fields is a poet, writer and birder based in Brooklyn. She served as a New York Birding Consultant on the For the Birds exhibition committee at Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. Indigo is featured on an episode of Always Be Birdin’ and The Brian Lehrer Show.

Objective

Nature is for the birds! In this community bird walk, participants will become familiar with our local “backyard birds” and migratory birds and be able to identify them with sight and sound. This walking workshop will allow us to discuss community and bird behavior across themes of migration, symbolism, and more.

Each walk will end with a moment of reflection and journaling in response to a writing prompt provided by the artist.

April Prompt

Spring bird migration is an exciting time for birders! This is a time marked by birds coming up from tropical areas such as Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. In Brooklyn, residents often come from or have lineages from these very same areas. Consider the ways that human and bird migration intertwines and how it is then reflected in our communities.

What's included

• 3 pairs of share binoculars

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BRING

• Binoculars (optional)
• Download Merlin Bird ID app to help identify birds by sound and sight (optional)
• Download eBird to keep track of the birds you see (optional)

Requirements

• This is a 1.5-hour, moving, activity.

Disclaimer

Rain or shine. If weather is inclement, we will email participants 2 hours before the start of the event. Wheelchair accessible. Bathroom accessible.

CURRICULUM

Globally only 19% of bird species migrate but here in North America about 70% of bird species migrate. What does it mean to migrate? Where do birds consider their home? Where do you consider your home? Do you migrate?