President's Corner
Mindful Birding Project Update
by John Shenot
A couple of months ago, we wrapped up work on a Mindful Birding project and submitted a final grant report to our funders at the National Audubon Society (NAS). But I realized just today that we hadn't yet shared the fantastic results of that project with our members!
Led by longtime chapter member Dr. Barb Patterson, our Mindful Birding Project consisted of a series of workshops and webinars in which participants across the country were introduced to Mindful Birding, which combines the joy and fascination of observing birds with the mental and emotional health benefits that can come from mindfulness practices. (For a more thorough explanation, visit www.themindfulbirdingnetwork.com.)
Over the course of nearly a year, Dr. Patterson led three in-person workshops in the Denver, San Franciso, and Philadelphia areas, as well as four online webinars. One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was bringing together participants from diverse organizations. In addition to leaders from other chapters in the NAS network, we connected with groups such as the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, Latino Outdoors, Feminist Birders, environmental education centers, and native plant societies. More than 450 attendees learned everything they need to know to offer mindful birding field trips and events in their own communities. The feedback we received was fantastic, and the enthusiasm generated by this project continues to ripple outward, inspiring a more thoughtful, inclusive way to experience birds and the natural world.
Although our grant is now over, Dr. Patterson and our chapter will continue to offer Mindful Birding events in our local communities. We're even collaborating with researchers at Colorado State University to better understand, and perhaps eventually quantify, the health benefits of mindful birding. If you would like to learn more or volunteer to help with these efforts, please reach out and we'll connect you with the right people.
