Happy Spring, friends! March saw the publication of my story years in the making, and friendships in the partaking (I will explain in a minute): The Gathering: Can’t we be friends, too?, published in the March 2024 issue of the American Birding Association’s Birding Magazine, showcases the fun ways you (OK, me and other birders I know, as examples in this story) can gather people together for novel takes on a birding outing. From Atlanta, Georgia to Marin County, California, birders are adding specific spins to the day: brunching to close the morning excursion (and compare lists) or cycling the 100-mile route as a dedicated birding duo, whatever your game, you can probably combine it with birding.
The years in the making references a couple of the outings that took place years ago but stand the test of time (and show younger versions of some of us!) and the friendships in the partaking references the purposeful group kinship of the effort. These birding outings emphasize the people connection of the birding experience, either before the outing as existing friendships, and always after in enduring connections forged.
If you like the community you have found in birding and aspire to build on it through gathering with others, read here to learn more about how you can put together a birding gathering like what you see in the magazine story.
Me and pal Jen Willup tailgating for a birding outing that included our kids (off camera) and a group of parents of same-age kids. Skagit Valley, Washington. Read more about this particular parent and kid birding outing here!