Oconee Rivers Audubon Society

EcoReach, Oconee Rivers Audubon Society, and Lilly Branch Audubon Society have partnered together to bring you “Binoculars for Young Black Birders,” a binoculars drive to support young, Black birders in Athens-Clarke County. We will be accepting donations with a goal of raising $5000.00 to purchase binoculars and field guides for Black K-12 students in ACC, as well as supply ACC classrooms with binoculars. This initiative was inspired by the inaugural #BlackBirdersWeek, started by @BlackAFinSTEM on twitter in response to the video of a white woman who called the police on birdwatcher (or “birder”) Chris Cooper after he requested that she follow regulations and leash her dog in Central Park. As America grapples with systemic racism and violence following the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and so many others it has also been highlighted that Black people face unique challenges and discrimination in the field of Ecology or when out in nature, even while doing something as simple as bird watching or going outside for a jog.

The Oconee Rivers Audubon Society will match up to $500 in donations to support Black birders in our community. Stay tuned on our social media accounts over the next few weeks for more updates and information regarding Binoculars for Young Black Birders, and help us support budding Black birders right here in our community!!!