[Image description: An infographic (black and blue text on a white background) with an image of a nuthatch on the top left. The text reads: It's not enough to just think you're being inclusive. You have to be intentionally inclusive. @birdability birdability.org ]

Please sign up at this link to participate in Arcadia's Big Sit: https://bit.ly/BigSitSignup 

Do you believe that anti-oppression work requires systems and institutions that are built with BIPOC, disabled folks, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and trauma survivors in mind? Then this event is for you! 

It’s easy for those with privilege or power to say that they aren’t explicitly exclusionary, then ignore issues of safety, accessibility and inclusivity in the outdoors. In this regard, Mass Audubon has shown great humility, initiative, and a commitment to taking actionable steps to diversify the outdoors. With your participation and support, we can build on the great work they have done so far (http://bit.ly/MassAudubonDEI)!

On May 13-14, we are hosting a ‘Big Sit’ for Mass Audubon's annual Bird-a-thon fundraiser (https://bit.ly/BirdathonWestTeam). For this event, nature enthusiasts from across the state will try to identify as many species of birds as possible in a 24-hour period (and complete other nature-based activities). Bird-a-thon serves as a reminder of the variety and abundance of wildlife that surrounds us, and our responsibility to preserve their habitats, and can also bring us together across all differences.

The ‘Big Sit’ Bird-a-thon is designed for those whose identities have been historically excluded from nature and conservation efforts.

In an effort to include all birders, especially those:

- with disabilities

- who have backgrounds or identities that cause them to feel unsafe outdoors

- with young children, and,

- who are at high-risk for COVID,

a stationary birding team in a wheelchair-accessible location— Mass Audubon's Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Massachusetts—will compete for a statewide award to see the largest number of species possible from within a 25 ft circle over 24 hours!

If you are interested in participating in our ‘Big Sit’ event, please sign up for one or many shifts at this link: https://bit.ly/BigSitSignup. No level of participation is 'too little', and no bird-enthusiast is 'too inexperienced' to help out. If there's anything we can do to make this event accessible for you, PLEASE REACH OUT to FBC.WMA@gmail.com!

Please contribute towards this important work by making a donation through this fundraising page! 

Additionally, if you want to encourage our Stationary birding team to more thoroughly engage with the wonders of Spring migration, consider reaching out with a pledge (any dollar amount) per species of birds we can find from a 25 ft circle in the designated 24-hr period.

And don’t forget to spread the word!