Urban Bird Collective

It’s that time of year when nonprofits are looking for the all-important general operating support that is provided by individual donors. The Urban Bird Collective is one of those organizations. Help us move into 2025 as we grow our organization, and the impact we can have for BIPOC and LGBTQI folks to be out in nature, feel safe and enjoy the health benefits of being with our feathered friends.  

 In 2024, the Urban Bird Collective (UBC) provided almost 1000 hours of outdoor leadership that centers the BIPOC and LGBT communities. In support of our mission to create welcoming and inclusive spaces in the outdoors for underserved populations we held the 4th Annual Birdwatching Festival that centers BIPOC and LGBT people, the only one of its kind in the country.  

The UBC does our work through 34 Walk Leaders that 100% represent the communities we center. These Walk Leaders supported over 70 events this year, many with our numerous partner organizations. In addition to our events, we participate and recruit volunteers for many Winter Bird Counts, the largest outdoor community science project in the world. This effort, which was the first to identify climate change, tracks bird populations and movements worldwide. The Urban Bird Collective was instrumental in the formation of the first Native American led count circle and the resurrection of the Minneapolis count circle, an area with a large BIPOC population.

 In 2025, we plan to increase our efforts to provide meaningful outdoor experiences, not only for the communities that we center but our allies as well. The Annual Birdwatching Festival has been beyond capacity since its inception, so bringing on new walk leaders is critical. Formalizing and adding to their training are a goal in 2025. This also assists in managing the overwhelming number of requests for assistance/partnership as we engage more BIPOC and LGBTQI folks to be out in nature. 

Mission Statement 

The Urban Bird Collective creates a welcoming and inclusive space that centers BIPOC and the LGBTQIA+ communities in order to realize and reap the benefits of being out in the natural environment while building birdwatching skills. In addition, in order to do this work, we are active stewards of the environment who protect habitats for not only the birds, but for all living things. 

How we do this:

We welcome people with all levels of experience birding into a nonjudgmental and inclusive space.

We mentor participants and each other as lifelong learners.

We foster passion and stewardship for the environment.

We respect the gifts and purpose of all living things in the environment as a way of healing and self-care.

We offer collaborative and shared opportunities with other organizations that align with our values.

We are an organization that is led by and for the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and we will advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion in the natural outdoor communities. 

We are community scientists.

Vision Statement

The Urban Bird Collective envisions a world in which BIPOC and the LGBTQIA+ communities enjoy the benefits of birding in the outdoors and feel welcome and included at all levels of organizations and agencies that engage people in the outdoor environment. 

The Urban Bird Collective In the Media/News

Click on the image of the article to read more!