Upcoming Events
If you would like to share a mindful birding event, please reach out to us
through email, providing:
The name and description of the event
Exact location
Link to more info/Sign up
Any relevant photos to promote the event
Fall Bird Walk with Beachy Birder
Led by Lindsay McNamara, New Jersey USA
Our purpose is to lead guided bird walks throughout New Jersey, encouraging all to appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature. Beachy Birder Adventures gives everyone a chance to be curious, learn and discover something new. Our walks are low key and meant for the bird curious. We slow-bird. We look to meet people where they are through lighthearted humor.
Register and learn more HERE
Mindful Birding Network Seasonal Gathering
Note: Zoom Link will be posted closer to the event!
This is our seasonal gathering online to highlight our collective work, explore Mindful Birding practices, learn about emerging research and science behind the practice, and connect with each other.
If you’ve already joined the network, you’ll receive reminder and a link to the session through email. Haven’t joined yet? Tap that purple button in the upper right corner to join the network and get on our mailing list!
The network upholds an inclusive space and cultivates kindness and generosity where members can thrive. We celebrate people of all levels of interest, knowledge, abilities, and skill with regard to birds and Mindful Birding.
7:30 PM 9:00 PM EASTERN DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
Ornitherapy & Mindful Birding
Led by Holly Merker - Hockessin, Delaware, USA
Surround yourself with the beautiful landscapes of the nationally recognized Mt Cuba Center, and settle into absorbing the wellness benefits that Ornitherapy, a practice of Mindful Birding, has to provide us all.
Author and mindful birding leader, Holly Merker, will provide the background on how and why taking time to observe the birds around us supports our mental and physical wellbeing. Part of the program will be indoors, then we’ll head outside for an experience with birds where Holly will teach us how to harness the powers of Ornitherapy with the birds right in our own backyards.
Space is limited to ensure a small group experience.
Mindful Birding Retreat: Panama
Whitehawk Birding with Holly Merker
Led by Mindful Birding Network Members: Marta Curti, Jenn Sinisac, and Holly Merker
This 7-day mindful birding retreat is set in the lush highlands of western Panama.
On this retreat, we will be joined by Holly Merker, co author of Ornitherapy: For your Mind, Body and Soul and Founder of the Mindful Birding Network.
At times we will gather for workshops about mindful birding, and plenty of time will also be available for optional mindful activities, including yoga, meditation, Forest Therapy, nature sketching, and free time to enjoy in nature.
To learn more, click this link: Panama Mindful Birding Retreat
Mindful Birding: Rekindling Connections with Nature
A multi-day experience - Hog Island Audubon Camp, Bremen, Maine USA
Limited Space: Registration opens December 3, 2024
We are thrilled to offer this brand-new program for next summer. We know from recent research that mindful practices have many positive impacts on our mental, physical, and emotional health. Whether you're an educator, caregiver, health professional, or nature enthusiast, we can all benefit from mindful connections to nature.
Come join us to learn nature-based wellness techniques that deepen our connection to nature and support our self-care, and bring home skills that can be incorporated into your own work. This session will highlight several different practices like mindful birding, nature journaling, mindful movement, and forest therapy/bathing in the peaceful and picturesque surroundings of Muscongus Bay.
The director, Holly Merker, is a certified nature and forest therapy guide, founder of The Mindful Birding Network, an author of Ornitherapy, and long-time instructor and session director here on Hog Island. We hope you will join us for a week of learning, healing, and tranquility.
Please note, this program is shorter than a typical camp week. It will run from Sunday August 24 – Thursday August 25.
Mindful Birding Retreat in Belize
Mindful Birding Retreat in Belize
Whitehawk Birding with Holly Merker
Our Belize: Mindful Birding Retreat is a 6-day experience and will be slightly different from a typical birding tour. We will take our time to truly enjoy the beauty and wonder of the birds we see and will spend some time observing their behavior and learning more about them.
On this retreat, we will be joined by Holly Merker, an author of Ornitherapy: For your Mind, Body, and Soul and Founder of the Mindful Birding Network, who will open our eyes to the practice of ornitherapy through gentle ornitherapy sessions and forest bathing.
Virtual Mindful Birding
In support of our collective care, Tammah Watts, Molly Tsongas, Feminist Bird Club, In Color Birding and Weaving Earth have teamed up to offer a free Mindful Birding session! This experiential, virtual session will include a guided sensory experience to connect to the birds (and wider ecology) around us. May this simple practice offer some support in these uncertain times. Join us for this free, hour long event on Sunday, November 24th at 9am PT/ 12pm ET. Closed captions will be available and registration is required to receive the zoom link. Register using the form located at this URL or at the link in Feminist Bird Club’s bio.
https://form.jotform.com/243235445124147
[Image description: A yellow and beige illustration of a bird flying with orange stars behind it on a light blue background. Four logos are at the top representing In Color Birding Club, Weaving Earth, Feminist Bird Club and Tammah Watts. Text reads Virtual Mindful Birding A Collective Care Practice GATHER ATTUNE CONNECT Nov. 24th on Zoom at 9am PT/12pm ET]
The Quiet Joys of Winter Wildlife
Led by Dr. Barbara Patterson, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado USA
Discover the art and science of mindful birding in this workshop. With guided instruction, you will learn how to engage your senses and tune into the birds around you through simple mindfulness exercises. Mindful birding exercises, which accompany the gentle guided walk, will help you enhance your identification skills and deepen your experience with birds, amplifying the benefits they provide to your overall wellness.
During the program, you will combine bird watching with meditative practice. Your guide will start with a discussion about the Drala Mountain Center land, ecology, and how birds interact with each other, followed by a mindful bird-watching activity designed for beginner birders. You will learn essential bird identification tips and techniques, including how to use binoculars, guides, and apps. The experience will conclude with a discussion about birds’ lives and habitats, followed by an exercise of self-reflection. Binoculars and a mindful birding journal will be provided to participants.
Slow Birding with Red Rock Audubon & Extension Botanical Gardens
Las Vegas, Nevada
Enjoy the Botanical Garden and learn about plants that grow well in Southern Nevada home gardens that attract birds. Enjoy a sensory experience in the garden while learning what birds commonly reside in local home gardens and perhaps view a few nonresident birds on their fall migration. This event is ideal for persons with limited mobility, new to birding or those who want to experience nature at a slower pace.
Mindful Birding at the South Cape May Meadows
This year’s Birdability Week will take place from October 21-27. Celebrate all week long by attending an accessible and inclusive birding event.
Learn more and sign up here
The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey and New Jersey Audubon are co-hosting an inclusive birding outing and nature preserve tour as part of the celebration, on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. This event is open to people of all birding levels, from first-timers to pros. Together at a leisurely pace, we will explore one mile and a half miles of trail at the South Cape May Meadows Preserve. While birding, visitors will learn about the preserve’s history and habitat. At about halfway through the tour, we will gather at the observation platform on the Boardwalk Trail to practice mindful birding for about 20 minutes. This practice aims to deeply engage with and enjoy the birds and nature around you. Feel free to bring a journal for nature journaling!
An American Sign Language interpreter will be available on this tour. Water coolers will be available for attendees to refill their bottles. An accessible portable restroom is available at this preserve. Binoculars will be provided as requested. Accessibility information about the preserve can be found below; if you have further accessibility questions please contact Lily Mullock – lillian.mullock@tnc.org
Mindful Birding Network Seasonal Gathering
Zoom link here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86353554788?pwd=fhyerG8Jf6pK2LDMKXn6ZE2mBAhHWL.1
Meeting ID: 863 5355 4788
Passcode: 991902
This is our seasonal gathering online to highlight our collective work, explore Mindful Birding practices, learn about emerging research and science behind the practice, and connect with each other.
If you’ve already joined the network, you’ll receive reminder and a link to the session through email. Haven’t joined yet? Tap that purple button in the upper right corner to join the network and get on our mailing list!
The network upholds an inclusive space and cultivates kindness and generosity where members can thrive. We celebrate people of all levels of interest, knowledge, abilities, and skill with regard to birds and Mindful Birding.
7:30 PM 9:00 PM EASTERN DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
Birdability Week: Mental Health Benefits of Birding Panel
A Birdability Event featuring members of the Mindful Birding Network
Recent studies have illuminated the significant mental health benefits associated with birding. Our panelists will share their unique insights and experiences, discussing how birding can be a transformative practice for mental well-being.
Yoga & Mindful Birding
Led by Amanda in Moorhead, Minnesota and Downtown Yoga Fargo
Join us for a crisp fall morning of yoga and mindful birding to find peace both within you and all around you!
The session will include Asana practice and sit spots.
Mindful Birding : 1/2 Day Retreat at Bodhi Farms in Bozeman, MT
Led by Ashley Martens, Bozeman, MT, USA
Join me in this serene and private creekside setting with light filtering through golden leaves.
“Mindful Birding” is a practice combining bird observation and mindfulness techniques that results in a heightened awareness of nature and self. The intention is slowing down and noticing, using birds as our guides, instead of simply labeling or identifying. We’ll combine walking, guided meditations, sit spot, journaling, and reflecting around the fire.
Sunday, Oct 6th 3-5:30pm at Bodhi Farms
Sliding Scale: $40-80 per person (or I am open to trades!)
Register Here
Slow Birding Weekend in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom
Co-hosted by Bird Diva, Bridget Butler from northwestern Vermont.
Imagine…a cozy fall weekend in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. You’re tucked away at an idyllic retreat where you can let go in order to reconnect with nature and yourself through your love of curiosity of birds. Your meals are taken care of, coffee is ready for you in the morning, and the flow of the weekend is laid out before you. You’ll enjoy the sunrise with the birds and sunsets with other mindful birders looking to reconnect just like you.
This unique immersive experience has been intentionally created to allow each participant the time, the space, and the support to discover or re-discover their innate authentic birder.
Mindful Birding: Rocky Mountain Wetlands
Led by Barbara Patterson for the Rocky Mountain Conservancy in Estes Park, Colorado USA
Looking for a new way to connect with nature? Curious about the benefits of mindfulness practices? Intrigued by the diverse avian species found in Rocky Mountain National Park? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," then this workshop is for you!
Mindful birding is a powerful practice that combines the joys of birdwatching with the benefits of mindfulness. Exposure to nature is linked to a host of benefits and by cultivating non-judgmental awareness and deep listening, we can learn to appreciate the beauty of the natural world and find greater peace and well-being in our daily lives while enjoying the beauty of our birds and learning about their lives in the wetlands of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Mindful Birding Walk
This is a FREE all ages, all experiences, inclusive, accessible Mindful Birding stroll. Participants must register. Starting point is Berkshire South Regional Community Center in Great Barrington, MA on 9/14 from 9am-10:30am. There is ample parking, there are bathrooms, the just over a mile round trip is totally flat and paved, and there are benches at the halfway point. Binoculars not provided, bring them if you have them, but you do not need them!
We will be exploring self care in community while learning about birds through the lens of the science of awe.Birding = happiness. Why?
Join us as Dave Edson, an experienced and passionate educator and naturalist, leads an all ages, all experiences Mindful Birding easy stroll. Get an early start on fall migration by identifying birds, and experience (re)connecting with nature. Please bring binoculars, but they are not necessary.
The Mindful Birding Project
led by Barbara Patterson, Fort Collins, Colorado
We are excited to introduce you to mindful birding—a powerful approach to birding that deepens our connection with birds and the natural world. Fort Collins Audubon Society, Audubon Rockies, and Bird Conservancy of the Rockies are joining together to offer a workshop that will empower participants with new ways to strengthen appreciation of nature within their communities.
As workshop participants learn the elements of mindful birding and how to inclusively and accessibly weave them into their bird programs and field trips, mindful birding can reach new audiences. The workshop will model how to share this healthy practice, recruit new members from underrepresented populations, and build awareness of nature.
Participants will leave the event equipped to...
• facilitate mindful birding programming of their own, incorporating techniques learned for their field trips and workshops.
• build lasting and diverse partnerships in their community.
• spark and rekindle an appreciation of birds and nature in others.
Space is limited! View the full event details here. The event agenda is here.
Mindful Birding Network Seasonal Gathering
This is our seasonal gathering online to highlight our collective work, explore Mindful Birding practices, learn about emerging research and science behind the practice, and connect with each other.
If you’ve already joined the network, you’ll receive reminder and a link to the session through email. Haven’t joined yet? Tap that purple button in the upper right corner to join the network and get on our mailing list!
The network upholds an inclusive space and cultivates kindness and generosity where members can thrive. We celebrate people of all levels of interest, knowledge, abilities, and skill with regard to birds and Mindful Birding.
7:30 PM 9:00 PM EASTERN DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
4:30- 6:00pm PACIFIC
Mindful Birding at the Hunterdon Art Museum
A collaborative event where art intersects Mindful Birding
Join renown artist Debra Ramsay and Mindful Birding Network founder Holly Merker for a guided experience in mindful observation, exploring the wonders of wild birds through art and the birds themselves.
This event will coincide with Debra’s exhibit “Flying Colors”
Stay tuned for more information
Mindful Birding: Rocky Mountain Forests Featured in 3 collections Join instructor Barb Patterson for a day of mindfulness and birding in Rocky Mountain National Park’s Forests
Led by Barbara Patterson in Estes Park, Colorado, USA
with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy
Looking for a new way to connect with nature? Curious about the benefits of mindfulness practices? Intrigued by the diverse avian species found in Rocky Mountain National Park?
If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," then this workshop is for you!
Mindful birding is a powerful practice that combines the joys of birdwatching with the benefits of mindfulness. Exposure to nature is linked to a host of benefits and by cultivating non-judgmental awareness and deep listening, we can learn to appreciate the beauty of the natural world and find greater peace and well-being in our daily lives while enjoying the beauty of our birds and learning about their lives in the forests of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Southeast AZ Birding Festival: Mindful Birding with Holly Thomas
Led by Holly Thomas
Mindful birding is about the intention to focus on the present moment without judgment, just noticing and welcoming whatever shows up, opening our senses to take in the sights and sounds of birds. Our morning will begin with an overview of mindful birding and its health benefits followed by a birding walk at Las Posta Quemada Ranch. Meet at the parking area at La Posta Quemeda at 6am. Drive time to meeting location from festival venue is about 40 minutes, specific meeting instructions will be emailed beforehand. Limited to 10 participants.
Panama Mindful Birding Retreat
This 7-day mindful birding retreat is set in the lush highlands of western Panama and combines the professional talents of guides and Mindful Birding Network Members Marta Curti, Jenn Sinasac, and special guest Holly Merker.
Nourish yourself while nestled into the invigoratingly green landscapes in the mountains of western Panama’s Cloud Forest, while being treated to incredible food, stellar views, and dynamic birds, mammals, flowers, butterflies, etc. while decompressing from life’s stressors.
We will practice Mindful Birding, Forest Bathing (with a certified guide), Yoga, Nature Journaling, Meditation, and plenty of exploration of the birds and incredible biodiversity this unique area holds.
Because this retreat was carefully designed to be a slow-paced and restorative experience, there will be built-in free time to enjoy the lodge’s many fruit and hummingbird feeders, and relax with your feet up as you enjoy the peace and comfort of the incredible Mount Totumas Resort.
Birding for a Better World & Better You
Join Feminist Bird Club leaders Molly Adams and Meghadeepa Maity in this 5-day retreat as they approach the pursuit of bird-joy through the unique lenses of resistance, connection, liberation, reciprocity, and healing. We explore the major themes in the book through a diversity of practices, including mindful birding, community reflection, and creative expression.
Slow Birding in Isle La Motte with the Bird Diva
‘Out There’, Vermont Public’s environmental newsletter, and Bird Diva Bridget Butler are teaming up for a Slow Birding outing that will offer up a mindful approach to birding that will connect you with birds, the land, and yourself. Bridget will lead you on an outcome-free outing that will focus on getting to know birds beyond their identification.
Mindful Birding at Dusk
Led by Holly Merker in Newtown Square, PA
Hosted by the Willistown Conservation Trust at Rushton Farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Summer evenings offer soft light and beautiful soundscapes of birds and other nature. Come wind down your day with some Ornitherapy.
Through guided instruction, we'll practice simple mindfulness exercises to engage our sensory awareness while intentionally tuning into the birds surrounding us. Techniques and prompts called “Orntiherapy Explorations” accompany the gently guided walk and sit spots, which through observation enhances our identification skills, while promoting a deepening of our experiences with birds around us. This in turn amplifies the multitude of benefits birds provide to our overall wellness. Participants will be provided Ornitherapy Journals to increase observation and awareness and have a take-away from the experience to continue wherever they go.
Slow Birding in Newport with the Bird Diva
‘Out There’, Vermont Public’s environmental newsletter, and Bird Diva Bridget Butler are teaming up for a Slow Birding outing that will offer up a mindful approach to birding that will connect you with birds, the land, and yourself. Bridget will lead you on an outcome-free outing that will focus on getting to know birds beyond their identification.
Mindful Birding with Molly Adams
Are you interested in learning more about the birds that live and migrate through the Catskills? Join Molly Adams, founder of the Feminist Bird Club and co-author of Birding for a better World, for a mindful birding event where we will spend time enjoying birds outdoors on the Opus 40 grounds. No experience is necessary, and this event is for both new and life-long birders alike. This two-hour event will include sitting in place and slowly moving through the woodlands while we notice the birds around us.
Mindful Birding at the Morris Arboretum
Philadelphia, PA - led by Holly Merker
(This event is now SOLD OUT with a waiting list)
In Mindful Birding we will combine observing birds with mindfulness techniques, creating a heightened awareness of both ourselves and the world around us. Through guided instruction, we’ll practice simple mindfulness exercises to engage our sensory awareness while intentionally tuning into the abundant birds surrounding us on this autumn day in the Morris Arboretum & Gardens Natural Lands area.
Slow Birding in Warren with the Bird Diva
‘Out There’, Vermont Public’s environmental newsletter, and Bird Diva Bridget Butler are teaming up for a Slow Birding outing that will offer up a mindful approach to birding that will connect you with birds, the land, and yourself. Bridget will lead you on an outcome-free outing that will focus on getting to know birds beyond their identification.
Slow Birding in Bellows Falls with the Bird Diva
‘Out There’, Vermont Public’s environmental newsletter, and Bird Diva Bridget Butler are teaming up for a Slow Birding outing that will offer up a mindful approach to birding that will connect you with birds, the land, and yourself. Bridget will lead you on an outcome-free outing that will focus on getting to know birds beyond their identification.
Mindful Birding with Molly Adams
Are you interested in learning more about the birds that live and migrate through the Catskills? Join Molly Adams, founder of the Feminist Bird Club and co-author of Birding for a better World, for a mindful birding event where we will spend time enjoying birds outdoors on the Opus 40 grounds. No experience is necessary, and this event is for both new and life-long birders alike.
Ornitherapy & Mindful Birding at Mt Cuba Center
Led by Holly Merker in Hockessin, Delaware, USA - Register through Mt Cuba Center
Finding balance in our busy and pressured lives can be challenging, but if we allow an appreciation of birds and nature to slow us down we improve our overall well-being. Research shows that exposure to nature actively reduces stress, depression, and anxiety, while helping build a stronger heart and immune system. Birds are gateways into deeper experiences with nature, magnifying these benefits. Through the mindful observations of birds and their habitats, we learn not only about them, but about ourselves.
This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Slow Birding with the Kentucky Ornithological Society
Event with Bird Diva Bridget Butler from northwestern Vermont.
Bridget will be co-leading a morning outing and then speaking during the evening.
The Kentucky Ornithological Society will host its spring meeting at Mammoth Cave National Park.
Dates: April 26-28, 2024
Mindful Birding Network Seasonal Gathering
7:30 PM 9:00 PM EASTERN DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
4:30- 6:00pm PACIFIC
Seasonal Virtual Gathering
This is our seasonal gathering online to highlight our collective work, explore Mindful Birding practices, learn about emerging research and science behind the practice, and connect with each other.
If you’ve already joined the network, you’ll receive reminder and a link to the session through email. Haven’t joined yet? Tap that purple button in the upper right corner to join the network and get on our mailing list!
The network upholds an inclusive space and cultivates kindness and generosity where members can thrive. We celebrate people of all levels of interest, knowledge, abilities, and skill with regard to birds and Mindful Birding.
Birding & Being Tour
On this 10-day retreat, we invite you on a journey of self-discovery - to wonder at nature in the heart of lush tropical rainforests, hike to the top of windswept volcanic spires, and set sail on the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Specifically designed to allow you to experience a profound connection to the natural world, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of ancient tropical forests and develop your mindfulness and meditation practice… in paradise.