Interpreting birds benefits people by promoting mental wellbeing and benefits the planet by increasing pro-conservation behavior. Using the evidence-based methods prescribed by the University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group, this webinar will highlight the value of birds for interpreters and teach skills for interpreting them to diverse audiences. Mindfulness is at the core of the nature connection research groups work. Their prescription for improving nature connection can be summed up as making people feel like they are part of nature rather than outside of it by increasing sensory awareness and providing opportunities for reflection and creative self-expression based on those impressions. In this session we will spend equal time on how building nature connection through bird watching has significant benefits to the planet as we do on how it benefits people individually, but will feature survey data collected during restorative (mindful) bird watching events as supporting evidence and a case study for how the methods work