Each year, New York State Parks’ New York City region collaborates with partners BlackAFinSTEM, NYC Audubon, Latino Outdoors, Feminist Bird Club, and Outdoor Afro to convene Black Birders Week events. Together, these local organizations have created a network of support for historically marginalized people in communities that call this diverse and populated metropolis home, and our state parks are proud to serve as venues for some of the week’s activities.

Black Birders Week is just one example of how an injustice can inspire a community of people to come together to advocate and inspire change. On May 25, 2020, Christian Cooper – a Black man – was birding in Central Park when he encountered a white woman with her dog in the Ramble and politely asked her to put her dog on a leash so as not to disturb nesting birds. In response, the woman called 911 and asserted that a Black man was threatening her and her dog.

The video of this encounter went viral, making national news and demonstrating the challenges Black people face when engaging in outdoor activities. The incident, and others like it, led to the creation of Black Birders Week, now in its fourth year. The week itself aims to celebrate and uplift budding Black birders, expert Black birders, and all birders in between.

Join us in celebrating Black Birders Week with a full slate of events at three New York City parks named after historic Black and Afro-Caribbean leaders: Marsha P. Johnson State Park, Shirley Chisholm State Park and Roberto Clemente State Park.