On a warm, sunny morning last October, a group of bird lovers—participants in an ABA Community Weekend—gathered on the beach in Fort Myers, Florida. The sun was shining, a gentle breeze drifted in off the water, and the tide was low. Along the shoreline, Sanderlings and Ruddy Turnstones darted back and forth, sometimes coming so close that the birders had to lower their cameras and simply watch, laugh, and enjoy the moment together.
Later that day, the group gathered to hear from ABA Young Birder Hannes Leonard, who shared how the ABA’s Young Birder programs have enriched his life and the lives of so many other young people who have found confidence, mentorship, and belonging through birding.
Days like these are why birding matters, And your support makes them happen.
Birding can be about identifying species or adding to a life list. It’s also about slowing down. It’s about connection to nature, to place, and to one another. When people gather in community around birds, they create space for learning, joy, and shared purpose. And those shared experiences build something even bigger: a strong, engaged community ready to stand up for birds and the habitats they depend on.
Today, that sense of community is more important than ever. In a world that often feels rushed and divided, birding offers a rare opportunity to come together across generations, backgrounds, and experience levels to find common ground.
Your gift makes that possible.
Through initiatives like our Young Birder programs and Community Weekends, along with world-class content like Birding, North American Birds, and the American Birding Podcast, the ABA brings people together in meaningful ways and provides resources to enrich their journey even more. Young birders learn from mentors and peers. New birders find encouragement and confidence. Lifelong birders share their knowledge and rediscover the joy that first drew them outside. Together, these programs intersect to build knowledge, strengthen community, and cultivate conservation-minded advocates for birds.
And we need your support to continue making it happen.
Your support makes these moments possible. Your generosity helps young birders discover their passion, brings communities together, and ensures that birding remains welcoming, vibrant, and impactful for generations to come.
This spring, will you make a gift of any amount that feels meaningful to you to support the American Birding Association? Your contribution today will help build skills, create belonging, and inspire lifelong advocates for birds and the places they live.
Thank you for being part of this community and for helping make days like that October morning in Fort Myers possible again and again.
