The second Black Birders Week is set to begin next week on May 30, lasting until June 5. Last year, a group of Black birders created the week after a video circulated the internet of a white woman disparaging a Black man in New York’s Central Park, Bird Watching Daily reports.

Amy Cooper was charged with falsely reporting a crime after she told police that avid birder Christian Cooper, who asked her to leash her dog, assaulted her. Concerned that her pet might scurry off and damage the wildlife habitat, the man calmly requested that she more carefully watch her dog.

Amy was recorded on camera saying she would "tell them [police] there's an African American man threatening my life," as Blavity previously reported.

In February, a judge approved prosecutors’ request to drop the charge against the woman because she had completed “psychoeducation and therapy.” Amy has since apologized for the incident.

Now, in an effort to celebrate the joys of engaging wildlife safely outdoors, and to bring awareness to the experiences of birders of color, Black Birders Week seeks to convene conservationists and nature lovers from around the country. The week features national birding events, live-streamed panel discussions and interactive themes each day.

Despite having to deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the event’s co-founder Tykee James said it meant a lot to him to launch in 2020, according to Delaware Online

“We showed that the Black experience goes beyond trauma. The Black experience includes joy, pride, strength, resilience and style. Every day in Black Birders Week was a day to advance that narrative,” James, government affairs coordinator for National Audubon Society, said.

The Philadelphia native expressed that the weeklong celebration is necessary because the birding community is “disconnected and decentralized,” adding that people want to build a sense of community again.

This year’s Black Birders Week will elevate the unique ways Black people connect outdoors. The festive week is highlighted by a number of engaging themes, like Tuesday’s #BirdsEyeView which focuses on honoring LGBTQ+ birders through Q&A livestreams and a T-shirt giveaway. On Friday, participants will get a chance to discuss the birds that they've seen on their journeys. 

The goal of the week's founding group, the BlackAFInSTEM Collective (BAFiS), is to inspire new audiences to engage in nature and wildlife. Although BAFiS has been able to put the event on for the second straight year, organizers said that it's working on issues with its fundraising platforms and hopes to be able to begin new projects soon. 

"Currently we are still working out the details to be able to withdraw the funds from our PayPal account and thus have not used any of the funds donated to us up to this point. We are still accepting donations since they will help us get started immediately on the projects we are looking forward to putting in place, including our Adventure Packs," the group said. 

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