Bears for Birds - Audubon at Berkeley
SCIENCES - RESEARCH
Bears for Birds aims to educate students about local bird species and engage them in regional ecology through citizen science.
With birdwatching at its nexus, Bears for Birds aims to inspire a connection to the environment and species that we share it with. This club is a campus chapter of the National Audubon Society, a nonprofit with national acclaim that aims to empower citizens with scientific tools to educate themselves and others in their community about ecology.
Members of Bears for Birds have full access to Audubon’s network, resources, and employment opportunities — both professional and volunteer — in environmental conservation, ecology, and science. While there are certainly many environmental clubs on campus, Audubon at Berkeley is unique in that it directly associates students with an established and respected national nonprofit that will foster their ability to perform legitimate science without the gatekeeping that often prevents students and budding scientists from participating.
Birdwatching is a unique form of citizen science that has dozens of intersections with ecology, culture, conservation, and education, and because it is so vast in its reach, the opportunities for community engagement and betterment are limitless. Bears for Birds focuses on ways to enable members to learn about the “urban wilderness” of Berkeley and encourage them to conserve birds and their habitats through sociological as well as ecological lenses; the club also extends beyond Cal’s campus and engages in projects to make the broader Bay Area more bird-friendly.