<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Segoe UI";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 4 2 4 2 2 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Open Sans";}
@font-face
{font-family:"Helvetica Neue";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;}
h3
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 3 Char";
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
font-weight:bold;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.Heading3Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 3 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 3";
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:none;
font-weight:bold;}
span.gmailsignatureprefix
{mso-style-name:gmail_signature_prefix;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:14.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:4.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal'>**Birds. Community. Joy.</span><o:p></o:p></h3><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black'>The First-Ever Blind Birder Bird-a-thon Takes Flight on May 18!**</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black'>On Saturday, May 18, legally blind birders from across the U.S. (and beyond) will come together\u2014virtually and in person\u2014for the inaugural Blind Birder Bird-a-thon, a national celebration of birds, community, and inclusion. This one-day event marks the first-ever pilot of a national birding event designed specifically by and for legally blind birders\u2014and everyone is invited to join in.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black'>Whether you're an experienced birder or have never even heard of a chickadee, the Blind Birder Bird-a-thon welcomes you. There\u2019s no experience necessary\u2014just bring your curiosity and a willingness to tune into the natural world around you.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:30.0pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black'>\u201cBirding is about so much more than just seeing birds,\u201d says Cat Fribley, Executive Director of Birdability, the organization co-hosting the Bird-a-thon with a national team of blind and low vision birders. \u201cIt's about listening, connecting, and experiencing joy\u2014together. This event is a way for blind birders to be in community, to celebrate birds and birdsong, and to remind the world that birding truly is for everybody.\u201d</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black'>Participants can bird however is accessible and joyful to them\u2014whether listening for birds in a backyard, park, or balcony; joining a group outing; or enjoying a walk outside a few times that day. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:black'>Local organizations and individuals are creating gatherings and bid events. Find more about your community\u2019s plans at xxxxxxxxx. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><br><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=gmailsignatureprefix>-- </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#242424'>Cat Fribley<br>Executive Director</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#242424'>Birdability<br>She/her/hers</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica Neue",serif;letter-spacing:.2pt'>\u202a(512) 763-7913</span><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#242424'><br>Instagram: @birdability<br>Facebook: Birdability</span><o:p></o:p></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'>Birdability is a nonprofit working to make birding and the outdoors accessible and inclusive for everyone, especially those with disabilities and health concerns. Join us in creating a more welcoming birding community! Learn more or support our mission by donating at Birdability.org. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>