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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Cat Fribley <cat@birdability.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 2, 2026 3:59 PM<br><b>To:</b> Birdability Info <info@birdability.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Martha Steele <marthajs@verizon.net>; Jerry Berrier <jerry.berrier@gmail.com>; Donna Posont <donnabutterfly50@gmail.com>; Steve <steve.garrett@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Two Months to Go: Join Us for the 2nd Annual Global Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Dear Bird-a-Thon Participant,</span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Because you were part of last year\u2019s Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, you helped shape something new and powerful enough to grow and expand this year!</span><span class=gmaildefault><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'> </span></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>And now, we are just two months away from the 2nd Annual Global Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon happening May 3 and 4, 2026, and registration is officially open.</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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>This global celebration is designed with and for birders who are blind and have low vision. It centers birding by ear, community connections, and the understanding that birding is for every body and every mind.</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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Participants who are blind or have low vision can bird anywhere in the world during a 24 hour window on either May 3 or May 4. Birding can take place in a backyard, park, balcony, accessible trail, neighborhood sidewalk, or wherever listening to birds is possible. Count the species you detect by sound or sight and submit your list to the Bird-a-Thon Compiler so your birds can be part of the global total. There is no cost to participate. The focus is community, joy in birds, awareness, and access.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Full details and registration are available at:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><br><a href="https://www.birdability.org/blind-birdathon">https://www.birdability.org/blind-birdathon</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>How You Can Participate</span></b><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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Birders who are blind or have low vision, of any age or experience level, are welcome. You can participate as an individual or as part of a team. You may bird alone, with friends, or with sighted volunteers.</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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Choose May 3 or May 4, 2026 and bird for as much of those 24 hours as works for you, but no less than 2 hours. Spread your time throughout the day or focus it all at once. Bird anywhere that feels accessible and joyful. Use the tools that support you best, whether that is Merlin Bird ID, recording devices, binoculars, guidebooks, or simply listening.</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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>After the event, submit your species list so your birds can be counted in the global total. Participants in the United States will be entered into a prize drawing thanks to generous supporters, and other countries may host local celebrations as well.</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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Registration is available at this link: </span><a href="https://forms.gle/wtcJSZaeep7mw9Y69"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>https://forms.gle/wtcJSZaeep7mw9Y69</span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Join a Community Conversation</span></b><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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Leading up to the Bird-a-Thon, we are hosting Community Conversations designed to build skills, connection, and confidence in birding by ear. These sessions are open, informal, and created for blind and low vision birders as well as sighted allies.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>March 10, 2026</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><br>Living on the Wind: How and Why Birds Migrate with Scott Weidensaul<br>Scott will explore how migratory birds travel extraordinary distances each year, navigating in ways that can feel like science fiction while undergoing remarkable physical changes as they move across thousands of miles.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>April 14, 2026</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><br>Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon Info Session<br>Created by and for blind and low vision birders, this session will walk through how the event works, offer practical tips for accessible birding by ear, and share resources to help you and your community participate.</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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>In these conversations, you will learn birding by ear skills, explore technology for recording and identifying sounds, and connect with a growing global community.</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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>You can register for the Community Conversations at this link: <a href="https://forms.gle/C5CSBMJFNuNehgaY8">https://forms.gle/C5CSBMJFNuNehgaY8</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Help Us Spread the Word</span></b><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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>You can also support the Bird-a-Thon by sharing registration information with your networks, forwarding our emails, inviting a local organization to host an accessible outing, or encouraging someone new to participate. We have a Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon Toolkit available on the website with guidance for blind-serving organizations, bird clubs, land managers, and community groups who want to partner and plan inclusive events.</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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>We would be honored to have you join us again this year!</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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>With gratitude and excitement,</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:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Cat Fribley (Birdability), Jerry Berrier, Donna Posont, and Martha Steele</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2 align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-weight:normal'>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. </span><o:p></o:p></h2></div></div></div></body></html>