A Summer Filled With Joy, Discovery, And Community
Jhoni Ada
August 2025
Image credit: Reggy Fortcolin
This year, under the theme Grounded in Community, we celebrated our sixth Black Birders Week with six unforgettable events across four cities in Fairfield County, New Haven County and Hartford County-- Bridgeport, New Haven, Simsbury, and Hamden It was our most expansive and joyful year yet — and our biggest, drawing more than 60 participants to explore nature, celebrate Black joy, and build lasting connections in the outdoors. As our partners at BlackAFinStem so powerfully state:
“Black Birders Week is more than birding—it’s a movement for liberation, healing, and the transformative power of nature as a force for resistance and reclamation.”
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Image Credit: Autumn Sands-Caldwell
Among the many moments that stood out to me and others…
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Seeing an orchard oriole and a cedar waxwing for the first time is at the top of my list.
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Someone spied a juvenile bald eagle getting schooled by ospreys over the Ash Creek Preserve.
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Another group, birding along the Farmington Canal trail near a Home Depot, spotted an adult bald eagle hovering overhead — nature quietly reminding us it thrives in the unlikeliest places.
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One group joyfully debated whether the song of a black-capped chickadee sounded like Michael Jackson, and the call of the ovenbird like Sexyy Red. These cultural, playful references brought new life to identification, sparking laughter and belonging through every trail and treetop.
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Perhaps most surprising was the discovery of the boat-tailed grackle, a species not often seen in our area and an indication that when we show up for nature, it shows up for us.
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“All I had to do was stop and listen,” one participant said. “I didn’t know how much was already there — waiting.”
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The joy wasn’t just in the sightings but in the storytelling: the imagined telenovelas unfolding in the trees, the communal naming of birds, and the laughter that echoed from forest paths to the canal trail.
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Kwadwo Adae, one of our featured artists, reflected, “We might come and go, but these birds will remain long after we are gone.” This was a powerful reminder of why conservation matters — not just for today but for generations to come.
Image credit: Reggy Fortcolin
This year, the chosen bird of the week, the sparrow, echoed this theme’s power. “Often dismissed as ‘little brown birds,’ sparrows symbolize adaptability and community — qualities that deeply resonate with the Black community” (BlackAFinStem). Like the sparrow, our gatherings were vibrant, resilient, and rooted in connection. We lifted our voices together, showed up for nature, and demonstrated why Black birders are not just participants — we are leaders, stewards, and storytellers reshaping the future of conservation.
Flying Colors Highlights:
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Spotting sixty-plus bird species across all events — including a rare sighting at Ash Creek and a powerful showing of raptors on Science Hill, New Haven, CT.
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Partnering with local organizations such as the African American Society #024, Moore Hikes, and Outdoor Afro CT, who helped us expand our reach and deepen our conversations
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A heartfelt dialogue on the impact of green spaces in cities — how they support mental health, climate resilience, and community strength
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A beautiful showing of intergenerational birders, including many first-timers, from kids to elders
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Our first-ever artists showcase was made possible with the contributions of time, heart, and creativity by artists Kwadwo Adae and Nature Express.
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Image credit: Reggy Fortcolin
Black Birders Week & Conservation are Birds of a Feather
Black Birders Week isn’t just about celebrating — it’s also about protecting the places where our stories take flight. That’s why conservation and Remington Woods continue to be at the heart of our work.
Located in Bridgeport, this 400-acre forest is one of the last remaining urban wilds in Fairfield County. It’s not only a haven for biodiversity but also a frontline defense against climate impacts like flooding, air pollution, and extreme heat, especially for communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental injustice.
During a recent impromptu visit and bird survey at Remington Woods with Ade Ben-Salahuddin, one of Black Birders Week’s organizers, 34 bird species were recorded in just one hour — proof of the ecological value of this landscape.
We are excited about the Nature for All plan — a community-driven vision for Remington Woods that champions conservation, public access, and environmental education. It’s not just about protecting the forest — it’s about protecting our future.
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Image Credit: Autumn Sands-Caldwell
A Creative & Nature-filled Summer Adventure
This summer, we’ve also had the joy of doing art and birdwatching with a group of neighborhood seniors near Remington Woods in Bridgeport, as part of our Art in Nature senior class series. This series was done in partnership with the East Side Senior Center and emphasized our commitment to making nature and conservation accessible to all generations.
The gatherings were more than educational — they served as occasions for relaxation, creativity, reflection, imagination, and joy. Seniors learned sketching basics and techniques, sketched birds, learned the science and psychology behind doodling, and learned about perspective.
Image credit: Jhoni Ada
The series culminated with a birdwatching excursion in Remington Woods — and what a magical outing it was! With the guidance and birding expertise of Thomas Parlapiano and Frank Mantlik, we explored the trails and were treated to an incredible lineup of avian visitors, including the bald eagle, indigo bunting, barn swallow, chimney swift, red-winged blackbird, American robin, and eastern towhee. This memorable experience was made possible through the generous support of Vita Nuova, Corteva, and the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC).
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Image credits: DJ Johnson
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Image credit: Frank Mantlik
Here is a complete visual list of the birds the East Side Seniors spotted at Remington Woods! Check out this eBird list compiled by Frank Mantlik
Our continued collaboration with partners like Trust for Public Land and Nature Express at this July Waterfront Wednesday art class focused on birds in collage, reminding us that the sum of the parts truly makes the whole and that the health of our green spaces impacts us all.
Photos taken by DJ Johnson and Jhoni Ada
Last but not least, every Friday this summer, we teamed up with the Boys & Girls Club of Bridgeport to bring young people outside for Fresh Air Fridays — a hands-on environmental exploration series designed to inspire curiosity, connection, and care for the natural world. Through fun and educational activities like birdwatching, kite flying, gardening, pollinator discovery, waterway protection, and creative recycling techniques, participants learned not only how nature works but also how they could be powerful stewards of it. We are confident that these outdoor experiences helped to spark lifelong habits of environmental awareness and joy, and led to a deeper connection to local green spaces.
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Image credits: DJ Johnson
Our work continues in support of the Nature for All plan—ensuring that Remington Woods remains protected, welcoming, and alive with possibility for everyone.
Stay tuned for more intergenerational outings and creative collaborations. Together, we’re making the outdoors a space of belonging.
Join Us: This summer reminded us what’s possible when joy, justice, and nature come together. Now we invite you to stay involved — whether by joining our Conservation Committee, attending a future outing, or supporting the ongoing fight to protect Remington Woods and advocating for the Nature for All plan. Our work continues, grounded in community, just like the sparrow.
We belong in nature. And this forest belongs to all of us. For more information, email: remington.woods@sierraclub.org
Jhoni Ada is Sierra Club Connecticut’s Organizer on Save Remington Woods project in Bridgeport, along with other outreach and projects within the city and Fairfield County.
