Our working group consists of four women and three men and the input of specialist advisors as their time permits. Our meetings average about two hours once a month. And, believe me, we thoroughly discuss every item on the agenda. What comes from this process are well-thought, fleshed-out ideas that birders of all abilities can get excited about. There will be a survey for the membership that includes questions that will let us learn the needs and wants of birders who identify as disabled. Those answers will help us create ac- cessible trips and inclusive online content for our members and the birding community of Ontario. OFO recently hosted a beginners’ refresher raptor ID webi- nar, which was presented by Catherine Manschot from Niagara Peninsula hawkwatch. Our working group sought the advice of Robert Spaul, a birder, hawk enthusiast and creator of the Great Lakes hawk Watch, on how to present a webinar that would intrigue and inform birders. he recommended Catherine. her presentation was fantastic. There is a link to the webinar on OFO’s Facebook Page. We now want to enhance what we learned by giving inter- ested birders the chance to build their observation and ID skills through raptor-specific, accessible trips and online presentations so that we can all take part in an accessible hawkwatch event. Each of our initiatives is meant as a building block to make birding more accessible, inclusive, and fun for persons with dis- abilities. They’re also meant to get our membership involved and create a sense of community. I mean, we all love birds. We want to work to protect birds and their habitats. We all want to learn more about them and share what we know. So, I’ve saved the coolest, best initiative for last. Our working group recommended that we develop a map of accessible birding locations in Ontario. Then, we got creative. Check this out: Three Canadian, bird-focused organizations — Ontario Field Ornithologists, Toronto Ornithological Club and Birds Canada — have joined forces to work on this map along with ESRI Canada (a geographic information systems company). Our map will contain birding locations that have been eval- uated against a list of accessibility specifications, including trail surface type, available seating along the trail, elevation, loop or out-and-back route, bathrooms, and other considerations, along with likely bird species. This information will benefit birders of all ages and abilities, making it truly inclusive. We will, of course, make an announcement when the map project becomes available. But, we want input and opinions from birders with visible or invisible disabilities while we are developing it, as the quote “Nothing About Us Without Us” proudly says. To join the evaluation team for accessible locations or for testing the app, contact us at disability@ofo.ca. Leona Mattice, who lives in Elliot Lake, is a birder, daughter/care- giver, social media talker, OFO Disability Working Group leader and an unrepentant Barry Manilow fan. 12 OFO News June 2022 EVEN THOUGH BIRDING is becoming more popular here, it wasn’t always the case. When my interest in birds began, I knew almost no one near me who was into birds. I would have appreciated the opportunity to contact a Birding Buddy for information or join them for an outing. So, when the Birding Buddies idea was proposed, I didn’t hesitate to sign up to help others. I was excited to welcome my first Bird- ing Buddy but slightly nervous. What if we don’t see any of the birds they want to see? What if we only see two species? Then, one February morning, I met my first birding buddy, Monique Grenier. After saying “Bonjour”, we started down the snow-covered path together. It was a very mild morning after a long cold spell, and there weren’t many birds around. We saw one hairy Woodpecker and a few Black-capped Chickadees for a total of two species — and that was okay. It was wonderful to take a stroll while discussing our mutual love for birds and nature. And, to chat in my first language made it even more fun! When I got home, I edited my Birding Buddy description to add that I speak French and hope for more Birding Buddy visits in the future. As Birding Buddy participants, we can offer a glimpse of what we love about bird- ing in our area. It’s not always about the numbers or reaching a target. It’s about the whole experience. I love birding slowly, immersed in the sights and sounds of the moment. I am constantly enthralled by the The joys of OFO’s Birding Buddies Program Roxane Filion explores one of her favourite trails in the boreal forest east of Timmins. Photo by Gary Dowe BY ROXANE FILION This year is my 10th as an OFO member, and I was happy to mark that milestone by signing up for OFO’s Birding Buddies initiative. I live in South Porcupine, a small community east of Timmins.