Friends of Montclair Library

May 25-31, 2025 is Black Birders Week, which highlights Black nature enthusiasts and promotes safe and welcoming spaces to enjoy nature. The event “began in 2020 to highlight the historic discrimination in nature-based outdoor recreation activities, like birding,” according to the EBRPD, which has special events all week.

“#BlackBirdersWeek is a bold and unapologetic reclamation of the Black community’s role in environmental spaces—a powerful celebration of our enduring connection to the earth and a resounding call to dismantle the oppressive systems that have excluded us,” according to the organizers, Black AF in STEM.

Here are seven books, one for each day of the week, by and about Black birders (descriptions are from the library’s catalog unless otherwise noted):

Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper
“Equal parts memoir, travelogue, and primer on the art of birding, this is Cooper’s story of learning to claim and defend space for himself and others like him, from his days at Marvel Comics introducing the first gay storylines to vivid and life-changing birding expeditions through Africa, Australia, the Americas, and the Himalayas. Better Living Through Birding recounts Cooper’s journey through the wonderful world of birds and what they can teach us about life, if only we would look and listen.”

Sparrow Envy: Field Guide to Birds and Lesser Beasts by J. Drew Lanham
“Writer [and poet, ornithology professor and birder] J. Drew Lanham mixes poetry and prose to reflect — and to and prompt reflection — on sparrows, ‘murders’ of crows, and the challenges of being a Black birder, among other topics.” Lanham also writes about birds in Joy Is the Justice We Give Ourselves and The Home Place.

This Is a Book for People Who Love Birds by Danielle Belleny
“Wildlife biologist and co-founder of Black Birders Week Danielle Belleny walks readers through the essentials of bird watching, from equipment to locations, offering new ideas for finding avian friends wherever you may be. Engaging profiles of North American bird species, from cardinals and blue jays to raptors and sea birds, are accompanied by whimsical illustrations sure to spark the imaginations of birders from coast to coast.”

Keep Looking Up: Your Guide to the Powerful Healing of Birdwatching by Tammah Watts (Link+)
“As a licensed therapist, Tammah Watts knew that she needed to seek and accept hope, love and support to overcome her chronic pain and cultivate resilience. But she could not predict that [a] little yellow bird would put her on the path to healing by fostering a powerful connection with birds and the experience of birding. Tammah shares her emotional journey of finding comfort and inspiration from her feathered friends, while providing practical tips and tools to help you.”

Been Outside: Adventures of Black Women, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming People in Nature by Carolyn Finney, Amber Wendler, Shaz Zamore
“Encompassing identity, inspiration, ancestry, community and stewardship, the essays and poems by leading Black women and nonbinary scientists and explorers in Been Outside delve into how experiences in the natural world and life sciences shape the self. These writers and researchers contemplate the moments that sparked their love of nature, as well as the ways time in the field and outdoor adventures have enhanced or expanded their perspective about what is possible.”

How to Be an Urban Birder by David Lindo
“David Lindo, popularly known as The Urban Birder, is a naturalist, writer, broadcaster, speaker, photographer, wildlife tour leader and educator. His mission is to connect the city folk of the world with the wonderful wildlife that is all around them-even in the middle of the Concrete Jungle. His motto is simple: Look up! [Lindo] covers the best places to look for birds in towns and cities, helps you get to know your urban birds, gives useful tips on how to attract birds to your garden and explains what gear you need and how to go about being an urban birder.”

Sparrow Loves Birds by Murry Burgess, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony
It’s never too early to get interested in birds, and this picture book, with its bird-watching tips and glossary, is a great introduction to birding. “While observing the assorted birds in her town, Sparrow, a curious Black girl, learns about their flight patterns, colors, and songs.”