Birding, whether visual or auditory, is a great way to experience the natural world and protect biodiversity. The sensory experience of birding by sound is a boost to disability inclusion, too.
Identifying birds by calls or songs rather than sight is called blind birding, though it is not only for the visually impaired. It can be a challenging skill to hone as many birds have similar songs, and others can mimic the sounds of other species.
Identifying birds through sound requires being attentive to the unique sounds and calls of birds. Juan Pablo, who was born blind, can reportedly identify more than 2,000 birds by their song. That’s pretty impressive considering Colombia is home to the largest number of bird species in the world.