About us
We walking and watching birds, while also learning to foster deeper, healthier connections to ourselves, others, wildlife, and the earth. Watching birds can lead to greater human satisfaction, happiness, and health. By being aware of birds, we can also grow our ability to focus and to rest in the current moment, as well as grow our compassion and justice centered behaviors to help care for ourselves, others, and the planet. Birds, humans, and the earth are in trouble and with strong connections to the living community around us, we can save ourselves and all life.
These walks aim to grow our ability to transform ourselves and our world by watching birds as an intentional mindfulness practice. This is enhanced by an emphasis on our relationships and connections to the humans who join us for the walk and the other species with whom we will interact.
Though led by renown avian conservationist, Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, the hope is that we build a just and compassionate community together made up of those who respond to this form of mindfulness practice. She is the author of many books, including "Birding for Life: How to save ourselves, birds, and the planet."
Our walks will be open to spontaneous conversation, identifying birds, and enjoying their behavior while also following LoraKim's facilitation with questions, readings, and gentle nature practices.
Upcoming events
3
Bird Walk: Birding for Life in Columbia
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, 2701 Heyward St, Columbia, SC 29205, USA, Columbia, SC, USThis is more than just a bird walk to identify, watch, and enjoy birds - although we will certainly do that! We will be on the look out for migrating birds, for this is the time of bird migration where over million birds have flown over South Carolina in one night. Though migration is slowing down, we will look for them and our residents while we connect to nature.
During the walk we will leisurely walk to observe birds, and while we go, we will also experience reflections by participants, as well as conversations, readings, and nature practices. Our goal is to connect to nature and to each other, nourishing our lives, relationships, and the earth. People under the age of 18 should be accompanied by an adult.
Please meet at the front of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia. From there we will stroll on sidewalks to the Emily Douglas park
and return, covering about 1.3 miles in the process.This walk is free and you if you can, please contribute to bird conservation and future bird walks, here with One Earth Conservation that cosponsors these walks along with the Unitarian Univeralist Congregation of Columbia. You can also learn more about LoraKim's work with nature, birding, and parrot conservation here: One Earth Conservation.
Please bring comfortable walking shoes and water if you need it.
If you get lost, you can call LoraKim at 914-325-9574.LoraKim is a renown avian conservationist who hopes through these walks we will build a just and compassionate community together made up of those who respond to this form of mindfulness practice. She is also a community minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia.
1 attendee
Giving Thanks for Birds: A Bird Walk for Gratitude
Lake Wateree State Park, 881 State Park RD, Winnsboro, 29180, SC, USThis is more than just a bird walk to identify, watch, and enjoy birds - although we will certainly do that! We will also converse about how we can be grateful as we begin a week of giving thanks. A practice of gratitude can nurture ourselves and this beautiful earth. Birds remind us of joy and how connecting to them and nature can help us become better stewards of earth and grow our solidarity with all of life.
Migration is over but we will have winter visiting birds, such as dark-eyed juncos, and our year=long residents for which we are grateful.
We will start at the ranger station, and then walk to the beginning of Desportes Island Nature trail. From there we will take the right loop where I recently saw many species of birds. Up to 134 species of birds have been observed at Lake Wateree.
There is a $3 charge for adults to enter the park, payable at the entrace. The walk is free, however, if you would like to contribute to bird conservation and future bird walks, you can donate at One Earth Conservation that sponsors these walks. You can also learn more about LoraKim's work with nature, birding, and parrot conservation here: One Earth Conservation.
Please bring comfortable walking shoes and water if you need it. There will be some bugs about so you might want to use repellent.
If you get lost, you can call LoraKim at 914-325-9574.LoraKim is a renown avian conservationist who hopes through these walks we will build a just and compassionate community together made up of those who respond to this form of mindfulness practice.
1 attendee
Past events
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