This is Bird Note.

Project Feederwatch is a community science bird counting program that thousands of birders participate in each year.

Dr. Ashley Deyer, a conservation scientist, says the project is also a great opportunity for over one-third of birders with disabilities.

Ashley Lee is a research team based on Project Feeder Watch data and says the project is readily accessible for most.

And nor diverse participants have shared how with birding, their own disabilities, become helpful tools.

We've done interviews with folks who are neurodiverse who will say, because of my autism,

I'm an even better birder because I can remember things really well.

Or people with ADHD saying it's one of the times that I actually can zero in and stay really focused.

My ability to hyperfocus plays a really great role.

Ashley and her team's main goal is to learn ways to increase inclusion and accessibility

to Project Feeder Watch.

Participation is low among the vision impaired and black and brown people, but project organizers

are hopeful that new incoming data will help change that.

We're trying to understand how to improve Project Feeder Watch so that it is a project

that people want to be involved in and feel like they belong. Learn more about the latest Project Feeder Watch findings

on the new season of Bring Birds Back,

available now in your favorite podcast app

or at bertnote.org.

I'm Jazzy Johnson.