Winnipeg Free Press: Bird is the word. Birding a low-stakes pastime to get out in nature

The group chats away warmly — catching up on the happenings of the last week — while strolling through the park. Suddenly, someone stops and throws an index finger toward the canopy.

“Bird over there.”

A hush falls over the crowd and eight sets of binoculars rise to search for fluttering wings amid the dappled sunshine.

The University of Manitoba Indigenous Birding Club has been meeting weekly since the spring of 2023. It’s a casual network focused on fostering an appreciation for birds, yes, but also on building a welcoming outdoor community.

“We started the group because we had seen other movements creating space for (Black and Indigenous people, and people of colour) out in nature, so we decided to try it here,” says Justin Rasmussen, club co-founder and director of the university’s Indigenous leadership programming department.

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