A Community of Bird Enthusiasts: Chicago BIPOC Birders

Zelle Tenorio recalls the transformative moment that led them to become a birder. Three years ago, they attended a walk organized by Chicago BIPOC Birders and Out in Nature, an LGBTQ+ outdoor meetup group. During the walk, they witnessed a Caspian tern capturing a fish, an experience they found incredibly fascinating. Since that day, Tenorio has become a regular participant and volunteer at birding events. They even have a tattoo of a tern with a fish to commemorate their first walk.

Chicago BIPOC Birders has been hosting bird walks and bird sits, events where participants observe birds from a fixed location, in various parks and outdoor areas throughout the city since 2021. Recently, the group organized a Pride Sit on a Sunday morning for LGBTQ+ birders and their families at South Shore’s Rainbow Beach Park. Participants spread picnic blankets across the beach and used binoculars and bird guides. Bird enthusiasts quickly spotted a starling in the sky, while another participant recognized a sandpiper call.

Organizer Maddie Fernandez explains that BIPOC Birders was formed after the pandemic, driven by a yearning for connection. The goal was also to challenge stereotypes that birding is mainly for older white individuals. “There was a need to create a new affinity space within the Chicago birding community,” Fernandez stated. “Many members have experienced feeling excluded in traditional birding circles.” Working as a community engagement and programs manager at the environmental nonprofit Urban Rivers, Fernandez joined the organization in 2022. She started organizing her own walks a few years afterward.

The group consists of people from various generations, welcoming both experienced naturalists and beginners. Zelle Tenorio, prominently featured during a birding event on June 21, 2026, pointed out birds along the shore at Rainbow Beach in South Shore.

Joice Kim, a student with a love for birds, decided to attend an event at the last minute after following the group’s Instagram earlier this year. “I wanted to connect with others,” she noted. Meanwhile, Rachel Flores, an experienced participant using they/them pronouns, has joined walks for several years. Flores has encountered nighthawks, kingfishers, herons, and even bald eagles during these outings.

Zelle Tenorio emphasized the greater diversity of wildlife seen during group walks compared to solo excursions.

Joseline Salmeron found the bird sit to be a soothing way to celebrate Pride. She expressed that Pride doesn’t always have to involve partying. “Pride can be celebrated differently,” she stated. Salmeron appreciated that the group often organizes events at parks on the South Side, noting their significant presence and visibility there.

During the sit, Fernandez discussed birds’ expressions of gender and sexuality. She explained that many animals, including birds, can change sexes and form parenting bonds with the same sex. According to the National Wildlife Federation, same-sex partnerships are documented in over 130 bird species. Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo also hosts a same-sex penguin couple. “Many animals, particularly birds, demonstrate these characteristics,” Fernandez remarked. “Such observations can be affirming for queer individuals. It’s healing to see reflections of oneself in nature.”

Flores shared a sentiment about birds, noting their natural disregard for gender. “Birds are incredibly queer animals,” they said. “They live without societal constraints about gender.”