The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is holding a black-tie Black Birders Week event: Black Excellence in Birding from 5–9 p.m. Saturday, May 28.

Meet some of Philadelphia’s most well-known Black birders, including Tykee James, Corina Newsome and Jason Hall. Joined by moderator and fellow Black birder Anwar Abdul-Qawi, they will share their experiences of birding while Black. Tweet an invite to a fellow bird lover, fluff up your plumage for a feathery date night or simply sip cocktails and savor delicious appetizers as you enjoy good conversation with fellow Black birders.

Tickets are $50 per person; $40 Academy members and African American Museum Members. To register, visit https://ansp.org/programs-and-events/festivals/black-birders-week/ Guests must be 21+ to drink and will receive wristbands. Special thanks to the African American Museum for their support of this program.

Black Birders Week is a weeklong series of events to highlight Black nature enthusiasts and to increase the visibility of Black birders, who face unique challenges and dangers when engaging in outdoor activities. The event was created as a response to the Central Park birdwatching incident and police brutality against Black Americans. The inaugural event ran from May 31 to June 5, 2020. The week of events was organized by a group of STEM professionals and students known as the BlackAFinSTEM Collective.

Here is the schedule for the evening. For more details on the event and the special guests, visit the Academy’s website.

5 p.m. Meet, Greet and Learn  

Stroll the red carpet, enjoy refreshments and cocktails in Dinosaur Hall, and meet fellow birders and the four special guests. 

 
6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Bird Walks  

Stroll the Academy’s dioramas with Corina Newsome and Tykee James as they relate all the details about the birds inside.   

 
6, 6:30 and 7 p.m. Ornithology Collection Tours 

Go behind the scenes for one-of-a-kind views of the Academy’s world-renowned Ornithology Collection. Meet Academy scientists and learn how the specimens in the collection contribute to scientific research and discovery.