Recent News

A group of students pose.

On Bonaire, in the Caribbean Netherlands, Bonaire Wild Bird Rehab recently received field guides to help identify the birds brought to their center for treatment, and equipment donations coordinated by local guide Susan Davis allowed the STINAPA Junior Rangers to participate in a Global Big Day (Photo by STINAPA Bonaire).

Paying Forward the Joy of Birding

By Kelly Smith, Birders’ Exchange Program Manager, American Birding Association

Birders’ Exchange provides bird watching equipment and resources to organizations in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean with an educational need. The purpose of the program is to connect people to birds and engage them in birding. The American Birding Association (ABA) works with its partners to obtain binoculars, spotting scopes, cameras, field guides and books, and online resources for the program.

Birders’ Exchange was founded in 1990 by the Manomet Center for Conservation Science (MCCS) after a need for field equipment was discussed during a conference for neotropical bird researchers. In 1996 the ABA started a partnership with MCCS to co-manage the program, and in 2002 the ABA began sole management of Birders’ Exchange. Since then the ABA has been able to send out thousands of binoculars, spotting scopes, cameras, and field guides to teachers, students, and ornithologists who need these essential research tools.

The Asociación Maya Chajulense Bird Guides and their advisor Maynor Ovando of Birding Expeditions were able to identify Guatemalan bird species for World Migratory Big Day with binoculars donated by Kowa through Birders’ Exchange (photo by Gilberto Anay).

The original objective of the program was to receive donations of new and used optics, field guides, and other equipment to be redistributed to research students, scientists, and educators in the Neotropics. These conservationists would then use the equipment to study birds and their habitats, train birding guides, and mentor the local population about the avifauna in their area to instill a sense of pride and a feeling of ownership and protection. The ABA has continued to develop Birders’ Exchange by incorporating the SparkBird Project created by Bill Stewart, and expanding out of the Neotropics into the United States and Canada.

Educational institutions, individual researchers, tour operators and guides, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply to Birders’ Exchange program. The ABA supports programs that teach field identification, bird guiding, citizen science programs, conservation programs, and general bird and nature programs, including K-12 curriculum, STEM and STEAM programs, and clubs.

Binoculars in a circle next to words Birders' Exchange.

There are many ways you can help the ABA continue to make Birders’ Exchange a success. Donations of equipment in good working order are always welcome. If you are a U.S. resident and have plans to travel to the West Indies, Latin America, or Canada, please let us know if you are willing to be a volunteer courier. Delivering just one binocular or field guide can help make a monitoring program or bird census successful. We are also raising funds to cover costs of shipping, printing, and the purchase of specific equipment and accessories. For example, we cannot send out a pair of binoculars without a strap or a scope without a tripod. Lastly, you can support Birders’ Exchange by talking about it with your friends, other birders, and anyone who may be interested in aiding our efforts to get equipment into the hands of those who need it. Please encourage anyone you think may benefit from the program to apply. The current application period runs January 1 through March 15, 2024.

For more information on Birders’ Exchange, including details and a link to the application form in English and Spanish, please visit our website or send us an email.