In October 2010, Jim Rapp was on his way to a rally in Washington, D.C., when he realized he didn’t have a sign. A birder and environmental advocate, Rapp took a cue from the hunters and fishers he worked alongside on conservation issues in Maryland, who drew a straight line from their outdoor activities to political action. He hopped off the bus, bought some poster board and markers, and a slogan was born: “I bird, I vote.”
For many birders, it’s an idea that resonates. “Birds and politics can’t be separated,” says Donito Burgess, community engagement manager for Tucson Audubon Society in Arizona. Government actions impact the environments that wildlife depend on. But not everyone associates voting with their love of birding, and for organizers like Burgess, mass action is what matters: “Of course I bird and I vote, but I want to inspire other people.”
If your birding buddies don’t plan to vote, there are tips you can follow to make your case, learning from groups like Tucson Audubon and the Environmental Voter Project, which have developed strategies to drive turnout among nature enthusiasts.
Lead with identity, not reason
It may seem counterintuitive, but don’t try to make the rational case for voting. It’s too easy for individuals to dismiss the significance of their single votes, even if they care deeply about the outcome. What does work: appealing to a shared sense of community and identity—the values you share as birders.
“There’s this perception that birders are sort of off in their own world,” says Jim Brown, policy director for Audubon Mid-Atlantic, which holds an annual I Bird I Vote summit for conservation advocacy. In his experience, Brown says that couldn’t be further from the truth: “The birders in our region tend to be politically engaged and very aware of the environmental issues that are facing birds and the places they need to survive.”
Be loud and proud about your intention to vote, whether you’re on a bird walk or posting on social media. “Caring about birds means advocating for their well-being,” says Sa’kinah Williams, president of the Birds of a Feather Audubon chapter at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, which plans to collaborate with other campus groups to engage classmates as the election approaches. It’s positive peer pressure: Don’t underestimate the power of FOMO.
Make a plan and buddy up
If your friends are still expressing ambivalence, helping them make a plan to cast their ballot can be a game changer. Talk about how, not if, and get specific: Do they plan to vote early or on Election Day? Will they vote by mail or in person? Assist with practical details, like getting registered and figuring out their polling station. Then offer a ride or plan to walk together.
Combining activities is also a great way to strengthen the link between birding and voting. In Tucson, where Burgess organizes voter-outreach events like writing postcards, he says they often kick things off with a birding field trip: “That’s the carrot.” Try it yourself: Why not plan an early-morning outing on November 5, then hit the polling stations together?
Focus on the local
Keeping the conversation close to home can help those less engaged see the value of their vote, especially if they tend to get overwhelmed by the extreme polarization and vitriol of national politics. “The top of the ballot gets most of the headlines,” Burgess says, “but it’s those down-ballot races that are the ones that make a difference in your neighborhood, in your community, in your day-to-day life.” Plus, Brown says, state and local lawmakers are often more responsive even after election day. “They’re much more likely to be your neighbors,” he says. “They’re going to understand why a specific place that you like to go birding is important to you, because they’re going to know that exact place.”
Whether you’re hoping to turn a friend into a new birder or a birder into a new voter, Burgess says their first experience matters most: “They see, ‘Okay, this wasn’t difficult, and I feel pretty good about it.’ ” Like birding, voting can become not just a regular practice but part of your identity—particularly when you see the impact of your vote where you live. “When you know your voice is being heard,” Burgess says, “you’re more likely to use it again.”
This story originally ran in the Fall 2024 issue as “Birds of a Feather Vote Together.” To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today.
