Birds and Beers is an informal gathering of birders of all abilities–if you’re interested in birds, you’re invited. You can meet other birders–maybe find a carpool buddy, ask about where to find target birds, share cool research projects you might be working on, ask a bird feeding question, share life lists, share some digiscoping tips, promote your blog–the sky is the limit. It’s low key and it’s fun.
The next Birds and Birds will be:
March 18, 2013
6pm
The Black Forest Inn in Minneapolis
To get the most timely updates on when the next Birds and Beers will be, become a fan of Birds and Beers on Facebook and when a new event it planned, you’ll get a notification. Or check back here.
Here are links to past Birds and Beers:
Birds and Beers–The Crow Roost (the second biggest one).
Birds and Beers–The Holiday Edition
Birds and Beers–And A Scotch Tasting
Birds and Beers–The Texas Edition
Birds and Beers–The Cape May Edition
How to host a Birds and Beers:
As much as I would love to travel the world meeting birders over an adult beverage…that’s just not a feasible career option (or healthy one either). So, please, feel free to start your own Birds and Beers. It’s easy, all you need is a social savvy host and the right bar or pub.
1. Find a bar or pub that does not have loud live music or tvs blaring sports. Call ahead and alert them to what you might want to do and find out if they have a slow night like a Tuesday or Thursday. Tell them you want to host this and that you will be bringing them 16 – 24 people between the hours of 6pm – 9pm to gather, have a bite to eat and drink a beverage or two. Those numbers are based on the average attendance of our Birds and Beers here. Our rare lowest number was 8 people showing up. Our two largest events hosted 52 people for the Crow Roost edition and 97 at the Biggest Week in North American Birding Festival edition (those are extreme).
2. Let people know about it. Ask your local birding listserv if you can post it there. Post it on your local Facebook birding page. Create an invite page on Facebook and encourage other birders to let their friends know. See if your local news paper will mention it.
3. This is the key ingredient for whoever hosts it. As people arrive, get the their names (don’t hesitate to provide name tags). Watch as people arrive, you’ll figure out who is shy and who is chatty. Make sure shy people don’t linger outside the group not talking to anyone, find out their interests and try to bring them over to another birder who shares that interest, or make sure they sit next to chattier folks.
4. At some point, pause to allow for introductions. Don’t let everyone tell their life story, but maybe go around the group and have people say their name, what part of town they are from and say what brought them to the group. Some people may have questions about finding birds, someone may have a tour they are leading, someone may have a research project and need volunteers. This is the time for them to provide it.
5. Let everyone feel welcome. We all enjoy birds in different ways, some of us are hardcore listers while others have heard of this birding thing and want to see what it’s about. Make sure everyone feels welcome and can learn from each other.
6. If you start a Birds and Beers, let me know–I think it’s awesome!
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