This is Bird Note. Birdothon is Massachusetts Autobahn's biggest fundraiser. Teams of

birders spend 24 hours competing to observe as many bird species as they can to

encourage people to donate. But Megadepa Maihti, who helped organize Birdothon in

2021, realized that not everyone can spend all day traveling to find birds.

They started to think of other approaches.

How can I incorporate what I do best, which is like bring together people from

various communities and people with differing backgrounds and abilities?

They're also an organizer for Birdability. An organization that's working to

make birding more accessible to people with disabilities. Megadepa helped create

an inclusive Birdothon experience, a stationary count circle at a wildlife sanctuary.

There were many details to work out from parking to 24 hour bathroom access.

And I think we took it one problem at a time. We made sure that we got the

word out in as many diverse places as possible, not just like birding groups.

I went to communities that I knew were looking for places to go during the

pandemic, who were feeling really, really stuck inside that summer.

The event had a great turnout. At least a quarter of the people who came

had never been to a birding event before. And plenty of birds. Megadepa's group

observed 77 species over the 24 hour period, including a yellow-billed cuckoo.

Some of the species we found from that spot were pretty cool. I guess you don't realize how much

you miss when you're not stopping and listening quietly. For Bird Note, I'm Connor Gehran.