Birding by Bus: A Zine
Project Details
We created Birding by Bus, a zine detailing birding locations accessible by bus along the lower sunshine coast, BC. Throughout the project, we rode the bus, identified birding locations and gathered information about bird species, habitat and accessibility, completing Birdability reviews.
Project Description
‘Fianna and Blythe Wilde, two younger local birders, are passionate about increasing access to the outdoors and sharing our love of birds! We created Birding by Bus, a zine (small booklet) that highlights birding locations accessible by (public transportation) bus on the lower Sunshine Coast, thus creating a more inclusive and accessible way for people to engage with nature and birds. The zine includes habitat information, bird species, accessibility considerations, bus stops and routes.
Many residents on the coast regularly use the bus system and do not own a car. Seeing that members of our community rely on public transportation we want to create a zine that would provide information about birds and birding locations, so that more people can access and engage with an activity that all should be able to enjoy. A visitor to the coast could go on a Birding by Bus trip that starts at the Langdale BC Ferries terminal and engages a variety of habitats and stops from Gibsons to ch’atlich (Sechelt).
The zine will help people feel more connected to place building empathy, inspire people to support birds and environmental wellbeing, share hope and foster curiosity to learn more. By including information like Merlin (an intro birding app), completing a Birdablity (organization dedicated to supporting accessibility in birding) review, which will go into a publicly accessible database that informs people about the accessibility of a location this will provide opportunities for people to continue to engage.
What was your biggest challenge?
The largest challenge was the limited time frame of less than 50 days. We wanted to involve more community members that we did not already have relationships with, this was harder to do with the short time frame. We talked to Nahidha and she helped support us in getting several extensions for the project reporting date. Then we figured out how to buy everything before the reporting date and finish up the rest of the project after.
What was your most valuable takeaway?
‘Our most valuable take away from our project is the power of nurturing an idea and sharing with others and how it can grow and take on a life of its own and inspire!
