“Small Sits” Expand Accessiblity of Field Trips
By Madrone Ruggerio
Whidbey Audubon is adding “small sits” to our field trip offerings. The idea of a small sit is to offer a type of field trip that may allow some who are unable to attend traditional walking field trips an opportunity to go birding and enjoy the outdoors.
The sits will introduce both well known and lesser known birding spots on Whidbey Island that have accessible areas. The sits will take place at a single location with no walking once you have gotten to the viewing area. In some cases birds can be viewed from your vehicle and no walking is required. Some chairs will be provided to sit on and some locations will have picnic tables or other seating.
Not all small sit locations will be fully ADA accessible. An effort is made to choose more accessible locations and to provide information that will allow potential attendees to determine if they are able to access the site. Specific questions about the site can be emailed to the trip leader if you are unsure if you can access the site.
The other aspect of sits is that they are intended to be a “low key” outing. We won’t be using phone apps or keeping lists, instead the focus will be on enjoying the birds and their behavior and learning about them in a low stress manner. We will also go beyond birds and explore the flora and fauna at the site. Plants, bugs, gastropods, marine mammals, anything you notice can be a moment of exploration and learning.
Attendees can learn from the field trip leader as well as from other attendees. Everyone has something to share whether it be a fact about a species or a past interesting interaction. On a recent small sit the field trip leaders learned that a favorite birding spot was a whale watching hot spot!
Binoculars and field guides will be provided for attendees to use during the sit. Beginners and experienced birders are welcome, as well as small children (accompanied by a caregiver). The field trip leader will be present for the full two hours, but attendees are welcome to come and go as they like at any time. No preregistration required and no limit on participants. If there is limited parking at the site that will be noted in the trip announcement and alternative parking sites will be noted.
