What Birdability does

Birdability is a U.S. nonprofit organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, that promotes accessible and inclusive birding for people with disabilities and other health concerns. Its core products are program- and community-based rather than software-based: the Birdability Map (a crowdsourced interactive map of accessible birding locations hosted on gis.audubon.org in partnership with the National Audubon Society), the annual Birdability Week celebration (run with 60+ partner organizations and 25+ sponsors in 2025), the Birdability Outreach Program (BOP) that brings birding into rehabilitation hospitals and outpatient programs, the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon (a 24-hour event launched in May 2025 with over 200 legally blind participants across 34 states and four countries), and a curated suite of virtual programming (Book Club, Salon & Social Hour, webinars, interview series with the American Bird Conservancy, and quarterly virtual field trips with Georgia Audubon). Underlying digital assets include an extensive library of downloadable guidance documents, a registered Birdability trademark, and a network of trained volunteer "Birdability Captains" across the US, Canada, and Mexico who lead local accessible outings.

Birdability does not operate as a traditional revenue-generating business; it is funded primarily through individual donations, foundation grants (including the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation's Creating Opportunities & Independence grant awarded in November 2025 to expand BOP into spinal-cord-injury rehabilitation settings, and ongoing support from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation), corporate and organizational sponsorships for events such as Birdability Week, a structured Founders Circle giving society with tiers from $1,000 to $10,000, branded merchandise sales, and suggested $250/hour guest speaking fees. Programs and resources are provided free of charge to participants. Distribution is mediated by partnerships with the National Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy, Georgia Audubon, Mass Audubon, Tucson Bird Alliance, Environment for the Americas, the National Park Service, and the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program, supplemented by organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube), an email newsletter, the Birdability blog, and a Spanish-language site (birdability-esp.org).

The customer base spans at least seven distinct disability segments — mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, neurodivergence, mental illness, deafness or hard of hearing, and intellectual/developmental disabilities — served alongside secondary B2B-style audiences of birding organizations, Audubon chapters, and rehabilitation healthcare facilities. Operations remain lean at 1–10 employees, anchored by Founder and President Virginia Rose, Executive Director Cat Fribley, Birdability Coordinator Freya McGregor, and BOP Coordinator Maggie Smith (joined early 2025). The organization won the 2025 Project of the Year award from The Corps Network for its Accessible Birding Internship and has been featured in Audubon Magazine and Paralyzed Veterans of America publications.

Name

Birdability

Legal name

Birdability

Website

https://birdability.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Birdability is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 that promotes accessible and inclusive birding for people with disabilities and health concerns through the Birdability Map, Birdability Week, the rehabilitation-focused Outreach Program, and a volunteer Captains network across the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Birdability operates as a nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals and grants from foundations including the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation (Creating Opportunities & Independence grant) and support from organizations like the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsorship levels for Birdability Week and other programs. Birdability Week 2025 had more than 25 sponsoring organizations and individuals.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Birdability merchandise including branded apparel and promotional items through their website.
4. Guest Speaking Fees: Suggested donation of $250/hour for presentations, workshops, and education programming to organizations and groups, though this is flexible based on organizational capacity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Birdability is a nonprofit organization that delivers education, outreach, and advocacy to make birding and outdoor recreation accessible for people with disabilities and other health concerns. Its core offerings include the crowdsourced Birdability Map of accessible birding locations, the annual Birdability Week celebration, the Birdability Outreach Program for rehabilitation hospitals, and the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, supplemented by guidance documents, virtual programming, and a trained volunteer Captains network.

Product overview

Birdability is a nonprofit organization focused on education, outreach, and advocacy to make birding and the outdoors accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities and other health concerns. Its core offering is not a single software product but rather a suite of programs, tools, and resources anchored by the Birdability Map (a crowdsourced accessible birding locations database), Birdability Week (annual inclusive birding celebration), the Birdability Outreach Program (birding experiences in rehabilitation settings), and the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon. These are supplemented by community-building programs including the Birdability Book Club, Salon & Social Hour, virtual field trips with Georgia Audubon, the Birdability Birders Interview Series with American Bird Conservancy, local outings led by Birdability Captains, a blog, a library of guidance documents, the Let's Go Birding Internship, guest speaking services, merchandise, and a Founders Circle donor program. The Birdability Map integrates with Audubon.org's GIS platform; the organization's online birding resources recommend third-party tools including Cornell Lab's Merlin Bird ID, Birdfy, Haikubox, BirdWeather, Birdbuddy, BirdNote, Larkwire, xeno-canto, and eBird.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Birdability Map A crowdsourced, interactive map of accessible birding locations where contributors submit detailed site reviews covering trail surface, gradient, width, rest areas, shade, benches, bathrooms, and transit access, enabling people with disabilities to determine site suitability for themselves.
• Birdability Week Annual celebration of accessible and inclusive birding held each fall since 2020, featuring dozens of accessible events, webinars, panels, contests, and workshops organized in partnership with over 60 organizations nationwide.
• Birdability Outreach Program (BOP) Program connecting individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions to birding experiences through informal bird programs, adaptive equipment, and bird feeder installations in rehabilitation hospitals and outpatient programs.
• Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon A 24-hour annual birding event designed by and for blind and low-vision birders, held over two days (Sunday and Monday) to allow flexible participation. Participants identify species by sound or available sight using tools like Merlin Bird ID, recording devices, or listening.
• Birdability Book Club Virtual book club meeting every other month on the 3rd Wednesday, exploring books about birds, nature, mindfulness, disability, and ecology, held via Zoom with books available through Buteo Books.
• Birdability Salon & Social Hour Monthly virtual social space held every 4th Thursday at 7 pm ET via Zoom, offering breakout rooms on topics including native plants, Wingspan gameplay, backyard birdfeeding, and nature journaling.
• Georgia Audubon/Birdability Virtual Field Trips Quarterly virtual field trips hosted jointly with Georgia Audubon, featuring four birders with accessibility challenges exploring accessible trails across the U.S., sharing birds and access insights via Zoom webinar and Facebook live.
• Birdability Birders Interview Series with American Bird Conservancy Monthly online interview series co-hosted with American Bird Conservancy (ABC), featuring birders with various disabilities and health concerns discussing their birding experiences and access needs.
• Birding at Your Computer / Online Birding Resources Curated hub of live bird cams and technology tools enabling birding from home, including Cornell Lab Bird Cams, Audubon Live Feeds, BirdNote Daily, and smart bird feeder/devices such as Birdfy, Haikubox, BirdWeather, and Birdbuddy.
• Local Outings and Events Interactive map and listing of accessible birding outings and events led by Birdability Captains across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, often organized in partnership with bird clubs and disability organizations.
• Guest Speaking and Presentations Paid presentations, workshops, and educational programming delivered by Birdability staff to organizations, boards, and audiences covering access considerations, the Birdability origin story, and how to hold accessible bird outings, with a suggested donation of $250/hour.
• Guidance and Resource Documents Library of downloadable guidance documents including Access Considerations, Steps to Implement Accessible Outings, Writing Bird Outing Event Descriptions, Inclusive Language Use, Welcoming and Inclusive Birders, Birders Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision, Understanding Neurodiversity in Birding, Digital Access and Inclusion, Adaptive Equipment Loaner Closets guide, and Considerations for Incorporating Service Dogs.
• Birdability Captains Program Volunteer leadership program training individuals to serve as Birdability Captains in their communities, organizing accessible outings, advocating for access improvements, and representing Birdability at local events across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
• Let's Go Birding Internship Internship program developed in partnership with Environment for the Americas and the National Park Service, placing interns in national parks to create inclusive outdoor experiences for individuals with disabilities. Recognized as a 2025 Project of the Year by The Corps Network.
• Birdability Merchandise Branded merchandise including apparel and accessories sold to support Birdability's mission and programs.

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• National Audubon SocietyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirdability partnered with the National Audubon Society to compile and host the crowdsourced Birdability Map of accessible birding locations nationwide on gis.audubon.org. Audubon provides additional photography support for the Birdability Blog and has featured Birdability in multiple magazine articles and social media content. They co-produced kickoff videos for Birdability Week.
• American Bird Conservancy (ABC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirdability and ABC co-host the 'Birdability Birders: Conversations about Birding with Access Challenges' interview series featuring monthly online interviews with birders of different backgrounds who have various disabilities. Through the partnership, both organizations aim to promote accessibility, inclusion, and representation within the birding community.
• Georgia AuduboncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuarterly virtual accessible field trips partnership where Georgia Audubon and Birdability representatives are joined by guest co-hosts who explore accessible trails in their communities across the US, speak about their accessibility challenges, and share the birds they find.
• BirdNotecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with BirdNote introduces BirdNote Daily tool, providing captivating audio content about birds that enables individuals with disabilities to connect with birds from the comfort of their homes, fostering appreciation for avian life through sound.
• Environment for the Americas (EFTA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with EFTA and National Park Service to develop the Accessible Birding Internship (formerly Birdability Internship), which was recognized as 2025 Project of the Year by The Corps Network. The program creates inclusive outdoor experiences for individuals with disabilities while fostering professional development in conservation.
• National Park Service (NPS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NPS and Environment for the Americas for the Accessible Birding Internship program, creating pathways for people with disabilities to work in national parks and conservation.
• Mass AuduboncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMass Audubon created the All Persons Trails program with accessible trails at twelve wildlife sanctuaries across Massachusetts. Their accessibility consultant Jerry Berrier (Birdability contributor) worked on more than a dozen All Persons Trails projects. Mass Audubon featured Virginia Rose in magazine coverage.
• Tucson Bird AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTucson Bird Alliance, in partnership with Arizona's Pima County, runs monthly accessible birding walks called 'Birding for Every BODY' for people with physical limitations, chronic illness, and other disabilities. The program features accessible trails with smooth surfaces, shade, benches, and accessible restrooms.
• Bay Area Outreach and Recreation ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBirdability Captain Bonnie Lewkowicz coordinates the Birding for All program through BORP, which holds accessible birding outings for people with disabilities in the Bay Area.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Move United: National umbrella organization for adaptive sports and recreation. Comparable as the largest incumbent in the adaptive recreation nonprofit space, sharing Birdability's audience of people with disabilities seeking outdoor engagement.
• American Bird Conservancy: Strategic partner co-hosting the Birdability Birders interview series. A leading bird conservation nonprofit with overlapping audiences and accessibility advocacy goals, making it a natural peer in the conservation-nonprofit space.
• National Audubon Society: Flagship partner and largest US birding/conservation nonprofit. Comparable as the dominant broad incumbent in the birding space; Birdability occupies the disability-accessibility niche within Audubon's broader mission and shares infrastructure via the Birdability Map.
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Operates Merlin Bird ID and eBird, core tools Birdability recommends for accessible birding. Comparable as a research-and-technology-enabled birding institution whose products underpin Birdability's accessible-birding workflows.

Regional players

• Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP): Adaptive recreation nonprofit running the Birding for All program coordinated by a Birdability Captain. Directly comparable as a regional adaptive recreation nonprofit with an active accessible birding program.
• Mass Audubon: Regional Audubon chapter operating the All Persons Trails program with twelve accessible wildlife sanctuaries. Comparable as a birding organization explicitly investing in trail accessibility programs for disabled visitors.

Direct peers

• Outdoors for All Foundation: Pacific Northwest adaptive outdoor recreation nonprofit providing outdoor experiences for people with disabilities. Comparable peer organization sharing mission, volunteer-driven model, and adaptive-equipment focus.
• Environment for the Americas: Strategic partner co-developing the Accessible Birding Internship. A birding/conservation nonprofit with similar workforce-development and inclusion focus, making it a direct peer in accessible birding programming.
• Wilderness Inquiry: National adaptive outdoor recreation nonprofit providing accessible outdoor adventures. Directly comparable as a peer in the accessible outdoor recreation nonprofit space, though focused on water/land trips rather than birding.

Emerging players

• BirdNote: Public-media nonprofit producing daily bird audio content; Birdability integrates BirdNote Daily as an accessibility resource. Comparable as a niche birding media nonprofit with overlapping mission of inclusive bird appreciation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/birdability
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSx2gAeuNRLMNEj640-Z1KA
• Facebookfacebook.com/birdability
• Instagraminstagram.com/birdability

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Birdability