(by Anita Fernandez)

Nur Shoop, lead tour guide with the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, and Slater Roosa, Educator with NH Audubon, co-led a tour through Portsmouth on Saturday, June 3 in honor of Black Birders Week. Black Birders Week began in 2020 to highlight Black nature enthusiasts and to increase the visibility of Black birders. Beyond observing birds in nature, birding provides opportunities to connect with the natural world and recognize our place in it as humans. Our partner tour this year focused on finding wildlife all around, even in urban areas, and exploring the history of several locations in Portsmouth on the Black Heritage Trail, which Nur refers to as “hard history.” She reminds us that these landmarks are not a segmented part of the area, but pieces of our shared past as a community and a country. Nur and Slater wove together a seamless exploration of cultural and natural history around the downtown area. The group made seven stops along the trail and identified 18 species of bird, such as a Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, and Chimney Swifts. This event was the first-ever partnership between NH Audubon and the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, and we are grateful for the collaboration and a wonderful tour.