What we’re about
We will be walking and watching birds, while also learning to foster deeper, healthier connections to ourselves, others, wildlife, and the earth. Watching birds can lead to greater human satisfaction, happiness, and health. By being aware of birds, we can also grow our ability to focus and to rest in the current moment, as well as grow our compassion and justice centered behaviors to help care for ourselves, others, and the planet. Birds, humans, and the earth are in trouble and with strong connections to the living community around us, we can save ourselves and all life.
These walks aim to grow our ability to transform ourselves and our world by watching birds as an intentional mindfulness practice. This is enhanced by an emphasis on our relationships and connections to the humans who join us for the walk and the other species with whom we will interact.
Though led by renown avian conservationist, Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, the hope is that we build a just and compassionate community together made up of those who respond to this form of mindfulness practice.
Our walks will be open to spontaneous conversation, identifying birds, and enjoying their behavior while also following LoraKim's facilitation with questions, readings, and gentle nature practices.
As I am new to Iowa I'd enjoy meeting others who enjoy and know about the birds in this area.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Sunrise Bird WalkGrey's Lake, Des Moines, IA
This is our first Birding for Life Walk celebrating our spring and summer residents and visitors. We will watch the sunrise and the migratory birds pass over us through the sky as we recall how cultures celebrate Spring, especially with the holidays of Easter and Passover on this day.
We will meet at Grays Lake Park parking lot at the end of John R. Grubb Lane on the East side of the Lake.
During the walk we will have time for conversation, reflections, and quiet, as well as seeking to identify as many birds as possible. There will be plenty of opportunity to learn about birds, and practice the spiritual aspects of watching birds which is without a doubt a wonderful mindfulness practice.
We will do about a 1.5 mile walk on pavement.
This walk will be led by renown avian conservationist, Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, who is a community minister at the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines (https://www.ucdsm.org/) and Codirector of One Earth Conservation ( https://www.oneearthconservation.org). Donations (suggestions of $5) are much appreciated to help cover costs of the Meetup Group. All donations will go towards bird conservation in the Americas. You can donate at the One Earth Conservation donation page: https://www.oneearthconservation.org/donate.
To attend, please make reservations here. Bring comfortable walking shoes, binoculars if you have them, and water and nourishment as needed. Do not attend if you are ill.
We hope you will come because watching birds can lead to greater human satisfaction, happiness, and health. By being aware of birds, we can also grow our ability to focus and to rest in the current moment, as well as grow our compassion and justice centered behaviors to help care for ourselves, others, and the planet. Birds, humans, and the earth are in trouble and with strong connections to the living community around us, we can save ourselves and all life.
Birding for Life walks aim to grow our ability to transform ourselves and our world by watching birds as an intentional mindfulness practice. This is enhanced by an emphasis on our relationships and connections to the humans who join us for the walk and the other species with whom we will interact.
- Birding for Life: The Science and Wonder of Birds (Presentation)Des Moines Franklin Library, Des Moines, IA
Birding for Life. This is a presentation and not a walk.
During this presentation we will review the scientific and cultural aspects of how people relate and respond to nature, and specifically to birds. Recent studies show how immersion in nature can yield health benefits for humans, as can the practice of birding. Being intentionally mindful of birds, also reaps benefits not just for humans, but for the birds themselves. As people come to understand and connect to birds, they increase their resilience and health by being with birds, and in so doing, increase their capacity to care for themselves and for others. The mindful practice of birds can take only minutes a day but conversely also involves a lifetime of commitment, exploration, and wonder.
We will meet at the Franklin Public Library in Des Moines, 5000 Franklin Library Avenue.
This presentation will be led by renown avian conservationist, Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, who is a community minister at the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines (https://www.ucdsm.org/) and Codirector of One Earth Conservation ( https://www.oneearthconservation.org). Donations (suggestions of $5) are much appreciated to help cover costs of the Meetup Group. All donations will go towards bird conservation in the Americas. You can donate at the One Earth Conservation donation page: https://www.oneearthconservation.org/donate.
This talk will highlight information and practices contained in LoraKim's latest book: Birding for Life
- Bird Walk Waveland Trail and Glendale CemeteryDes Moines Franklin Library, Des Moines, IA
This is our second Birding for Life Walk celebrating our spring and summer residents and visitors. We are coming into the peak of the spring bird migration. We will talk about where the birds are heading and where we might be heading as spring turns into the abundance of summer.
We will meet at the Franklin Library Parking lot (Western boundary), 5000 Franklin Library Avenue to walk along Waveland Trail into Glenwood Cemetery.
During the walk we will have time for conversation, reflections, and quiet, as well as seeking to identify as many birds as possible. There will be plenty of opportunity to learn about birds, and practice the spiritual aspects of watching birds which is without a doubt a wonderful mindfulness practice.
We will do about a 1.5 mile walk, most of it on pavement.
This walk will be led by renown avian conservationist, Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, who is a community minister at the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines (https://www.ucdsm.org/) and Codirector of One Earth Conservation ( https://www.oneearthconservation.org). Donations (suggestions of $5) are much appreciated to help cover costs of the Meetup Group. All donations will go towards bird conservation in the Americas. You can donate at the One Earth Conservation donation page: https://www.oneearthconservation.org/donate.
To attend, please make reservations here. Bring comfortable walking shoes, binoculars if you have them, and water and nourishment as needed. Do not attend if you are ill.
We hope you will come because watching birds can lead to greater human satisfaction, happiness, and health. By being aware of birds, we can also grow our ability to focus and to rest in the current moment, as well as grow our compassion and justice centered behaviors to help care for ourselves, others, and the planet. Birds, humans, and the earth are in trouble and with strong connections to the living community around us, we can save ourselves and all life.
Birding for Life walks aim to grow our ability to transform ourselves and our world by watching birds as an intentional mindfulness practice. This is enhanced by an emphasis on our relationships and connections to the humans who join us for the walk and the other species with whom we will interact.
