Aswan Birdwatching has successfully launched the second edition of its inclusive initiative, “Birding For All”, reaffirming its mission to make birdwatching accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of ability.
Following the success of the first edition held on 31 May 2025, which focused mainly on visually impaired participants, this new version welcomed a broader, more diverse group of guests, including people with hearing, speaking, and intellectual disabilities, alongside visually impaired participants.
Why Involving Everyone Matters
By including individuals of all abilities in birdwatching trips, families, and community members come together to share in the joy of nature, fostering social inclusion and mutual understanding. Such participation empowers people with disabilities, giving them confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging, while also educating the wider community about accessibility and diversity.
In the context of Aswan, these inclusive experiences not only enrich lives but also strengthen community bonds and highlight the importance of making eco-tourism and outdoor activities welcoming for everyone.
Inclusion Beyond Visual Impairment
While the first edition of Birding For All focused on visually impaired participants, the second edition expanded its reach to include: Deaf participants (hearing and speaking disabilities), individuals with intellectual disabilities and participants with partial or full visual impairment.
This expansion underscores Aswan Birdwatching’s vision: Enjoying nature and wildlife should be accessible to everyone, no matter their abilities or challenges.
The second edition welcomed participants across a wide spectrum of ages (adults and children), genders (males and females), social backgrounds (individuals from different communities), and families (accompanying relatives joined the experience).
Rather than separating groups, the event intentionally brought everyone together in a shared, inclusive environment, fostering interaction, learning, and joy.
Families participated alongside their loved ones, turning the event into a meaningful day for the entire household.
A Multi-Sensory Approach to Birdwatching
To accommodate various abilities, the trip offered a multi-sensory experience:
Visual observation with clear and accessible explanations, Hands-on learning through props, bird guides, and tactile materials, Gesture and visual communication for Deaf participants, and step-by-step guidance for participants with intellectual disabilities.
Guests explored Aswan’s scenic Nile islands, spotting a variety of birds such as the Senegal Thick-knee, Pied Kingfisher, Spur-winged Lapwing, Hooded Crow, Common Bulbul, Laughing Dove, and Common Moorhen, using both visual and auditory identification. Participants were able to see and hear these species, and many could recognize them later in the trip.
The guides also described several heron species, highlighting differences in size, color, and body shape. For example, the Laughing Dove was used as a reference point for size, showing that the Crow is larger while a Sparrow is smaller. To simplify learning, bird families were grouped into easy-to-understand categories such as Ducks, Herons, Doves, Raptors, Waders, and Passerines.
For many participants, this was their first encounter with wild birds, creating memorable and empowering moments that demonstrated how inclusive birdwatching can open the natural world to everyone.
Families at the Heart of the Experience
One of the initiative’s highlights was family inclusion. Parents, siblings, and relatives participated alongside the individuals with disabilities, fostering shared enjoyment, bonding, and support. Many parents expressed joy in seeing their children confidently participate, interact with nature, and experience the calm and beauty of the Nile.
Collaboration and Community Support
The event was fully sponsored by Aswan Birdwatching and organized in coordination with the “Leadership with Will” initiative, led by Mrs. Salma Al-Ansary, ensuring all participants felt welcomed, safe, and fully supported. Aswan Birdwatching provided the guiding, logistics, and full sponsorship of the trip.
The inaugural event on 31 May 2025 was a pioneering nature experience for visually impaired participants. Its success inspired the second edition, which expanded inclusion to a wider range of disabilities and brought families together, further strengthening Aswan Birdwatching’s commitment to accessible eco-tourism in Egypt.
Looking Ahead
With this second edition, Birding For All demonstrates that birdwatching can be truly inclusive, joyful, and family-friendly. Aswan Birdwatching plans to continue growing the initiative with future events, outreach programs, and inclusive nature activities, setting a model for accessibility and social inclusion in eco-tourism across Egypt.
