“The Birding Prescription – how mindful birding is good for us, and for the birds” by Holly Merker and Joe Francis
November 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EST
Join DOS Member Holly Merker and current DOS President Joe Francis for a conversation about birding’s impact on health and well-being. In relating personal experiences as well as the latest insights from the scientific literature, they will touch on ways to refocus attention, reduce eco-anxiety and climate grief, and build connection to nature and each other through mindful birding practices. Come prepared to learn new skills to recapture joy and awe in the outdoors.
Holly Merker, DOS Member and former DOS Council Officer, is a nature-based wellness specialist, professional birding guide, author, and lecturer. Combining backgrounds in art therapy, nature and forest therapy, wellness counseling, mindfulness practice, and bird identification, she specializes in providing Mindful Birding experiences and is a global advocate in promoting the concepts surrounding why and how wild birds and birding can support overall human wellbeing and health.
Joe Francis, DOS President, is a retired physician who has practiced in hospital, long term care, public health, and hospice settings. He started birding in medical school as a way to manage his own stress. This has gradually led him to a broader appreciation of nature and the urgent need for healing on a planetary level, which motivates his current slate of post-retirement activities.
This talk is in person, but live streaming of this talk will be available to members of DOS who can’t make it. Link to be provided by email to members. A recording of the talk will also be available to DOS members who will receive an link via email after the talk. Join now if you want these links!