Terms & Conditions As introductions are made, and binoculars and snacks are handed out, there’s a rising sense of anticipation from the gathered attendees. Arts & Entertainment. On an overcast, particularly muggy Tuesday morning, a group of around 20 people has gathered in East London’s Lee Valley park. “We’re only encouraged to become footballers, basketball players, R&B singers. “Well, this is our one.”. birds of a feather flock together 의미, 정의, birds of a feather flock together의 정의: 1. said about people who have similar characters or interests, especially ones … Many small birds will share the same tiny roost space to keep warm, often in bird boxes, hollow trees or other similar spaces. ‘It's more of a case of birds of a feather flock together - people tend to gravitate to other people who are like themselves.’ ‘The bottom line is that birds of a feather flock together.’ ‘It seems to me - I do not know - that birds of a feather flock together.’ ‘Do opposites attract or do birds of a feather flock together?’ In winter, several species may flock together to find food, making it a great time to spot these small birds, but they can also be seen in good numbers in spring, summer and autumn. The common buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium-to-large bird of prey which has a large range. 62K likes. “The response has been insane,” Olanipekun adds modestly. The large flocks of siskins that arrive in the winter months are mostly birds from British Columbia. For Cockney sisters Sharon Theodopolopodous and Tracey Stubbs, life is never the same again when their husbands are convicted of armed robbery and sent to prison. “Running a business, trying to keep it going during coronavirus and with everything that’s been happening with Black Lives Matter…I’ve always used nature for stress relief, so I just started going into natural spaces and taking pictures of birds.” After putting the images up on his Instagram page, Olanipekun began to notice a new commenter who was (correctly) identifying every species he posted: “I assumed it was gonna be some old man,” he said. Many flock names are descriptive not only of the group of birds but also of their behavio… “Everybody else has their own clubs,” he says. “We started speaking,” says Perera, “and four days later we went on our first walk together.” Not long after that, the two formed Flock Together. “The idea that Black people don’t like the outdoors is ridiculous,” says Perera. Over much of its range, it is a year … All Rights Reserved. Interest. Birds of a Feather, derived from the idiom "birds of a feather flock together", may also refer to: Film. Do birds of a feather universally flock together? Flock Together is a “ monthly birdwatching support club combating the under-representation of people of colour in nature”. “Over the last few months, I had been feeling so burned out,” says Flock Together’s co-founder Ollie Olanipekun, who also heads up a creative agency in London. “When me and Nadeem first met up and discussed what we wanted it to be, we knew our community needed support more than ever,” says Olanipekun. So far, it has drawn in a diverse mix of young Londoners. “That’s the goal.” For both founders, it’s about making birdwatching accessible to as many people as possible, especially those who live in urban centres and don’t always grow up with the opportunity to engage with nature in a meaningful way. Started by Nadeem Perera, a 26-year-old Black football coach of Sri Lankan and Jamaican descent, and 35-year-old Ollie Olanipekun, a creative director of Nigerian heritage and founder of agency SUPERIMPOSE, it has an eye on excursions outside London … “This sense of solidarity — after all the heartache of the last few months, I just feel like we are all in this together.” Later that day, her initially skeptical friends began to come around, too. The distinctive design space is set to open on August 28. Only a few weeks since its founding, the group has grown swiftly via word of mouth; it currently has over 100 active members, with many more following Flock Together’s Instagram page (where new members can ask to join upcoming walks via Instagram’s direct message function). “So people of any other color, race or creed see that and think, ‘Oh, that’s not for me.’”, As members of Flock Together can attest, preconceptions around the hobby seem slow to shift. And spending time outdoors forces you to do that.”, Flock Together’s Founders, Nadeem Perera And Ollie Olanipekun.Zaineb Abelque, Flock Together had originally planned to meet once per month but are now increasing the frequency of their trips due to the levels of demand they’ve seen. Learn more. You just need to go outside and just look up. In fact, it was 26-year-old sports coach and fellow London resident, Nadeem Perera. The recent story of Christian Cooper – the Black birdwatcher whose walk in Central Park went viral when he filmed a white woman’s threats to call the police on him after he politely asked her to leash her dog – was just another reminder of the racism still present within these contexts. Tits are resident to the UK, meaning they can be seen all year round. “I was in school very little, so I was just sitting outside on my own one day and saw a green woodpecker. The ground is snow covered but they keep flying from the trees down to a grassy area where there is no snow. “I’ve always been into the rare, and finding things that other people haven’t found. “He said that he didn’t think a girl like me would be into something like that. Arts & Entertainment. “You have no idea how excited people have been to see our group,” Olanipekun says. What would you call a flock of flamingos, a swarm of swallows, or a group of eagles? A member of the genus Buteo, it is a member of the family Accipitridae.The species lives in most of Europe and extends its breeding range across much of the Palearctic as far as the northwestern China (), far western Siberia and northwestern Mongolia. So we have to be more visible, because we are setting an example for the next generation.” Perera puts it more succinctly: “By doing this,” he says, “we are making it cool.”, It seems to be working. From shop SVGDigitalDesigns. 5 out of 5 stars (1,331) 1,331 reviews. I photographed this bird, then I saw another bird, then it became another bird and before I knew it, I was heading out looking for these birds regularly.”, “My knowledge is not as extensive as Nadeem’s, but I’ve had a love for birds for seven years now,” Olanipekun says. Different birds have different collective nouns to describe large groups, and while many of the terms are obsolete, seldom used, or just plain silly, they are still familiar to birders. The Art of Aging. (Perera notes that birdwatching checks every box when it comes to healthy coping strategies for a range of mental health problems.) They think it’s totally out of the ordinary.” Perera, too, is well-accustomed to raised eyebrows. birds of a feather flock together definition: 1. said about people who have similar characters or interests, especially ones of which you…. Will I be accepted in this pub? “When you see a big group of people of color in Richmond Park, it’s like we’re reclaiming those spaces and demanding access to them. It was a green woodpecker, and I’d never seen one outside of cartoons, so I went back home to grab my camera. The collective recently registered as a charity and now plans to visit schools and organize day trips for younger people. 10,000 - 100,000 Birds: PT: PINTA: Teal: Anas crecca: Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor: 1,000 - 10,000 Pairs: T. TEAL. Straight away everyone is speaking like, ‘Oh, you do that? “I’ve used it as an opportunity to gain perspective away from my stressful job.” That the pair come from two ends of the spectrum when it comes to birdwatching helps to make the club feel accessible for newcomers and experts alike. As far as the origin of their ornithological expertise, the duo have very different backstories. There’s a part of that in every human being. After noticing a series of posts about birds Olanipekun had seen during outdoor walks in London, Perera reached out. This is what I can do for you.’ That is something that I don’t think many of us in that space are afforded, and there’s so much talent.”. “It’s a question of perspective,” he says. Different birds roost in different ways, but they all choose somewhere to sleep that is secure, comfortable and will protect them from potential predators. Flock Together’s Founders, Nadeem Perera And Ollie Olanipekun. Just For Fun. VANCOUVER - British Columbia birds outfitted with tiny backpacks have shown researchers that birds of a feather do not always flock together. And there’s this idea that you have to be an expert to take it up. “I just want people to find some tranquility and being in nature gives you that: you realize that you don’t have to be anything more than what you are.”, For the group’s members, it’s proven surprisingly therapeutic. “It was a coping mechanism for me during a turbulent teenage period,” he says. 2021 Hypebeast Limited. Find out more about the song of each tit species, their characteristics and behaviour with our guide to Britain’s seven tit species, including the blue tit, marsh tit, coal tit, great tit, crested tit, long-tailed tit … living in an institutionally racist country, “Thank Goodness We’re Not Having Fruitcake”: The Romantic Story Behind The Duke & Duchess Of Sussex’s Wedding Cake. birds of this type flock together word craze. “Ollie and I have had this interest in birds for a very long time, so Flock Together doesn’t relate to that one incident,” says Perera. Plus, I had no idea what to wear.”, As it turns out, the dress code is pretty straightforward. But I found it fascinating. “We really wanted to break away from that traditional image we’ve all seen of middle-aged white people wearing khaki,” Olanipekun adds. David Lindo, a broadcaster and author who is also one of the country’s most high-profile Black birdwatchers, believes the media is partly to blame. This is the first time I have seen robins in the winter and also the first time I have seen them flock together in numbers like this. Season's Splendor. Love Chirp. I do this. Their age range sits somewhere between early twenties and early thirties, but (unusually for a London park) there are no drinks, no barbecues, no portable speakers, no stubbed-out cigarettes. No experience is necessary for those considering joining, and a growing network of brand partners have stepped in to provide clothing and equipment to those unable to access it otherwise. Lut 9, 2021 That may come later — Perera is keen to stress that the group will eventually organize trips for people of all backgrounds – but for now, people of color have something that’s just for them. “Living Room” is a collection of tees, hoodies and track pants. They are mindful, though, of ensuring they remain as accessible as possible. In nature, this way of working doesn't exist, it's about your ability to maintain and be yourself. By adding HYPEBEAST to your ad blocker's whitelist, ads on our sites will show while you continue to browse. Which Birds of a Feather Flock Together? 2017). And the conversation has taken a turn. Season's Splendor. Luckily, a few murmurations have been caught on video. ... ~Birds of a Feather Always Flock Together~ Personal Blog. Weather is about 30 degrees F and it’s snowing lightly. “We see this as being in every city in the world,” Olanipekun says. Seeing hundreds — even thousands — of starlings flying together in a whirling, ever-changing pattern is a phenomenon of nature that amazes and delights those lucky enough to witness it. Clustering and Avoidance Patterns of Similar Retail Outlets ... Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Along the way, Perera answers questions, identifies birds, and directs the group’s attention towards the species they might otherwise have missed: Blackcaps, Cormorants, Reed Warblers and Moorhens. “As a single person of colour, that can be quite a daunting prospect. ... birds of a feather flock together; Source. Halfway through the walk, members are invited to share their recent achievements — professionally, personally or creatively — and to talk frankly about their experiences. They called them “Valentine birds.” Valentine’s Day is close to the time they show up in Montana. “It can be really hard to find ways of socializing with people our age beyond bars and clubs,” says Tovah. It’s that sense of respite from day-to-day life that the collective is trying to foster. Steven J. Heine. It’s early morning and you’re out on a bird walk following your guide under a gray sky. “We all saw what happened in New York with Chris Cooper.”, In May, Cooper — a Black birdwatcher — was accosted by a white woman, Amy Cooper, while walking through Central Park. “We provide everything, and the binocular donations and all of the equipment donations go to people who actually really need it.”, Changing the fact that people of colour are hugely underrepresented not just in birdwatching, but in outdoor leisure activities more generally, was a priority from the beginning. Perera, who works as a youth sports coach in East London, was talking to a parent after a session who mentioned that Olanipekun’s impressive work in the advertising industry might be of interest. As a result, Flock Together has become more than just a group for hobbyists: it’s allowed a cross-section of creative people — many of whom have met with resistance and exclusion from their own industries – to form their own networks. They are also working with outdoor brands to secure donated clothing and binoculars, to ensure there are no barriers for attendees from disadvantaged backgrounds. The latter, meanwhile, is being achieved by the data banks the group is amassing of ornithological activity in the areas they frequent, with the hope that they can be used to halt construction plans in green spaces around London. Birds of a Feather is a British television sitcom. “It can be really hard to find ways of socializing with people our age beyond, A challenge, though, is that many people of color feel excluded from the outdoor spaces in their own cities. Louise's Pictures. It really is a free safe space for everyone to come together. We are showing Black people that being here is fine.” As Luca, another of Flock Together’s members, puts it, “these are public spaces, but you end up feeling like they’re not for you.”, For birdwatching, in particular, this sense of exclusion stems in part from the cultural conception of the hobby — especially in the U.K., where birders have long held a fairly rigid public image. With Flock Together, there’s none of that masking. Privacy Policy. As the excursion comes to an end, the group has a new crop of converts. Sharon, a common, fun-loving, … Correspondence: Robert E. Krider, Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, V5A 1S6. “Everybody else has their own clubs,” he says. Heading up a portfolio of “Activism Now.”. And when I told my friends I was going, they all laughed at me. These flocks can occur in migration and winter in temperate areas, and all-year round in the tropics, where in some forests as much as half of the birds are participating at any one time (Goodale et al. Green-winged Teal: Anas carolinensis: Scarce Visitor: 10 - 100 Birds: TA: GRWTE: Red-crested Pochard: Netta rufina: Escaped Breeder, Scarce Visitor: 500 - 1000 Birds: RQ: RECPO: Canvasback: Aythya valisineria: … Both Perera and Olanipekun hope that Flock Together will provide a social space for its members, and relieve some of the pressure of life in the capital. “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” she says. And large flocks may congregate in a single tree to share their body heat, too. Perera took to birdwatching as a teenager, after finding himself disaffected while at school. Through A Country Momma's Eyes. “They all saw my Instagram posts and commented on how cool we all looked,” she says. Appropriately, the idea itself was first sparked by an Instagram DM, with the pair only meeting for the first time while scouting for their first walk in June. “Well, this is our one.”, Flock Together Provide a Positive Space to Channel Creativity Through Nature, Berghaus Joins With Birdwatching Collective Flock Together, Arc'teryx and Greater Goods Unite to Support Flock Together, All the Gear You’ll Need for Birdwatching in the City, Carhartt WIP Updates Utilitarian Styles for FW20 Collection, Skater Evan Mock Is the Face of Giuseppe Zanotti Loungewear, Presentedby to Open Sneaker Boutique Inside Paris’ Le Bon Marché, Footballer Marcus Rashford Lands the Cover of British Vogue, Raheem Sterling Showcases BAPE and Clarks Originals Collaboration, HUMAN MADE and adidas Originals Reveal Full Collaboration. “So I regard what we are doing as a political exercise, too. Instagram handles are shared, phone numbers exchanged. By us being together and going into typically white spaces, we find strength and unity and the courage from each other to normalise our presence in these spaces.”, It’s also served as a space for healing at a time when the Western world is reckoning with the structural racism that affects the daily lives of people of colour in the US and beyond. New … Above all, though, they want to change mindsets. For the group’s members, it’s proven surprisingly therapeutic. “I would spend a lot of time exploring parks and nature reserves, and one day I was sitting on this bench when a bird landed right in front of me, and I was just in awe of it. Highlights of the force at and to pick out different noises and would have made a mistake, mind paul ziff, the task british council, it is related to photo graphy actually modified the artists of the. “We definitely didn’t think it would generate that level of interest.”. “Then I get a message back saying, ‘Bro, how do you know all this stuff?’ I told him I was an avid birdwatcher and he told me about his idea of starting a birdwatching club, and that I’d be the perfect guy to do it with. “I responded and told him exactly which bird he was looking at,” says Perera. “We do want to do some trips further afield,” Olanipekun says, “but we’ll definitely always keep some local walks too. Corresponding Author. “When we go on these walks, you look left and you look right and you know everyone there has gone through the same experiences as you have, especially after the last three months.” Perera agrees: “We all love socialising in pubs, but a lot of the time we use drink as a crutch or something to mask. “I’ve always been into the rare, and finding things that other people haven’t found. “It feels like it’s been my first time outside in about four months,” says Tovah, a 30-year-old tailor and another first-timer. And then one bird led me onto another.” He considers it an almost meditative activity, which has had a profound impact on his own mental health. Synopsis. “They portray [birdwatching] almost exclusively as the pursuit of white, middle-class, middle-aged men, who live in the countryside,” he says. Being able to travel is a privilege and anyway, we’re so blessed with green space in London.”, The collective organizes regular walks, each lasting a couple of hours, taking a group on pre-planned routes through one of London’s parks or natural reserves. A satellite group is launching this week in Toronto, while other offshoots are currently being set up in cities as far-flung as Tokyo, Amsterdam, and Accra. “I’ve been birdwatching all my life, and there’s been a steady increase in interest from young people,” he says. So why not do it outside?”, A challenge, though, is that many people of color feel excluded from the outdoor spaces in their own cities. Back at the end of June, as the strictest lockdown restrictions in London were beginning to ease, there was one thing, above all others, that Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera were itching to do: go birdwatching. “I haven’t felt this content since before COVID started,” says Amber. “My caucasian friends even asked me if they have a ‘Bring Your Ally’ day.”, That may come later — Perera is keen to stress that the group will eventually organize trips for people of all backgrounds – but for now, people of color have something that’s just for them. Each species has a different roosting behaviour. Cultural variation in the similarity‐attraction effect. Although we think of birds “of one feather flocking together”, actually many birds commonly interact in mixed-species flocks. “That’s great, and that’s worked great for them, but we want to make it more accessible – and bring some style and panache to it.” With the help of Instagram, the group has quickly swelled to include over a hundred participants in London and counting. “In our society, one is often judged and finds their value in their capacity for output and ability to produce,” he explains. Along the walk, two women share ideas and possible names for a potential start-up, while a pair of men exchange tips for the best cameras to use on an upcoming photoshoot. Are you sure? “We all saw what happened in, In May, Cooper — a Black birdwatcher — was. There have been many times where I’ve been in the countryside and after I’ve been on a hike, I would like to go to the pub. Olanipekun, meanwhile, fosters the social spirit of the trips. Cool, let me help you here. Featuring fresh interpretations of the Wallabee and Desert Boot. “Black people, in particular, can be pretty bad at talking about their emotions,” he says. “Running a business, trying to keep it going during coronavirus and with everything that’s been happening with. British Bird. Alongside these community values, the pair are introducing new pillars to the Flock Together philosophy, all of which have been longstanding priorities for them – including, but not limited to, widening access to mental health services for people of colour, and environmentalism. “Being around nature again is a bit like finding a new language,” he says. “But together, it is a result of a lifelong experience of living in an institutionally racist country.”, “To birdwatch, you go into what is typically a white space,” he continues. And the rest will come by osmosis.”, Flock Together is keen to promote this level of accessibility. You don’t need to know the names of the birds or what they are called in Latin. Even as the project continues to rapidly expand, both Olanipekun and Perera are making sure they don’t lose sight of what made them fall in love with birdwatching in the first place. “So much of the appeal of what we do is the escapism, and we’ve never needed that more than the past six months,” says Olanipekun. Just For Fun ~Birds of a Feather Always Flock Together~ Personal Blog. Participants are advised to wear dark clothing (to avoid frightening the birds away), but otherwise they could be headed anywhere: the printed shirts, nylon jackets and sneakers on display are a far cry from the popular conception of birdwatchers in pac-a-macs and lunch-stained fleeces. Accessories. birds of a feather in British English. Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia and. He said groups of birds like this often fly in mixed flocks, consisting of true blackbirds (red-winged, most of the time), common grackles, brown-headed cowbirds and starlings. “There has to be other ways of socializing and meeting new people. It doesn’t look like a pigeon.”, This is an excursion – the third of its kind – organized by Flock Together, a new collective that hopes to bring people of color into the world of birdwatching. The former is being spearheaded by two members of the group who work as a doctor and a psychotherapist, and both are offering free sessions as part of the initiative. “I hope it releases them from feeling this necessity to ‘be something,’” Perera says. Flocking together helps them protect themselves because they can all watch out for predators together, and one will alert the rest of the group if a hawk or other bird of prey appears.