Dusk Chorus – Black Birders Week NOLA

Where: 3113 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70117

When: 6:00 – 9:00 pm, Monday, May 26th

Our bayous, marshes, and bottomland forests are filled with the songs and calls of millions of birds traveling the Mississippi Flyway, and the richness of these vocalizations reflects the biodiversity our habitats hold. This symphony is often best heard when day turns to night, during the dusk chorus.

These same landscapes carry another living heritage: the roots of American music created over generations by Louisiana’s Black communities, including banjo traditions, early blues, and the deep lineage of genres descended from them.

These layered natural and cultural sounds shape the unique soundscapes found throughout South Louisiana. Tuning into a landscape can tell us about ecosystem health and community resilience, provide healing benefits for our well-being, and serve as a living collective memory of the sounds that define our sense of place.

Join us for Dusk Chorus, an evening of stories and songs led by local Black scientists, organizers, and artists celebrating the unique natural and cultural elements that shape South Louisiana’s soundscapes, understanding what Louisiana communities lose when bird populations and habitat decline, and exploring how listening to the land can be a pathway to climate justice and resilience.