#BlackBirdersWeek got its start in 2020 as a primarily virtual event spurred by the Central Park birding incident involving the accomplished science writer and birder Christian Cooper. The event week and The BlackAFinSTEM Collective itself was created by a small group of friends and acquaintances to normalize the historically overlooked presence of Black birders, scientists, and nature enthusiasts in the field (literally and figuratively) in an effort to make the natural sciences more inclusive, diverse, and welcoming to people of all walks of life. The Collective also aims to inspire new audiences to engage in nature and share the stories of Black conservationists from across the globe.