Mujeres en Parvada: Community and Conservation through Birds 

By Laura Ibarra (CSF 2020)

‘Mujeres en Parvada’ or Women in Flock, are four female friends united by a deep love for birds and nature in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. We met, support each other, and create a network that seeks to share knowledge, experiences and collaborate in the conservation of birds and their habitats, as well as strengthening the role of women in conservation. 

The idea behind creating this collective arose from the need to have safe spaces for bird watching. We wanted an environment where, in addition to enjoying nature, we could support each other and grow together. From the beginning, our priority has been to create a place where we feel safe, inspired and accompanied. 

The beginnings of Mujeres en Parvada 

Our story began in 2021, a year when we were still feeling the effects of the pandemic. A friend contacted me by text to invite me to go birding, to which I readily agreed. We went to Cañón de Doña Petra, a place known in Ensenada for its hiking trails. During the conversation she told me that she had noticed that in Ensenada there was very little female representation on the eBird platform. However, she knew that there are women interested in birding in our city. She asked me if I would like to meet with other women, to learn together and strengthen our presence in this field, to which I gladly agreed. 

So, on June 30, 2021, we met at her apartment. There I saw Yuriko and Liliana again, whom I had previously only briefly met, and Celic, whom I met that afternoon. That day, without knowing it, we started on a path that has transformed our lives and is the one we still follow, now without our mutual friend, who decided to pursue new personal projects, but to whom we will be eternally grateful for bringing us together on that day. What began as a gathering of women interested in birds, soon became a community of support, learning and shared growth.

Growing together 

One of the first things we discovered was that we shared the same common concerns. Birding and learning to identify birds can take practice. For us, doing it alone often represented a safety concern on the one hand, and the fear of misidentification on the other. So, we started going out together, accompanying, motivating and learning from each other. 

This is the seed idea that remains at the heart of Mujeres en Parvada, and over the past three years it has grown into something much bigger that has begun to blossom. We organize monthly outings, open to the public, with the goal of connecting more people with birds and the natural environments of our city. These outings have been very well received, and we have worked constantly to improve them. Each outing is an opportunity to learn, share and be amazed by the birds of our region, both resident and migratory, and by the occasional appearance of unusual species.

Spreading our wings 

In March 2022, we organized our first women-only outing to commemorate International Women’s Day. It was one of the most moving experiences we have had, and from there we decided to expand this initiative. In March 2023, we held our first Entre Alas y Flores event (Between Wings and Flowers), in which we collaborated with extraordinary women who share our love for nature. 

This free event brought together women of different ages and backgrounds to enjoy activities around nature. We were deeply touched by the participation and enthusiasm with which it was received. In fact, this year we held the second edition, and we dream of continuing to celebrate it annually, hand in hand with the women who have helped us to make it happen, to expand the network of women who love and are committed to caring for nature. In addition, this event provides an open space for dialogue and learning among women, where we can share challenges, experiences and give visibility to the incredible work that women do in our city.

Outreach and community 

From the beginning, outreach has been key to our growth. Through our social networks, mainly Instagram and Facebook, we share activities, important dates and information about the birds of Baja California. One of our most beloved projects is our bird calendar, which allows us to raise funds to support our monthly events, and purchase binoculars for those who accompany us. We also enjoy doing a monthly live session called ‘Tardes en Parvada’ (Afternoons in Flock), in which we invite people related to birds and their conservation to talk to us about their projects. 

We are also open to new collaborations. We recently worked with Boy and Girl Scout groups on birding practices and participated in local environmental events with informational stands. Our next event will be at the Latino Conservation Week, organized by the San Diego Bird Alliance, to recognize the work of the Latino community in conservation.

Looking to the future 

At Mujeres en Parvada we see ourselves as an organization that help to raise awareness about the threats facing birds and their habitats. Little by little, we have become involved in current environmental issues, promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible practices. 

We know that there is still much to do in the field of conservation, but our goal is clear: we want to continue to learn and inspire more people to get involved in conservation, and to work together to build a future that is more just and equitable for the environment and the birds that inhabit it.

Because together we are stronger, we are a flock. 

Mujeres en Parvada is a collective born in the city of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, and is composed of four members: Celic Montoya, Liliana Ortiz, Yuriko Kuwabara and Laura Ibarra.