PLIRDING at Arabia Mountain

What to expect: Plirding—picking up litter while birding—offers a meaningful way to enjoy birds while actively caring for their habitat. Inspired by Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds initiative, these ongoing walks blend observation, stewardship, and community connection. Each gathering reinforces how small, collective actions can create healthier parks for wildlife and people alike. 

Participants will enjoy guided bird observation while removing litter commonly harmful to wildlife and destructive to the ecosystem. Together, we’ll model simple, effective stewardship practices while deepening our connection to the Nature Preserve.

Program leader: Your guide will be Ranger Jasmine Fuller, Interpretive Ranger at the Arabia Alliance and Ranger Rachel Roberts, the DeKalb County Park Naturalist at Arabia Mountain.

Where to meet: Find Ranger Jasmine under the kiosk in front of the Nature Center (3787 Klondike Rd.).

What to bring: Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear. Bring a refillable water bottle and items that support the activity, such as binoculars (if you own a pair) and gloves. Extra supplies and bird identification assistance will be available onsite.

Restrooms: Public restrooms are available in front of the Nature Center. You will look for a brown building with red doors.

Recommended ages: This program content is designed for adults and teens, though all ages are welcome.

Dogs: This program is NOT appropriate for dogs, so please leave your pup at home.

Weather contingency: This program will be held rain or shine unless conditions are deemed unsafe by DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs (RPCA).

Walking distance: The distance of the program depends on the level of trash and number of stops for observations and discussions. It will be no more than 3 miles.

Exposure: This program is mostly under shaded tree canopy with the potential of being in full sun.

Trail surface & accessibility: This program stays on established soft trails of mixed terrain. There are sections of the walk that are quite steep and also have exposed roots. Questions if this program will work for your mobility? Reasonable accommodations may be available upon request. To request an accommodation, please contact the program organizer at least 48 hours in advance of the event. Contact Ranger Rachel: [email protected]

Program Photos: We love documenting our programs and may share photographs on DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs' websites, publications, and social media platforms. While participants are welcome to take their own photos, photographs taken by staff are generally intended for County documentation and promotional purposes and are not routinely distributed to participants.  

Waiver & Release: By registering for this activity, each participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that he/she is participating in this program at his/her own risk and holds DeKalb County and all its officers, agents, servants, and/or employees harmless from and against any and all claims, loss, damage, charge, or expense to which they or any of them may be put or subjected by reason of participant’s participation in this program. You further acknowledge that DeKalb County is not responsible for the acts of others participating in this program and the other participants may include, but not be limited to, interested individuals, members of civic groups, religious groups, or community group, and/or persons convicted of crimes and/or violations of County ordinances and ordered to provide community service. I give permission that all photographs, films, video recordings, and sound recordings of me and/or my child(ren) made by the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs during this Naturalist program may be used non- commercially by the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs to promotion and educational purposes. I understand and acknowledge that neither my child(ren) nor I will receive any compensation whatsoever for appearing in any photograph, film, video recording, or sound recording made by the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs.