Christian Cooper and Amy Tan on how birdwatching brings them joy: a live event

Register for this free live-streamed event Thursday, June 22, 1 p.m. Eastern.

Christian Cooper and Amy Tan came to birding in very different ways. Cooper had taken refuge in birding as a child, long before the Central Park incident that brought him national attention. For Tan, birdwatching was a more recent discovery, prompted by the need for an outlet away from political events.

For both, birdwatching has been a powerful source of comfort and community. In a free, live discussion on Thursday, June 22, 1 p.m. EasternCooper, the author of the new book “Better Living Through Birding,” and Tan, author of the forthcoming book “The Backyard Bird Chronicles,” will talk about the transcendent power of birdwatching and the challenges and rewards of navigating through a predominantly white pastime as people of color. The talk is led by Dodai Stewart, a bird enthusiast and Metro writer for The New York Times.

We’ll also tell you how to get started birdwatching as part of The New York Times Summer Birding Project. Thousands of people have already signed up to learn about birds and help scientists collect bird data during the summer season, when fewer sightings are typically submitted. Alan Burdick, an editor in the science department of The Times, will speak with Jenna Curtis of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology about the importance of collecting this data. You will also hear tips from other bird watchers.