INDIGO GOODSON-FIELDS

“I strive to curate an environment where the most valuable amongst us feel welcome and seen when I’m leading a bird outing. When I’m creating a prompt for a Field Meridians’ Nature School workshop, I’m thinking about the people in our local community and issues they’ve named or observations they’ve expressed and finding a parallel or symbol in the birding world.”

At Nocs, we believe that looking closer changes everything. It’s how curiosity starts — and how connection grows.

For Indigo Goodson-Fields, that connection shows up in many forms: as a poet, educator, writer, and birder shaping how people experience the natural world—especially in the places we might overlook.

From Bay Area Roots to Brooklyn Birding

Indigo’s relationship with nature started early. Growing up in Hayward, her days were filled with gardens, fruit trees, hikes along the coast, and quiet moments observing wildlife. It wasn’t a single moment that sparked her love for the outdoors—it was a rhythm of being in it.

Today, she calls Brooklyn home, where she’s spent over a decade building community through birding, writing, and education. These days, you’ll often find her exploring local green spaces with her toddler—binoculars in one hand, curiosity in the other.

The Moment That Changed Everything

Like many birders, Indigo’s journey started with a simple invitation. In 2020, a friend handed her a pair of binoculars and took her to Prospect Park.

The first bird she truly saw? A White-throated Sparrow.

Zooming in revealed details she’d never noticed before—and just like that, everything shifted.

That’s the thing about birding. One moment you’re looking. The next, you’re seeing.

“I want folks to be learning about birds while reflecting on our local community and larger society.”

Birding as a Practice of Connection

Indigo’s work lives at the intersection of birding, storytelling, and community. Whether she’s leading a bird walk or writing poetry, her approach is rooted in making people feel seen, welcomed, and connected—not just to birds, but to each other.

Her outings aren’t about silence or strict rules. They’re about presence. Conversation. Shared curiosity.

And sometimes, they come with unexpected lessons—like learning the complex histories behind common birds like the European Starling and House Sparrow.

Because birding isn’t just about what’s in the sky—it’s about how it connects to the world we live in.

Urban Birding, Reimagined

For Indigo, birding doesn’t require escaping the city. In fact, some of her favorite moments happen right in her urban patch—watching pigeons, gulls, and hawks from her window or spotting movement between buildings.

It’s a reminder that nature isn’t somewhere else. It’s already here.

All it takes is tuning in.

Making Birding More Inclusive

Accessibility and inclusivity are central to Indigo’s work. She highlights and supports organizations like Feminist Bird Club and Birdability — groups helping reshape who birding is for and how people can participate.

Her message is simple: the resources exist. The work is happening. Support it. Learn from it. Be part of it.

what's Next

Indigo is currently working on her upcoming book, Essential Birding, an anthology exploring the role of birding in the lives of Black birders across the U.S., set to be published by OR Books in fall 2026.

She’s also continuing to lead community bird walks, speak on panels, and build spaces where people can connect—with birds, with nature, and with each other.

In the Field with Nocs

When it comes to gear, Indigo keeps things simple and ready. Her Zero Tube monocular lives in her bag — perfect for quick moments, especially when she’s birding one-handed with a stroller.

For longer sessions, her binoculars come along for the ride—especially when tracking a Red-tailed Hawk in flight.

Because the best tools are the ones you actually bring with you.

Look Closer

Indigo’s story is a reminder that birding isn’t about expertise — it’s about attention.

It’s about noticing what’s already around you.
It’s about slowing down, even in the middle of a busy city.
It’s about connection — to place, to people, and to the natural world.


And sometimes, all it takes to begin…
is a closer look.

Follow Indigo’s journey: @indigoindaflow

Keep exploring. Grab your optics, head outside, and see what you’ve been missing.