Meet Maira Oakar | Owner and founder of Sisterhood Birding

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maira Oakar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maira, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Sisterhood Birding was created to offer women birders a safe, supportive space where they can feel empowered, connect with others, and grow their skills. We focus on providing tailored learning experiences, fostering community, and addressing safety concerns women may face outdoors. Our goal is to break down barriers in the traditionally male-dominated world of birding, helping women engage with nature and each other in a way that suits their unique styles and preferences without judge.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
In addition to Sisterhood Birding, I run Birding Is the World Brazil, offering birding tours to Brazil for mixed groups of men and women. Last year, I joined our first all-female tour, and that trip completely changed my perspective on birding and the female universe. It showed me the power of women coming together in a supportive, vibrant community, sharing their love for birds and nature while forging deep connections that inspire and uplift everyone involved. Witnessing these women—each with unique backgrounds, skills, and stories—unite over their passion for birding was transformative. It wasn’t just about spotting rare species like the Wire-tailed Manakin or the Cock-of-the-Rock; it was about the shared joy, the laughter during the trip and complicity!

This experience highlighted the strength of female birders in a field often dominated by men. Many participants shared how they’d faced skepticism or felt overlooked in mixed groups, yet on this tour, they thrived, freely exchanging knowledge about bird calls, migration patterns, and conservation. The confidence that I witnessed was contagious, empowering me to advocate even more for women in birding. I saw how these tours create safe spaces where women can lead, learn, and inspire without judgment, breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. This experience strengthened my commitment to fostering inclusivity through Sisterhood Birding and beyond. On our trips to Colombia, Brazil, and Costa Rica, and other places we ensure every woman feels valued and empowered to explore nature.That first trip wasn’t just a tour for me, it was a movement, proving that women in birding are a force, uplifting each other and reshaping the global birding community one adventure at a time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely take her to Rock Mountain National Park! Besides being one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States, with incredible hiking trails, the park is considered a birding paradise. More than 270 bird species can be seen there, including the Black swift, the Northern pygmy-owl, the Lewis’s woodpecker, and the rare White-tailed ptarmigan, also known as the snow quail. I would spend the whole day there and eat in Estes Park, which has several incredible restaurants for every taste.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate this shoutout to all the female birders around the world who, in some way, have fought to make their voices heard and occupy their space in an environment where men predominate. By fighting together, little by little, we will build a safe and welcoming space where we women can feel empowered, connect with others, and develop our skills without judgment and intimidation.

Website: https://www.sisterhoodbirding.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sisterhoodbirding/

Twitter: https://x.com/SHBirding

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578625169534

Image Credits
Maira Oakar, Jeffrey Oakar and Hannah Buschert