February 14, 2026: The Great Backyard Bird Count
A recap of our Great Backyard Bird Count hike.
It’s February, and for birders all around the world, that means it’s time for the Great Backyard Bird Count!
What is the Great Backyard Bird Count? The GBBC is a global event that takes place over the course of four days in February (this year, February 13-16), where birders from around the world submit their observations into eBird, the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project. Launched by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society in 1998, the observations from this count help scientists better understand global bird populations before the annual spring migration.
This is my second year leading a group of birders through a GBBC count. Hikers learned the importance of listening mindfully to the songs and calls of birds in Kleinstuck Preserve. Since each species has their own unique repertoire of vocalizations, we were able to identify most species by sound, and some others by sight.
We experienced the “churrr” of the Red-bellied Woodpecker, the Black-capped Chickadee’s “springs coming”, and many rambunctious Blue Jays, among other songs and calls.
We paused in space, attuning our senses to the surrounding environment. That in itself is good medicine; anchoring into the present moment via the senses. This practice of being present, rather than tuning out, helps us build our capacity to face reality, rather than turn from it.
By the end of our hike, we documented 21 species, including a Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, a lone Sandhill Crane, and many other songbirds. Our total count of individuals was 78.
Participants went home with the tools necessary to perform their very own count at home, and submit their data to eBird, contributing to the global effort of bird study and conservation.
You can view our full checklist from our morning hike here.
Taking pause to listen.
Seth + Bob enjoying the hike.
Red-tailed Hawk perched at the edge of the swamp.
February 7, 2026: Birding for Kids: DIY Pinecone Feeder
A recap of a morning spent mindfully in nature.
The morning of Saturday, February 7 was no doubt briskly cold, but that did not stop a group of hearty kids from embarking on a birding adventure through Kleinstuck Preserve! The snow-covered forest provided space for us to immerse ourselves in nature, and get curious about our surroundings.
Parents and kids met at the Chevy Chase Blvd. entrance to Kleinstuck for a pre-hike briefing. We discussed what we would be doing, why we would be doing it, and how exactly we would go about our morning together.
The mission was simple and fun: we were going to observe birds in their natural habitat, while also searching for objects that could be used to make suet feeders using spreadable suet and birdseed. Kids and parents would leave today’s class taking home a handmade suet feeder that they can hang at home and attract birds to their home.
Before hiking, we talked about using our five senses, particularly the senses of sight and sound, as effective ways to go birding. We even put into practice exercising the sense of sound, by intentionally standing silent for 10 seconds, listening to what the birds of the forest had to tell us. It was a very active morning for birdsong, as the sun was shining in a clear blue sky.
We heard a pair of Red-bellied Woodpecker churring from a distance, the drumming of another woodpecker on a hollow log, as well as the song of a Northern Cardinal nearby, some Black-capped Chickadees, and Blue Jays.
I love the practice of birding with kids because, as in this example, it’s an incredibly effective way to ground them into the present moment, and this in itself is medicine. Studies also show that experiences in nature, especially from a young age, can relieve some of the everyday pressures that may lead to childhood depression, and can help protect children from stress.
“Children need nature for the healthy development of their senses, and, therefore, for leaning and creativity.”
Once our mission was clear, we were off! We got curious, we explored the terrain, we discovered. We spent time with others, looking and listening to the natural world around us, and we learned about woodpeckers, specifically their unique beaks and tongues, and what makes them so adept at finding food when food sources can be sparse in the depths of winter.
We learned how to identify White Pine trees by their needles, and what clues to look for that tell us that birds are nearby. We searched every nook and cranny underneath the pines for items that we could use to turn into suet feeders, and we found many pieces of bark and pinecones that would work perfectly.
With items in hand, we headed back to the trailhead, and made our way to Wild Birds Unlimited to warm up and get creative!
Hiking through the snow-covered forest.
Searching for pinecones underneath the White Pines.
We had a fun time together making our suet feeders. I explained the process behind making them, and why making the feeders right now is such a good idea, since food can be hard to find for some birds when snow blankets the land. We really got into it, and had a blast making them! Some parents even made their own to take home as well.
Getting started making suet feeders.
Creating our suet feeders.
These suet feeders will feed birds for the weeks to come!
Spreading suet and tying twine to our suet feeders.
All in all, it was a great morning to spend outdoors. Memories were made, birds were identified, the senses were nourished, and birds will be fed! Be sure to check the events page for upcoming events, including more bird hikes for kids this summer.
January 17, 2026: All About Owls
A recap of a morning spent learning all about owls!
On the morning of Saturday, January 17, a local group of birders curious about owls joined together for a workshop All About Owls at the Ayurvedic Wellness Center. Upon arrival, participants filled up their mugs with hot chai, and picked up a field guide to use for the class. There was a great turnout, and spending time in community honoring these special creatures was great medicine to us all.
We began class with an opportunity to arrive and settle in via the breath. I find that this helps me be more present, and can prepare the mind to better receive information. Once settled, I shared Owl Medicine to the class from my Animal Medicine Cards deck. This reading contained teachings of Owl Medicine from Native American elders. The words washed over us, and provided some spiritual context for the class.
The context of the class; owl wisdom + owl guide.
“Owl...
Magic,
Omens,
Time and Space.
Does the truth emerge?
Casting out deception,
Silent flight,
Sacred Medicine Bird.”
After contemplating the Owl (also called Night Eagle on several medicine wheels used by Amerindian teachers), we dove right in! What exactly makes an owl, an owl? To explore this question, we learned about the taxonomy of owls, food and foraging habits, breeding habits, and movements.
We learned about features unique to owls, such as their immovable eyeballs, and the types of food and styles of hunting they prefer. We pondered other fun bits of information, and got curious about their habits and peculiarities.
For example, did you know that there are 164 species of Typical Owls in the world, and only 18 of those species in the United States? Did you also know that Snowy Owls can pinpoint prey in up to 12 inches of snow, by sound only?
Content was delivered in a fun, interactive way; I shared stories from personal experiences, had fun answering great questions from participants, and even quizzed those in attendance about owl feathers. I passed around four different feathers and asked participants to identify which feather was from an owl, and why. To my delight, just about everybody guess correctly through astute observations.
Seth teaching about the Great Horned Owl.
Great Horned Owl in Kleinstuck Preserve. May 2, 2021.
Once we had a better idea of what an owl actually is, we moved on to the case studies of owls that we are most likely to encounter in Michigan. These owls included the Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Short-eared Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Norther Saw-when Owl, Snowy Owl, and Long-eared Owl. Specimens known as round skins were used so that participants could get close-up looks at these owls.
I used these round skins as teaching aids, asking participants to tell me what they notice about these birds. We made observations based on the four keys to identification: size and shape, color and pattern, behavior, and habitat. Folks remarked on how intricate the plumage is (especially for the Great Horned Owl), and were quite surprised at the size difference between species.
Seth displaying a Long-eared Owl round skin.
We wrapped up class talking a little bit about eBird, the tools and resources I use to find these owls, and where exactly folks could go in Kalamazoo to have the best chance of seeing these unique owls.
Finishing class with gratitude and joy.
By the end of class, we learned how to identify the various species of owl in Michigan, had a better understanding of the cultural and symbolic significance of owls, and we had hands-on practice identifying owls by both sound and sight. This morning we built our confidence for birding in general.
Thank you to everybody in attendance! Now, let’s go owling!
January 10, 2026: Movie Night #1
A recap of movie night #1!
"Thank you to everyone who showed up to support Birds with Seth for my very first movie night! This show was a great success, and together we raised $147 to protect critical bird habitat!
A large group of local birders and bird-curious folks met at Factory Coffee around 6:00pm on Saturday, January 10 to watch a screening of '‘Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching’. This birding documentary was released about four months ago, and has since taken the birding world by storm! After seeing it for the first time, I knew I had to share it.
The film follows two young men, completely new to birding, who decide to embark on a “big year”. A big year is a competitive form of birdwatching where one attempts to see as many species of birds as possible within one calendar year, within a specific area. This film follows Owen and Quentin Reiser throughout the lower 48 in pursuit of becoming #1 in 2024.
The film is hilarious, with plenty of comedic relief, and is also informative, educational, and provides a glimpse into the competitive side of birdwatching. There’s plenty of commentary from various naturalists and enthusiasts alike, and the footage of the birds is visually stunning; it’s one of my favorite parts!
We laughed, we mingled in community, and we snacked on popcorn and drinks from Factory Coffee. It felt so great to host an event like this; I haven’t done anything quite like this before.
I truly enjoyed sharing my passion of birding in this way, and at the same time we were able to raise money to actively support birds and their habitat in the process! Way to go Kalamazoo!
The money raised will be donated to the American Bird Conservancy, who’s mission is to “deliver conservation results for birds and their habitats throughout the Western Hemisphere.”
Together with their partners, they “have developed proven strategies to address some of the gravest threats facing birds while protecting 1.1 million acres of habitat across a network of more than 100 reserves in 15 countries, benefiting 3,000 bird species — 30 percent of the world’s total.”
If you’d like to watch this documentary, it is available for free on YouTube, here.
Stay tuned for Movie Night #2!
December 20, 2025: Short-eared Owl Prowl
A recap of our Short-eared Owl prowl in Vicksburg, MI.
Perhaps the most mysterious and captivating species of birds, owls have inspired a sense of wonder and wisdom upon those fortunate to catch a glimpse. Lucky for us, Short-eared Owls are more frequently seen during the daytime than other owls, especially around dawn and dusk, when they lazily fly over open fields.
What better time to witness these fascinating owls than Winter Solstice? A time for contemplation, inner stillness, and reflection, this owl prowl encouraged us to be still, to pause, look, and listen to our surroundings in contemplation. What better way to ring in a new year?
Short-eared Owl at Oswalt Family Farms on December 19, 2021.
A group of 14 curious birders gathered around for a pre-trip briefing, sipping on mugs of herbal chai. I made homemade chai with cinnamon, clove, anise, pepper, ginger, tulsi, and lemon verbena. It was a huge hit, and kept us warm as we learned a little bit about these owls.
I spoke a little bit about the Short-eared Owl so that folks could get to know them a little better. We talked about traits such as size and shape, color pattern, behavior, and habitat. For example did you know that Short-eared Owls sometimes vocalize when hunting at dusk? Their call is referred to as a “bark”, as they sound like a small dog barking. Check out this vocalization by clicking “listen” here.
Before participants arrived, I also placed a decoy Short-eared Owl nearby so folks could practice observation and identification skills on-site before we carpooled to the location.
After a 25-minute drive, we arrived at Oswalt Family Farms, a cattle and sheep farm located in rural Vicksburg, MI, where Short-eared Owls have been known to hunt for the past couple of years. We stood for quite some time, often in silence, as we observed the environment around us. The air was milder than it has been lately, near 40 degrees, and winds were not terribly gusty, which made for a pleasant experience.
Our view at Oswalt Family Farms.
And so we waited patiently. During this time we witnessed many Mallards flying to and from the nearby fields. Mixed in with them were some American Black Ducks. We also spotted a Red-tailed Hawk, Sandhill Cranes, and heard some American Tree Sparrows. For the full eBird checklist, click here.
Just as the daylight waned, we were able to spot one Short-eared Owl, far off in the distance, perched on a fence post. What a treat this was to witness! Veiled by dusk, we only were able to observe for a few short moments before he took back off again to hunt the fields in darkness.
I am so grateful for the time we spent together in nature, observing the natural world around us. Until next time, happy birding!
December 6, 2025: The Birds of Winter
A recap of my class on birding through winter.
I arrived at the Ayurvedic Wellness Center on the morning of Saturday, December 6 to teach an indoor lecture-style class on “The Birds of Winter”. My local community of birders showed up once again, strengthening their commitment to fostering deeper and deeper relationships with the birds (and thus, nature) surrounding them.
Though the weather has been particularly cold (recent temperatures plummeted to near 0 degrees), I found great delight immediately upon stepping out of my parked car. The sounds above flooded my senses, and I knew immediately what was happening above; flocks of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings were feeding on winter berries surrounding the venue. A quintessential soundscape of winter birding, I was instantly delighted that these friends would be joining us today.
An American Robin in Kleinstuck Preserve. March 8, 2022.
My inspiration for creating the content of this class was designed to inspire a steady connection to nature through the colder, harsher months. Recognizing that while the elements may not favor long, wandering strolls through the woods, there is still plenty of opportunity to go birding, and discover new species that call SW Michigan their home, only for the winter months.
So we gathered around in a circle, homemade spicy chai in hand (this morning’s batch turned out exceptionally delicious!), and explored the birds of winter.
Participants expressed their reasons for joining; to to deepen their education around birds and birding, and to strengthen their sense of community.
I began by providing context so we could understand where in the cycle of migration we were, so that we have a better sense of what to expect. I also broke down, in detail, what birding can look like throughout the winter. One tool I shared and explained was the Winter Finch Forecast, and how that can shape expectations around what species to expect this winter.
Dark Eyed Junco in winter. December 17, 2022.
We then took a deep dive into six winter species. We discussed where to find these unique birds, how to identify them, and we examined their unique behavior and traits. Some species discussed were the striking Evening Grosbeak, the cute Snow Bunting, and the gorgeous Lapland Longspur. We learned, we asked questions, and we practiced noticing traits and describing them by using field guides, and examining their behavior via short video clips.
Snow Buntings in agricultural field. January 9, 2022.
Towards the end of class, I enlisted the help of my “round skin specimens”. Round skins are essentially taxidermy birds that I use as study tools. I laid out nine species of birds, and set my birders to the test! Their challenge was to positively identify all nine birds using their field guides.
Students hard at work using round skins to identify bird species.
After the workshop, we covered a few more ways to stay engaged with birding this winter, including the Winter Feeder Count, put on by the Kalamazoo Nature Center, and the Christmas Bird Count, by the Audubon Society. Both programs are excellent ways to not only go birding in the winter, but also to actively contribute to citizen science by submitting observation data. I have participated in both of these events for many years, and they give me something to look forward to during winter.
I am delighted to have shared my knowledge, spent time in community, and to have learned from my cohorts on this chilly Saturday morning. Just before I knew it, it was time to wrap up and say goodbye.
I’ll leave you all with one more photo I took in January of 2022; a pair of Horned Larks, or as we called them, “Grumpy birds”.
A pair of Horned Larks. January 9, 2022.
November 15, 2025: Waterfowl at Wolf Lake
A recap of our hike at Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery.
It’s opening day for firearm hunting season. Although it’s mid-November, the weather is unusually mild. Even at the beginning of our hike, temperatures were in the upper 50’s. Weather conditions are cloudy, and slightly breezy.
A good-sized group of us gathered in the parking lot of Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery, located just across the Kalamazoo County line, into VanBuren County, a 20-minute drive west of downtown Kalamazoo.
Gathered for our pre-trip briefing.
Two photographers joined the group, as well as many regulars, and even a few enthusiastic children. Before the hike we discussed the topic of waterfowl in November in SW Michigan; what types of waterfowl we can expect, the different families of waterfowl, as well as tips and tricks on identification.
At about 9:15a, we set out on the trail towards the ponds. Wolf Lake is a great place to bird for waterfowl, since the ponds rarely freeze over the winter due to the water being heated from the fish hatchery.
Our first bird encounter was a Blue Jay. A rather numerous gathering of birds also included some Northern Cardinals, American Tree Sparrows, and American Crows.
Upon reaching the first pond, we spotted Trumpeter Swans, Mallards, and Gadwall. Folks were thrilled to see a new duck (Gadwall) they had never heard of before!
Birding the first pond.
Trumpeter Swans in flight. 📸 Seth Messer
The second, and much larger pond, had much more waterfowl. Many more Trumpeter Swans, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, a Great Blue Heron, Bufflehead, and even a lone Ring-necked Duck.
My absolute favorite ducks to see are the Bufflehead. They are so cute!
Male and Female Bufflehead. 📸 Seth Messer.
As we neared the far end of our out-and-back hike, we took about 15 minutes to search for a Red-headed Woodpecker, in an area they are known to frequent. Lo and behold, we caught glorious views of a male through the scope. This was definitely the show-stopper for the group!
The trip was rounded out by a bonus sighting of an American Coot, and a male Belted Kingfisher.
Belted Kingfisher. 📸 Seth Messer.
Belted Kingfisher diving. 📸 Seth Messer.
The morning was thoughtfully spent in community, and birders thoroughly enjoyed the hike and the variety of species. They left much better equipped in identifying local waterfowl, and it’s truly a pleasure for me to facilitate creating connections through the shared experience of enjoying nature.
To view the full checklist from the hike, click here.