June 13, 2026: Birding for Kids!
Sunny skies and mild temperatures made for a great morning of birding with kids at a local city park! Parents and kiddos joined Seth for a morning of fun and exploration at Milham Park, with an emphasis on, you guessed it, birds!
Just before 9:00am kids arrived, excited for what was in store. They wrote their own name tags, decorated them with bird stickers, and got geared up with binoculars.
Seth introduced himself and talked about what the plan was for the day. We discussed what unique traits make a bird, a bird, as well as which of the five senses is most important for birding. Seth also briefed parents and kids on the main activity of the hike, which was a scavenger hunt.
This scavenger hunt contained a slew of items that could clue us in to the whereabouts of birds. Things like a feather, an eggshell, insects, and yes, bird poop!
With clipboards and binoculars, we ventured out! Seth also brought along his scope which could be set up for up close and personal views
Parents and kids gathered for a pre-hike briefing.
We hiked from the parking lot to a pedestrian bridge that afforded us our first good views of some birds; a pair of male Mallards! Even some parents learned a little bit about these ducks, regarding their dabbling behavior and the coloring.
A male Mallard at Milham Park.
Across the bridge, we meandered thorough the park, with no particular route in mind. Often times the kids take the lead. This sort of free exploration and play is SO important to the healthy development of kids. In Richard Louv’s book, Last Child in the Woods, many benefits are outlined that emerge from children spending time in unstructured outdoor spaces, including:
Instilling instinctual confidence
Strengthening self-confidence
Stress reduction
Greater physical health
A deeper sense of spirit
Parents and kids continued exploring, with curious and excited exclamations from the kids who found a woodpecker hole, or who caught a glimpse of a songbird fluttering in the distance. We saw and heard many birds, including Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, Northern Cardinals, and a lucky few even got a glimpse of an Eastern Kingbird through the scope.
Three items on the scavenger proved challenging; an eggshell, a bird’s nest, and surprisingly, a goose! Knowing that some swallows may be building nests nearby, Seth guided the group towards a small stone bridge. Sure enough, many Barn Swallows were present, darting about. One photogenic Barn Swallow even perched on a branch in plain view for all to see. Below us along the creek a pair of Barn Swallows were observed collecting mud pellets with their beaks and building a nest under the very bridge we stood on!
Did You Know?: It takes anywhere from 750-1,400 beaks of mud for the
Barn Swallow to
construct their nest!
The Barn Swallow and nest under the bridge at Milham Park.
With scavenge hunt lists about complete, we headed back to the trailhead. On the way we all witnessed a Belted Kingfisher perform a low pass along the creek, and just before the gazebo at the parking lot we all got to see a female American Robin in her nest! This was a crowd favorite, with some kids jumping for joy and detailing to their parents what they just witnessed.
Scanning an open field for birds.
Birding the creek at Milham Park.
Meandering through the park.
Catching view of the American Robin on her nest.
In his book, Louv points out that “It’s a good thing to learn more about nature in order to share this knowledge with the children; it’s even better if the adult and child learn about nature together.”
It was an honor leading this hike both for the kids and the parents, so that the love of birds and birding spreads, and so that the health and wellness of relationships flourish. Stay tuned for the next bird hike for kids!
You can view the full checklist of birds we identified on our here.
These stickers are awesome! This sticker book contains over 400 scientifically-accurate bird illustrations, making the perfect gift for bird-lovers, crafters, scrapbookers, and sticker lovers.
Peel and stick hundreds of extravagant illustrations to decorate greeting cards, letters, packages, classroom notebooks, scrapbooks, cell phone cases—anything your heart desires!
For the curious-minded, each bird is identified by name.
24 pgs.
If you’re curious about what animals can teach you, or are seeking support from the natural world, this deck is for you!
Animal Medicine Cards have helped guide my journey, providing powerful insight and perspective around some of life’s questions. This deck has found its way into the hearts and hands of many, guiding the way to healing the body, emotions, mind, and spirit, and providing insight into and understand of one's unique purpose in life.
This unique and powerful divination system draws upon ancient wisdom and tradition to teach the healing medicine of animals through the lens of sacred Native American traditions. These teachings have been handed down from many elders in the Choctaw, Lakota, Seneca, Aztec, Yaqui, Cheyenne, Cherokee, Iroquois, and Mayan traditions.
This 52-card deck includes a 246 guidebook.
Created by Jamie Sams and David Carson, with illustrations by Angela C. Werneke.
A must-have for birders of all ages! Take this indispensable birding aid on your next birdwatching or hiking trip for easy reference in the field.
Written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley, this guide details 69 species of birds commonly found in the Midwest, including songbirds, raptors, woodpeckers, and more.
This field guide is very durable, waterproof, and measures 4”x9”.
These unique journals feature the Black-capped Chickadee and their delightful “chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee” song that we so often associate with the approaching spring.
Each journal is crafted with care from repurposed, thrifted, lined paper by a local artist in Kalamazoo. Created with both sustainability and creativity in mind, they are perfect for birding notes, sketches, or even keeping a life list or yard list!
Measures 5.5” x 3.5”
