August 8, 2026: Urban Birding: Downtown Kalamazoo
On the morning of Saturday, August 8, Seth led a group of birders along the Portage Creek in downtown Kalamazoo on a guided birding hike. This hike showcased just how pervasive birds are, and thus, no matter your surroundings, there’s always an opportunity to observe, be curious, and drop in.
Gathered at Upjohn Park, we started the experience with a round of introductions where participants shared their names, as well as their most recent noteworthy bird observation. Seth then proceeded to set the tone for the hike, providing context.
It’s early August. We’re entering the late summer months, and in the bird world, things are shifting. Bird behavior alters as the hormones responsible for breeding recede. Many bird parents are busy hunting for food to feed their young, leading to a dramatic decrease in birdsong.
Migration has begun. Many shorebirds begin migrating in late July, and as the summer progresses, more and more birds enter into the process. It’s also the time of year to keep eyes out for any wandering southern-breeding birds, as they tend to wander after breeding. Among other noticeable changes, grounding into this context really set the stage for what to expect during this hike.
Participants were then able to partake in a mindfulness practice that creates space for connection to nature; a slow 360 turn. Over the course of the next two minutes, we slowly rotated in a circle, and took in our surroundings. The textures, the sights, the sounds. With expanded senses, we began our walk.
Hiking along the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail (KRVT) that connects downtown Kalamazoo
to the Kalamazoo Nature Center, we began noticing. European Starlings, both adult and juvenile, in the grass nearby the trailhead. A Mourning Dove perched on powerlines. Red-winged Blackbird parents feeding their young atop a telephone pole.
One of the reasons I love urban birding is that you never know what you may see. The juxtaposition of urban sprawl with natural areas provides unique habitat for many species that actually thrive in this environment.
The juxtaposition of nature + urban sprawl.
Hiking along a segment of the KRVT.
Further along the trail we were met with juvenile American Robins along with a parent overhead in a dead tree. Their spotted plumage is a great key to identifying young vs mature Robins this time of year!
Perched right alongside them was a juvenile European Starling. These two species didn’t seem to mind each other’s company!
A juvenile American Robin along the trail.
As the landscape became more developed along our route, we began searching the Peregrine Falcons. Through tireless efforts of the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo, specifically Gail Walter, this incredible species has called Kalamazoo home for the past 16 years. Though we did not locate them this morning, Seth did point out where the next box is so that participants could keep an eye out next time they find themselves in town. To watch the Falcon Cam, click here.
Other notable observations from our hike included Chimney Swifts circling overhead, catching bugs on the wing, a Gray Catbird “mewing” from the bushes along the creek, and a few Ring-billed Gulls, along with what we believed was a Herring Gull.
Seth concluded the hike with a few notes on the upcoming fall migration, the threats that birds face, and ways you can help our feathered friends make it to their wintering grounds safely. Please read this article by the American Bird Conservancy for easy steps you can take to make the journey safer for migrating birds.
To all of you who joined me this past weekend, thank you! And to those of you who weren’t there, here is a shot of us getting birdy! You can view our full checklist from this morning on eBird.
The Urban Birders of 2026.
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A must-have for birders of all ages!
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