May 9, 2026: World Migratory Bird Day Hike
World Migratory Bird day is celebrated on the second Saturday each May as migratory birds journey to their nesting sites. This special day brings attention to one of the most important and spectacular events in the Americas – bird migration, and the ways in which people can participate in the conservation of birds.
To celebrate this worldwide event, Birds with Seth collaborated with Brooks Nature Area in Marshall, Michigan, for a migration celebration! Birders of all experience levels gathered in the parking lot of the preserve around 8:30am. The cloudy skies gave way to sunshine, and it was shaping up to be a beautiful morning.
The goal of today’s event was threefold; to teach on migration, warblers, and conservation. There was also a raffle in which folks could sign up for a chance to win a smart bird feeder!
Before Seth kicked off the event, birders arrived and filled their mugs with homemade chai and engaged in conversation with each other, sharing stories of recent sightings and asking questions about bird behavior they had recently witnessed. The casual conversation, the bumping into of old friends, the bonding of a shared love for birds… this was one of my favorites parts of this event. It was amplified by the lighting-round of introductions in which we all got to know a little bit more about each other and what drew us to this event. Many mentioned community, some had shown up for their birthday, and there were a few mother-daughter duos too! Though we all had different reasons for showing up, there was a palpable sense of joy and excitement, and that felt great!
Getting things started at Brooks Nature Area for World Migratory Bird Day.
After introductions we learned about the preserve from board member and long-time Brooks Nature Area friend, Erin Skidmore. Erin laid the context for where we would be hiking, describing the terrain and ecology of this 189 acre preserve. Through dedicated, ongoing work from many volunteers, this preserve has undergone a major transformation from farmland to a diverse and complex ecosystem that more closely represents its original state.
The preserve lies adjacent to Stuart Lake and contains many habitat types including woodland and prairie fen, and also is home to vernal pools! There are currently 2.3 miles of maintained trails, many of which we were about to embark upon. Before trekking, though, Seth talked about migration, warblers, and gave some practical conservation tips that anybody can easily take part in.
Migration: This event just so happened to coincide with the actual peak migration of warblers in Michigan!According to BirdCast, over 800,000 new birds arrived in Calhoun County (the county in which we were hiking) during the overnight hours! Birds migrate at night, and so each dawn during migration brings many new species of birds that weren’t there the day before. It’s like Christmas Day for weeks on end!
Hikers also learned that for most of human history, migration was greatly misunderstood. Did you know that it was once thought that birds went to the moon during the colder months? Others also theorized that they transformed into other species, or that the slept at the bottom of frozen lakes until the summer. Oh how far we’ve come in understanding our feathered friends!
Warblers: As always, Seth brought along many birds, on loan from the Kalamazoo Nature Center. He explained what makes a warbler a warbler, and walked many species around for people to get up-close looks at these small, colorful, unique birds! Some birds in attendance were the Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Golden-winged Warbler.
Conservation: In honor of World Migratory Bird Day Seth explained how birds are quite sensitive, and many species are declining in population due to many factors, such as collisions with windows, predation from cats, and habitat loss. Luckily, small actions taken by many can have profound impacts. It is for this reason that Seth shared some tips that can be easily implemented to push the needle back in the right direction. For those tips and more, check out the American Bird Conservancy’s “Thirteen Tips to Make the Journey Safer for Migrating Birds” article.
Seth teaching on warblers.
From left to right: Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler.
Getting up close looks at various warblers.
Warblers being shown to attendees.
Though we had a great time learning, it was time to go birding! Seth urged hikers to be present by staying with the senses during the hike. Akin to a walking mediation, birding, when done mindfully, can expand the senses and cultivate a sense of awe and wonder!
Enthusiastic hikers observed many birds along our hike, including many Tree Swallows in their nestboxes, which dotted the entire preserve, Baltimore Orioles, and good looks at a Common Yellowthroat and a Northern Yellow Warbler.
Seth using a field guide as a learning tool.
Enjoying the morning hike!
Upon reaching an observation deck overlooking Stuart Lake, birders identified a juvenile Bale Eagle, as well as a Great Blue Heron spear a fish not too far away, and a Belted Kingfisher dive into the water, successfully catching prey! It was turning out to be an active morning!
Birders watching a juvenile Bald Eagle fly overhead over Stuart Lake.
Elsewhere on the trail, many of us caught glimpse of what I suspected to be a Black-billed Cuckoo. Though I wasn’t 100% sure on my identification, I had passed around a field guide to those who got good looks, and the consensus was Black-billed Cuckoo. That was a nice surprise! Others on the hike were tickled that we saw a Ring-necked Pheasant flush from some tall grasses. Definitely not something you see everyday!
Hiking through the prairie.
Winding our way through the trails.
We made our way back to the pavilion, and said our goodbyes, but not before the raffle. The lucky winner of the smart bird feeder was so touched that she had won. It was in fact, also her birthday! What a sweet ending to a very successful event.
Thank you to all who showed up, and thank you to Brooks Nature Area for the opportunity to lead this event. Thank you to Erin Skidmore for reaching out and coordinating efforts to make this event come to life. Thank you to Ian Skidmore for the excellent photos. Thank you also to Jason Linde for the generous donation to Birds with Seth of the smart bird feeder.
For a full list of the birds we saw, you can view the checklist on eBird here.
We all know that migrating Warblers pose some of the greatest ID challenges. This guide is your best tool in learning how to ID warblers both by sight and sound. I have this guide on me at all times during migration!
Written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley, this guide details 38 species of Warblers both common and exotic found east of the Rockies.
This guide includes captions which capture the gestalt of each species, detailed range maps, both in-flight and perched illustrations.
This field guide is very durable, waterproof, and measures 4”x9”.
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”.
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.
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”
