An appreciation of the creatures that share our air, keep us grounded
An appreciation of the creatures that share our air, keep us grounded
Taking Flight: How West Michigan’s beaches become a classroom
Every semester, the different sections of Biology 342, an ornithology lab, run a competition: Which section can spot the highest number of species of birds?
As students in heavy winter coats and binoculars line the beach at Holland State Park, Nick Preville, affiliate professor of biology, calls out the different species he sees as students add them to their class tally – Long-tailed ducks, Red-breasted mergansers, Canvasback ducks and more.
“Long-tailed ducks are famous for diving hundreds of feet down,” Preville told students, explaining how they can use not only their feet, but their wings to ‘fly’ underwater, propelling themselves toward sources of food.
The lab sections venture out to different locations in the region each week throughout the semester. For Preville, this type of out-of-the-classroom experience is crucial in helping students understand the real-world implications of their coursework.
“You can look at a book or pictures online until you’re blue in the face, but you can’t really learn them until you’re out in the field looking at them.”
This story will be part of an ongoing series in appreciation for our feathered friends who share our campuses and capture our attention.
White-breasted Nuthatch, ravines on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
A bird nest outside of Lake Ontario Hall, Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Taking Flight: How West Michigan’s beaches become a classroom
Every semester, the different sections of Biology 342, an ornithology lab, run a competition: Which section can spot the highest number of species of birds?
White-breasted Nuthatch, ravines on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
White-breasted Nuthatch, ravines on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
As students in heavy winter coats and binoculars line the beach at Holland State Park, Nick Preville, affiliate professor of biology, calls out the different species he sees as students add them to their class tally – Long-tailed ducks, Red-breasted mergansers, Canvasback ducks and more.
“Long-tailed ducks are famous for diving hundreds of feet down,” Preville told students, explaining how they can use not only their feet, but their wings to ‘fly’ underwater, propelling themselves toward sources of food.
A bird nest outside of Lake Ontario Hall, Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
A bird nest outside of Lake Ontario Hall, Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
The lab sections venture out to different locations in the region each week throughout the semester. For Preville, this type of out-of-the-classroom experience is crucial in helping students understand the real-world implications of their coursework.
“You can look at a book or pictures online until you’re blue in the face, but you can’t really learn them until you’re out in the field looking at them.”
This story will be part of an ongoing series in appreciation for our feathered friends who share our campuses and capture our attention.
Preville, and many in the GVSU community and beyond, are all catching on to the same thing: That birdwatching is more than just, well, watching birds.
While the students are here birdwatching as part of their required coursework, they are certainly not alone. Birdwatching, or ‘birding’, is growing in popularity, with 96 million Americans saying they’ve engaged in birdwatching in 2022, according to a national survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
As students move throughout Holland State Park, they encounter many individuals who are there for the same reason – to birdwatch. The shared interest creates an easy conversational entry point for people, no matter their level of expertise, their background or even where they’re from (one onlooker was visiting from the Netherlands).
“There’s a really good sense of community that comes with birding,” Preville shared, highlighting how strangers share binoculars and cameras, point out different species to one another and share their knowledge. “It’s very cooperative and collaborative. It’s really beautiful, the way people want to share and enjoy that community with one another.”
The community is not the only aspect that appeals to Preville. Conservation is a common theme in the birdwatching community, as research by Cornell Lab found that America’s overall bird population has decreased by 29% since 1970.
“Birding is multifaceted, but the part that I really enjoy is the conservation side,” he said. “Even in the last 10 years, we’re starting to see a lot of the more common species, even American robins, seeing population declines.”
At the end of the day, his hope is that students walk away with more than just a passing grade.
“There is a quote that says, ‘Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.’ My way of living that out is showing students the natural world by getting them out birding,” he reflected. “Once they own homes and start getting jobs and voting, they have the ability and knowledge base to go on and effect real change.”
Preville, and many in the GVSU community and beyond, are all catching on to the same thing: That birdwatching is more than just, well, watching birds.
While the students are here birdwatching as part of their required coursework, they are certainly not alone. Birdwatching, or ‘birding’, is growing in popularity, with 96 million Americans saying they’ve engaged in birdwatching in 2022, according to a national survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
As students move throughout Holland State Park, they encounter many individuals who are there for the same reason – to birdwatch. The shared interest creates an easy conversational entry point for people, no matter their level of expertise, their background or even where they’re from (one onlooker was visiting from the Netherlands).
“There’s a really good sense of community that comes with birding,” Preville shared, highlighting how strangers share binoculars and cameras, point out different species to one another and share their knowledge. “It’s very cooperative and collaborative. It’s really beautiful, the way people want to share and enjoy that community with one another.”
The community is not the only aspect that appeals to Preville. Conservation is a common theme in the birdwatching community, as research by Cornell Lab found that America’s overall bird population has decreased by 29% since 1970.
“Birding is multifaceted, but the part that I really enjoy is the conservation side,” he said. “Even in the last 10 years, we’re starting to see a lot of the more common species, even American robins, seeing population declines.”
At the end of the day, his hope is that students walk away with more than just a passing grade.
“There is a quote that says, ‘Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.’ My way of living that out is showing students the natural world by getting them out birding,” he reflected. “Once they own homes and start getting jobs and voting, they have the ability and knowledge base to go on and effect real change.”
Bird Brain: What does birdwatching do to our minds?
There is nothing inherently groundbreaking about birdwatching, and yet, its popularity continues to rise. The question remains: What is it about birdwatching that makes it such a popular hobby, especially for college students?
Mikaela Walburg, mental health communications and outreach specialist at GVSU’s Counseling Center, explains one theory – that technological advancements have outpaced our ability to adjust to it, leaving us longing for a deeper connection with the natural world.
“Humans did not evolve to sit in front of a screen 24/7,” she explained. “That's kind of what we experience right now. That's how we get our news, how we learn, how we socialize. It can feel like we live in two separate worlds, one that's online and one that's offline. I think people have felt an imbalance between those worlds.”
While birdwatching might not be for everyone, Walburg knows this: “Pretty much everyone universally feels better with an opportunity to observe nature.”
And what is it that makes someone ‘feel better’ when they take advantage of this opportunity? For starters, activating mindfulness and experiencing a sense of awe, Walburg said.
“The definition of mindfulness that I prefer is: the act of paying attention on purpose and without judgment,” she said, sharing that while our busy minds may be prone to wandering, noticing your thoughts and feelings as they come and practicing returning your focus to the present moment is a valuable skill that birdwatching can help teach.
“In a way, it allows us to truly just exist as human beings and not human doings.”
Wildlife biology majors Alexia Sisty, left, and Ayla Zambrano take part in a BIO 342 Ornithology field trip at Holland State Park on February 17. (Cory Morse)
Mallard, Zumberge Pond (Macayla Cramer)
Bird Brain: What does birdwatching do to our minds?
There is nothing inherently groundbreaking about birdwatching, and yet, its popularity continues to rise. The question remains: What is it about birdwatching that makes it such a popular hobby, especially for college students?
Mikaela Walburg, mental health communications and outreach specialist at GVSU’s Counseling Center, explains one theory – that technological advancements have outpaced our ability to adjust to it, leaving us longing for a deeper connection with the natural world.
Wildlife biology majors Alexia Sisty, left, and Ayla Zambrano take part in a BIO 342 Ornithology field trip at Holland State Park on February 17. (Cory Morse)
Wildlife biology majors Alexia Sisty, left, and Ayla Zambrano take part in a BIO 342 Ornithology field trip at Holland State Park on February 17. (Cory Morse)
“Humans did not evolve to sit in front of a screen 24/7,” she explained. “That's kind of what we experience right now. That's how we get our news, how we learn, how we socialize. It can feel like we live in two separate worlds, one that's online and one that's offline. I think people have felt an imbalance between those worlds.”
While birdwatching might not be for everyone, Walburg knows this: “Pretty much everyone universally feels better with an opportunity to observe nature.”
And what is it that makes someone ‘feel better’ when they take advantage of this opportunity? For starters, activating mindfulness and experiencing a sense of awe, Walburg said.
Mallard, Zumberge Pond (Macayla Cramer)
Mallard, Zumberge Pond (Macayla Cramer)
“The definition of mindfulness that I prefer is: the act of paying attention on purpose and without judgment,” she said, sharing that while our busy minds may be prone to wandering, noticing your thoughts and feelings as they come and practicing returning your focus to the present moment is a valuable skill that birdwatching can help teach.
“In a way, it allows us to truly just exist as human beings and not human doings.”
While spotting some finches in a nearby tree may not be what you think of when you hear the word ‘awe’, Walburg says that spending any time in nature is enough to prompt the fleeting, but important emotion.
“The sense of awe can be a really grounding force for people,” she explained. “It’s what we feel when we take in something so vast that it supersedes our regular day-to-day thinking. It’s what allows us to put our problems and struggles into perspective.”
Nature isn’t the only thing that can inspire a sense of awe. While birdwatching is an accessible and attainable option for many, experiences like having a child or finishing a marathon can also trigger an immense sense of awe. Walburg points to how experiencing artwork can have a similar mental effect.
“It gives us a gentle, remarkable reminder that we are part of something bigger than just us.”
For those curious in exploring a new outdoor hobby, birdwatching or otherwise, to practice mindfulness, Walburg offers two pieces of advice: Allow it to be uncomfortable, and as you do, pick one of your senses to focus on.
“Anytime we make ourselves pause in today's world, it's going to be uncomfortable for a moment. Stick it out and try to let your brain have the opportunity to quiet before you make a judgment on whether or not the activity is helpful.”
To help, Walburg suggests choosing one sense to focus on. “Recognize one of your senses as an anchor. Maybe notice the different stimuli that your eyes are picking up, or the bird calls and sounds that you’re hearing. Pick whatever sense is most accessible to you in that moment and just focus on that one.”
Tufted Titmouse, near Calder Fine Arts Center on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Red-breasted Nuthatch, near Calder Fine Arts Center on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
While spotting some finches in a nearby tree may not be what you think of when you hear the word ‘awe’, Walburg says that spending any time in nature is enough to prompt the fleeting, but important emotion.
“The sense of awe can be a really grounding force for people,” she explained. “It’s what we feel when we take in something so vast that it supersedes our regular day-to-day thinking. It’s what allows us to put our problems and struggles into perspective.”
Tufted Titmouse, near Calder Fine Arts Center on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Tufted Titmouse, near Calder Fine Arts Center on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Nature isn’t the only thing that can inspire a sense of awe. While birdwatching is an accessible and attainable option for many, experiences like having a child or finishing a marathon can also trigger an immense sense of awe. Walburg points to how experiencing artwork can have a similar mental effect.
“It gives us a gentle, remarkable reminder that we are part of something bigger than just us.”
For those curious in exploring a new outdoor hobby, birdwatching or otherwise, to practice mindfulness, Walburg offers two pieces of advice: Allow it to be uncomfortable, and as you do, pick one of your senses to focus on.
Red-breasted Nuthatch, near Calder Fine Arts Center on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Red-breasted Nuthatch, near Calder Fine Arts Center on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
“Anytime we make ourselves pause in today's world, it's going to be uncomfortable for a moment. Stick it out and try to let your brain have the opportunity to quiet before you make a judgment on whether or not the activity is helpful.”
To help, Walburg suggests choosing one sense to focus on. “Recognize one of your senses as an anchor. Maybe notice the different stimuli that your eyes are picking up, or the bird calls and sounds that you’re hearing. Pick whatever sense is most accessible to you in that moment and just focus on that one.”
GVSU Community:
Ready to go birding?
Stop by the Mary Idema Pew Library to check out a birdwatching kit from their Library of Things.
GVSU Community:
Ready to go birding?
Stop by the Mary Idema Pew Library to check out a birdwatching kit from their Library of Things.
Wildlife biology major Hayden Troyer (foreground) and Nick Preville take part in a BIO 342 Ornithology field trip at Holland State Park on February 17. (Cory Morse)
Wildlife biology major Hayden Troyer (foreground) and Nick Preville take part in a BIO 342 Ornithology field trip at Holland State Park on February 17. (Cory Morse)
Tufted Titmouse, Valley Campus (Steve Jessmore)
Tufted Titmouse, Valley Campus (Steve Jessmore)
Birds of a feather: Finding community through birdwatching
Few understand the benefits of birdwatching quite as well as AJ Dykema, founder and president of GVSU’s student ornithology club.
Dykema started the club, which is open to all GVSU students regardless of their level of birdwatching experience or education, after taking an ornithology course at Grand Valley two years ago.
“If you don't know anything about birding, we've got your back,” Dykema said. “That’s the whole point of the club. We are happy to help you learn how to identify birds, and you don't have to worry about not having the right gear—all you need is your eyes and your ears.”
In addition to birdwatching, the ornithology club has hosted game nights and crafting events, and hopes to host future movie nights, educational experiences and more, all bird themed.
“Going birding has always made me feel alive, excited and connected with nature,” they reflected. "Slowing down to observe your surroundings, listen to the environment and its cues and appreciate the beauty of the natural world is endlessly joyful and rewarding.”
Tufted Titmouse, Valley Campus (Steve Jessmore)
Tufted Titmouse, Valley Campus (Steve Jessmore)
Birds of a feather: Finding community through birdwatching
Few understand the benefits of birdwatching quite as well as AJ Dykema, founder and president of GVSU’s student ornithology club.
Dykema started the club, which is open to all GVSU students regardless of their level of birdwatching experience or education, after taking an ornithology course at Grand Valley two years ago.
House sparrow, near Calder Fine Arts Center on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
House sparrow, near Calder Fine Arts Center on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Red-tailed Hawk, near Little Mac Bridge on Valley Campus (Simon Zwart)
Red-tailed Hawk, near Little Mac Bridge on Valley Campus (Simon Zwart)
“If you don't know anything about birding, we've got your back,” Dykema said. “That’s the whole point of the club. We are happy to help you learn how to identify birds, and you don't have to worry about not having the right gear—all you need is your eyes and your ears.”
In addition to birdwatching, the ornithology club has hosted game nights and crafting events, and hopes to host future movie nights, educational experiences and more, all bird themed.
“Going birding has always made me feel alive, excited and connected with nature,” they reflected. "Slowing down to observe your surroundings, listen to the environment and its cues and appreciate the beauty of the natural world is endlessly joyful and rewarding.”
House sparrow, near Calder Fine Arts Center on Valley Campus (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Red-tailed Hawk, near Little Mac Bridge on Valley Campus (Simon Zwart)
American Robin, Grand Ravines North County Park (Cory Morse)
American Robin, Grand Ravines North County Park (Cory Morse)
Chace Scholten uses a spotting scope as part of a BIO 342 Ornithology field trip at Holland State Park on February 17. Scholten, who is friends with Nicholas Preville, was helping the class. (Cory Morse)
Chace Scholten uses a spotting scope as part of a BIO 342 Ornithology field trip at Holland State Park on February 17. Scholten, who is friends with Nicholas Preville, was helping the class. (Cory Morse)
Looking to get started? Dykema suggests the following resources:
- Apps: Many free mobile apps are available to help users more easily identify and track birds. EBird, created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is the largest free online citizen science project used to track bird sightings. Merlin Bird ID, also created by Cornell, allows users to quickly identify a bird by uploading a photo, recording a singing bird or answering a few questions about the bird they are trying to identify.
- Binoculars are helpful when trying to get a closer look at birds, but are not necessarily required. The ornithology club has extra pairs to loan out to students on birding outings, or a pair can be checked out from GVSU’s Library of Things.
- If you have a question, Dykema suggests the Reddit feed r/birding to reach the broader birdwatching community.
Be sure to keep up with GVSU on social media to see our Bird of the Week.
“It gives us a gentle, remarkable reminder that we are part of something bigger than just us.”
Mikaela Walburg,
mental health communications and outreach specialist at GVSU's Counseling Center
