Birds of GVSU: Finding Belonging through Birding

Spring means many things for the state of Michigan: Warmer weather, budding trees and the return of many migratory bird species, which is exactly what brought four GVSU students to Reeds Lake on April 11. 

The park is far from empty, and the students are far from the only birdwatchers, or birders, on the docks at Waterfront Park. Each dock is speckled with folks using binoculars to catch a better glimpse of Mallards, Hooded Mergansers, Red-winged Blackbirds and even Tree Swallows beginning to make their migratory return. 

“It’s like Pokémon,” one student joked, having already added several species to their eBird checklist within the first few minutes of the outing. “We’re trying to catch them all.” 

While it might feel like Pokémon, these four students are actually part of the ornithology club (but fear not – there is an actual Pokémon club that students can join as well). 

Whether you’re an experienced birdwatcher or only recognize the few species you see around your birdfeeder, ornithology club president AJ Dykema says that spring is a great time to step into the new hobby. “Even if you don't know anything about birds, you would probably recognize a handful of their calls as a sign that spring has finally arrived.”

It was an ornithology class at GVSU that sparked Dykema’s interest in birdwatching and led to the creation of the ornithology club. The club meets at least once a month, most often with outings like this to Reeds Lake or other popular birding locations in the area. Sometimes they meet for bird-themed game nights (the board game Wingspan has been a favorite), craft nights and, Dykema hopes, future movie nights and other educational experiences.

The ornithology club is just one of the over 400 registered student organizations at GVSU , offering a home for students of all different majors, career focuses, identities, hobbies and talents. From a baking club to a bass angling club, or a pre-chiropractic club to, yes, a Pokémon club, there is truly a space to belong for every Laker.

While the group has a competitive spirit as they attempt to track down as many birds as possible (35 different species at the end of the day). At its core, the goal of the hobby is really quite simple – it is all about enjoying the world around us. 

The camaraderie and spotting of birds is exciting, but for Dykema, the best part is feeling connected to the world around them. “Going birding made me feel alive, excited and connected with nature, which I think is something extremely important right now more than ever,” they explained. “Slowing down to really observe your surroundings, listen to the environment and its cues and appreciate the beauty of the natural world is endlessly joyful and rewarding.”

Explore more of the Birds of GVSU at gvsu.edu/birds .