Welcome back to our Entryway to Birding blog! We are another week closer to spring and new birds are arriving in Madison by the day. Common loons are diving on Lake Monona. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are back drilling their holes. Golden-crowned kinglets are flitting fast about. Our daily schedules may be thrown to the wind, but the rhythm of the seasons is still a constant—and there is comfort in that.

Last week, I wrote about the joy, the comfort, the wonder of birds—and how watching them can help us feel more connected to the world around us. This week, I’m going to explore the places that connection can take you.

Because the truth is … birds are just the beginning.

A golden-crowned kinglet looks straight into the camera. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

I’ve been thinking about how to describe the moment it happened. The moment I was hooked. The moment I knew I would forever be spending my free time seeking out birds. But I’ve been a little confused by my “spark” story, to be honest. I had gone on many, many guided nature walks in years past where I saw very cool birds, thought “Wow! That’s very cool,” and then went home, not thinking about birds.

But this past summer, I went on a guided walk, saw some very cool birds, then went home and couldn’t stop thinking about birds. I couldn’t stop talking about birds. I had to tell all my friends about the birds I saw. I even, yes, re-enacted some sightings! (I’ll let you imagine what that might have looked like.)

Something was different. This time, something clicked.

My introduction to birding began last summer when I went on a bird walk with Madison’s local chapter of the Feminist Bird Club. At the time, I didn’t own a pair of binoculars. I probably would have struggled to list more than ten bird species, much less tell you if they could be found in Wisconsin. I liked birds in that I enjoyed seeing them when I was out walking through one of Madison’s many natural areas, but I couldn’t have told you what I was seeing or hearing—I had zero identification skills and a very unrefined sense of awareness.

We went somewhere I had never been before—somewhere I didn’t even know I could go! We visited the lagoons near the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District to look for shorebirds. Little did I know, these ponds are part of an entire wildlife observation area. They fall within the Lewis Nine Springs E-Way, a great collection of trails in the Capital Springs Recreation Area. I’d been on the Capital City State Trail bike path that runs through this area, but I had never noticed the dirt trail leading back to the ponds. It’s a hidden gem—one of many that birding would help me discover!

A great egret walks among the reeds at the MMSD Wildlife Observation Area. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

Our group was around ten people, and many of them were new birders like myself. The leaders of the walk were folks who happened to study birds for a living, who were in school or working on post-docs in wildlife ecology. Hearing about their passions was fascinating. You know when you meet someone new and they tell you about their job, and it’s something you never imagined would be a job? And it’s just so cool that it blows your mind? That’s how I felt meeting all these people and hearing about how their work was helping birds and the environment. Their passion for birds was infectious (clearly!). They were great sources of knowledge, but never overwhelming in what they shared. And there was nothing but open arms for new birders seeing things for the first time.

And the birds! Oh, the birds. We saw osprey, killdeer, sandpipers, green herons, great blue herons, phoebes, kingbirds, bluebirds, cedar waxwings, goldfinches, tree swallows, barn swallows, sandhill cranes, geese, ducks, gulls, and more! We watched a green heron hunt, stalking ever so slowly, along the edge of the cattails. We watched a great blue heron catch a huge fish, then spear it with its beak before trying to swallow it whole. We watched killdeer and sandpipers walk along the muddy banks, the sandpipers poking their beaks down into the mud.

Green herons were what captured my imagination the most—they remain one of my absolute favorite birds! Photo by Mark Nenadov / Creative Commons

In the span of this one morning, a new world had opened before me. I felt like I had forgotten I was wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, and when I removed them I could suddenly see everything with more clarity, more brightness, more detail. This world had always been here, but I just hadn’t seen it in the right light.

Looking back, I think what made my first birding experience so special was that not just one, but three things “sparked” for me. And those sparks were all about connection:

Connection to local landscapes, to the places that make up my home (even if I only just discovered them!)
Connection to community, to people working hard to protect the environment we share
Connection to other creatures in the natural world, like the birds, who inspire wonder and curiosity about the wide world around us

On this walk, all three of those connections sparked—and that’s the moment I was hooked on birding.

A black-capped chickadee dances up a branch. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

In the months following this bird walk, I got out birding as often as could. I purchased my own binoculars after reading reviews of affordable entry-level options. I made an account on eBird and started building my life list so I could keep track of what birds I’ve seen. I got a local membership with Madison Audubon. I found new places to explore right in my backyard—so many places I had yet to discover in the six years that I’d been living here! I met other birders, made new friends, and found an entire community of people eager to share their passion.

And the more I learned about birds and birding, the more I found myself learning about environmental conservation. I started volunteering with citizen science programs like Madison Audubon’s Bald Eagle Nest Watch. I started reading and researching about the fascinating ways birds have evolved, but also the sobering news of their decline. A whole world of wonder opened—and along with it a host of opportunities and a sense of responsibility.

Birds are just the beginning. They are fascinating, mesmerizing, beautiful, weird, adorable, and more. Watching them can fill you with wonder and bring you joy. And before you know it, you’ll find yourself more invested in your community, more familiar with the ecosystems around you, more determined to play a role in protecting habitat that benefits both birds and humans alike. If you’re ready to look, birds can open a whole new world of places, people, and opportunities to explore.

So, go on. Bird your world. See where it takes you. I promise it will be worth it.

Next week, I’ll be back with some tools and resources for new birders! You may not be able to get out on a group bird walk right now, but you can still take advantage of a whole world of birding knowledge that’s right at your fingertips. I’ll talk about what you need (or don’t need!) to get started with birding.

Can’t wait that long? Here are some resources for you to explore between now and then:

Need some binoculars? They’re not required to enjoy birds, but oh boy do they help! Start with National Audubon’s binoculars guide—they have something for every price point!
Check out the American Birding Association’s tips for enjoying birds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just remember to maintain social distancing! Avoid crowded places, don’t share binoculars or scopes, and give everyone at least 6 ft of space.
Want more information on the Feminist Bird Club? Follow the Madison chapter’s facebook page, check out the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology’s recent feature about them, or read up on the origins of this nation-wide group! Their field trips are currently suspended for the time being, but keep them in mind for future birding adventures.
Wanna check out the ponds at Lewis Nine Springs yourself? Look at this brochure from the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District to see a map of the trails! Park at the Lewis Nine Springs E-Way Lot at 1610 Moorland Road and follow the bike path to the “District Lagoons Trailhead.” The series of red lines show you all the hiking paths along the ponds.

Have fun, and see you next week!

_____

Written by Caitlyn Schuchhardt

Caitlyn is the Communications and Outreach Assistant at Madison Audubon. She’s crazy for birds because they changed her life. She’ll be back next Monday with some tips and tools for new birders! Between now and then, she’d love to hear about the birds you’re seeing and hearing. Leave a comment below or email to drop her a line!