 Behind the Binoculars - An Interview with Felix Perdue
Part 2 - Favorite Birds & Locations
Get to know the unique diversity of people who make up the West Michigan birding community as you listen to them tell the stories of their background, experiences, and insights. Parks Naturalist Curtis Dykstra hosts these interview sessions hoping to inspire the birding community to get connected and continue to grow!
 Click the image above or the link below to watch the video.
On July 8, 2020, Curtis Dykstra interviewed fellow long-time West Michigan birder and Grand Rapids Police Department officer, Felix Perdue. In this second installment of the interview, “Favorite Birds & Locations”, Felix reflects on his favorite bird and birds songs are and why. He then reveals his favorite local and international birding locations and why they are special to him.
More segments will be released in the future so stay tuned! You can find the videos at the links below or by clicking this link to the "Behind the Binoculars Playlist"
 |
|
Through this series of interviews, you'll get to know how Felix got into birding, learn about his favorite birds and birding locations and will hear his thoughts on being a part of the birding community and perspectives on bird conservation. We hope you enjoy getting to know Felix Perdue!
Click link above to view.
|
 |
|
In this first installment of the interview, Felix reveals how his interest in birding began in childhood and how it has matured and was mentored as he became an adult.
Click link above to view.
|
 Summer Birding in the Great Lakes
 |
|
Article: Erin Rowan with Great Lakes Audubon
What birds to expect this summer and where you can find them!
Image: Cedar Waxwing by 2020 mug club photo contest entrant Doug Kuiper
|
 |
|
Article/Video: WZZM 13 News
Sitting on top of the GVSU Eberhard Center in Downtown Grand Rapids, is a bird box for peregrine falcons. There are two parent birds, which had four chicks this year. At the end of June, a young and injured peregrine falcon was found on the ground in downtown.
|
 |
|
Video: Now This
‘The wildlife has always been here … it’s just that we have opened our eyes’ — 18-year-old environmentalist and avid birder Aman Sharma says you don’t have to go far to immerse yourself in nature.
|
 |
|
Video: CBS Sunday Morning
"Sunday Morning" visits eaglets at Letchworth State Park, near the town of Castile in western New York State. Videographer: Carl Mrozek.
Image: Bald Eagle nest at Grand Ravines Park by Curtis Dykstra
|
*If you have an interesting bird-related article or video to share, let us know!
Email it to us at naturecenter@miottawa.org and put "Bird News" in the subject line.
 Ottawa County Parks Upcoming BIRDING PROGRAMS:
Find more information and to register, use the link below:
|
Birding programs have wound down from spring and won't be starting up again until September. Put the dates below on your calendar and PLEASE BE SURE TO REGISTER!
9/3/21 - Shorebirds Field Trips (Part 1 and 2)
9/8/21 - Paw Paw (West) Bird Walk 8-10am
9/17/21 - Shorebirds Field Trips (Part 1 and 2)
9/19/21 - Mount Pisgah Raptor Watch 1-4pm
9/22/21 - Grand River Park Bird Walk 8-10am
|
|
 |
Bird Outing Reports
Just a couple outings to report this time as the birding events (not necessarily the birds) wane during the summer months.
 |
|
6/12/21 - BioBlitz @ Riverside Park
The birding highlights from this big event include Purple Martins singing to usher in the dawn, Prothonotary Warbler, Red-headed Woodpecker, 7 Yellow-billed Cuckoos (!), nesting Baltimore Oriole and a Brown Creeper.
Highlights include a family of bluebirds a pair of Indigo Buntings, Wood Duck and a surprise flyover Merlin!
Photo of fledgling Bluebird by Michele Richardson
|
 A huge THANKS to the Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society (Grand Haven) for managing the bird information table and for leading the afternoon bird walk at the Bio Blitz event! For more info visit them at www.oias.org
 Submit your sightings, photos and videos and I'll share them in these Newswire emails. See below for information on how to submit your sightings!
Here's what's been reported since last time...
I didn't have any submissions to put into this month's Bird Share, it's a good thing I had a couple of other things to share myself! Take a look!
VIDEO: Blue Jay Fledgling - what to do when you find one?
Summer is when young birds fledge out of their nests and start to venture on their own. Watch this young Blue Jay Fledgling up close as it hops around in the branches and learn what you should do if you stumble on a fledgling bird in your local park or neighborhood.
 Click the image below to watch the video.
For more detailed information, visit the Wildlife Rehab Center website by clicking this link.
Video: Jenison Osprey Nesting Update!
Back on May 8th, 2021 I released the "Osprey Nesting in Ottawa County" video. Since then, I've been a volunteer nest observer of the Jenison nest (12th Ave. and Chicago Drive) on behalf of the DNR. So I thought it would be fun to update you all on how that nest is coming along. The nest is active with 2 chicks and the adults are encouraging them to flap their wings to ready themselves for fledging!
*NOTE: If you haven't seen the first video yet, scroll down to find the link to watch it. It will provide valuable context to the nesting update video below.
 The Jenison, Michigan Osprey nest is active with 2 chicks! Watch as the adults encourage them to flap their wings to ready themselves for fledging! Click image above to view the video.
I originally released this video back in early May. However, if you haven't viewed it yet, you'll find it provides context for the update video above.
In recent years Osprey sightings have become more commonplace in Ottawa County, not just in migration but during the nesting season as well. That's due to the fact that there are at least 3 known nests locally! Learn a bit of the history of the Osprey decline and recovery, then take a deeper look at each of the 3 local nests and where you could observe an Osprey yourself! Like & Subscribe to get more content as it comes out!
Click link above to view video.
|
 |
|
Earlier this spring I witnessed one of the adult Osprey bathing in the a lake in the middle of a rain shower! I was able to capture it on video and wanted to share the "good clean fun" with all of you!
Click link above to view video.
|
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR BIRD SHARE SIGHTINGS
Click on the "Google Forms" link below to fill out where, when and what birds you saw. As an additional option at the end of the form, you'll have opportunity to upload any bird photos or videos you'd like to share! Please limit photos/videos to 3 per monthly newsletter and they must be <10MB each. Thank you!
*NOTE: You must be signed into a Google account to upload files. If you don't have a Google account, email your submissions to naturecenter@miottawa.org with "Bird Share" in the subject line.
*Any information or photos shared will be used in future Birding Update Newswire! emails.
 Links to Share
Use this link to sign up for this Newswire! email or share it with other who may enjoy it too.
Information and links for local bird clubs, programs & favorite birding websites and resources.
Find a collection of fun and informative "Backyard Birding" videos here.
Use this link to find the Ottawa County Parks "virtual" programs website with lots of fun videos and other resources for kids and adults.
Find all the information you'll need to know on CwB and how to join the Mug Club.
|
|
