Birds with Seth

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Birds with Seth

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Facilitating self-discovery
through the joy of birding.

07/24/2026

You’re invited on an Urban Bird Hike around downtown Kalamazoo!

This bird hike will show you that no matter your surroundings, there's always a feathered friend nearby, and thus, an opportunity to observe and be curious.

Join experienced birder Seth Chapman as we hike along a segment of the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail (KRVT) and discover which birds have adapted to urban sprawl.

You might be surprised at the variety of species that call downtown Kalamazoo their home; and even more surprised to learn that certain species thrive in this environment.

We will begin our hike at Upjohn Park, meeting in the parking lot off of Walter Street, adjacent to the farmer's market. You can make a morning of it by heading to the farmer's market before or after our hike!

Come to spend time in community, sharpen your identification skills, build your life list, and expand your bird knowledge. All skill levels are welcome. There will also be complementary chai.

Register at www.birdswithseth.com/events

07/21/2026

I hope you’ll join me for a hike in the coming weeks!

On Sunday, July 26 join me for a hike at the Ayurvedic Wellness Center | Kalamazoo, MI | Ayurveda + Yoga for a study of the Red-eyed Vireo! Learn how to ID this summer bird and join me on a hike through Kleinstuck Preserve!

Join me for an urban birding adventure on Saturday, August 8. We will hike a portion of the KRVT in search of the many species that call downtown their home.

More info at www.birdswithseth.com/events

07/07/2026

Some birds announce themselves before you ever see them.

The Red-eyed Vireo is one of them: a small, tireless songbird known for singing nearly all day long, even deep into summer when most other birds have gone quiet.

Learning to recognize its voice is both a skill and a kind of meditation practice.

This month's birding hike at Kleinstuck Preserve is led by experienced birder Seth Chapman.

Before heading into the trails, Seth will introduce the Red-eyed Vireo in depth, covering identification by sight and sound, habitat preferences, and behavioral patterns.

You'll leave the classroom portion of the morning with a new set of eyes and ears.

On the trail, those skills go to work. Kleinstuck's upland and swamp forest provide excellent habitat, and the hike offers the chance to observe the Vireo alongside other resident species.

The pace is intentional and present-minded, making this a meaningful outing for birders of all levels and for anyone drawn to cultivating awareness in nature.

To sign up, visit www.birdswithseth.com/events

07/04/2026

Breeding bird survey #2 has been completed at Chipman Preserve!

To date, I've identified 43 breeding species on this preserve this summer.

I'm truly thankful for the privilege to perform these studies. It's a great honor to be still in nature, to become more intimate with a specific landscape, and to be a steward for birds.

I was able to snap a few photos, too! In order of appearance:

1) Eastern Kingbird
2) Field Sparrow
3) Northern Yellow Warbler

I'll provide you with my third and final update for the 2026 season shortly. Stay tuned, and happy birding!

Thank you, SW Michigan Land Conservancy

06/28/2026

Did you hear the news?! You can now purchase my favorite Vortex Optics binoculars on my webstore!
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You can select from the Vortex Viper HD or the Vortex Diamondback HD, either of which will be the last pair of binoculars you will ever need to buy.
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It's time to take your birding game to the next level!
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Lifetime warranty, free shipping, available now at www.birdswithseth.com/store

06/24/2026

Join me at the Ayurvedic Wellness Center | Kalamazoo, MI | Ayurveda + Yoga this Sunday, June 28 for a Summer bird hike!

This month’s focus will be on the species of birds that call Kleinstuck home for the summer.

Before we hit the trails, we will familiarize ourselves with a small handful of species that breed in Kleinstuck Preserve.

You will learn how to identify three unique species by sight and sound, as well as learn about their habitat preferences and behavior.

On the trail, we will put our newly learned skills to the test to see if we can spot any of these birds, as well as other residents of Kleinstuck.

This is a great opportunity to build your life list, spend time in community, and sharpen your identification skills.

Those interested in cultivating mindfulness in the present moment will also benefit from the style in which the hike is led.

I’ll see you there!

Sign up at www.birdswithseth.com/events

06/21/2026

Today I performed my first of three breeding bird surveys for 2026 at Chipman Preserve, and I got to see some real beauties!

What exactly is a breeding bird survey?

Breeding bird surveys are large-scale, long-term monitoring programs used to track the status, distribution, and population trends of hundreds of species of birds across the continent.

Many Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) nature preserves, including Chipman Preserve, are actively managed for breeding bird habitat through invasive plant management, prescribed burns, seeding, planting, and large-scale restoration.

In order for SWMLC to meet their goals of supporting bird populations through preservation and management, it’s crucial to understand which bird species are breeding on these preserves.

This is where many volunteers, such as myself, step in!

I spend each morning birding the preserve, standing stationary at various points throughout the preserve, for 10 minutes each. These points cover most of the area of the preserve, and it is my duty to identify each and every species of bird I see or hear.

Today, I got a few photos of some real show-stoppers.

Pictured in order of appearance: Indigo Bunting, Northern Yellow Warbler, Orchard Oriole.

Thank you to SW Michigan Land Conservancy and Mitchell Lettow for this amazing opportunity, and for all the work you do!

Stay tuned for updates on the two remaining counts this year!

06/16/2026

I led a group of kids along with their parents on a birding hike last Saturday at Milham Park.
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We saw many cool birdy things, and I even wrote a blog about it!

You can read the trip report and see more photos at www.birdswithseth.com/trip-reports

06/12/2026

Where are all my water people at?!
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You're invited to join me on the calm waters of the Kalamazoo River on Saturday, July 25 for a paddling + birding event!

It's one of my favorite summer activities, and I'm so excited to share this unique experience with you.

While kayaking, we often encounter many unique species of birds we don't often see in the forests, such as Bald Eagles, Cedar Waxwings, Marsh Wrens, and more!

You can either bring your own kayak or canoe, or rent one. Shuttle, muffins, and chai are all included in the pricing.

Registration for this event ends this Monday, June 15, so now is the time to sign up!

For more details and to register visit www.birdswithseth.com/events

06/10/2026

📢 Did you hear the news?!

Birds with Seth is now a Vortex Optics dealer!

This means that you can now purchase the last pair of binoculars you’ll ever need to buy through BWS!

Guaranteed lowest price anywhere, lifetime warranty, free shipping.

Visit www.birdswithseth.com/store

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Kalamazoo, MI
MI

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http://www.birdswithseth.com/

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