On the crisp and cool fall morning of Friday, Oct. 4, a group gathered under the Kendeda building’s awning, each donning a pair of binoculars. These people were gathered for a morning of connecting with nature through a bird walk through the EcoCommons. The Campus Bird Walk is an example of birding, the hobby of observing and identifying birds and their natural habitat.
The group, composed of students and faculty, had varying levels of experience with birding, but one thing they all had in common was their passion and curiosity for the birds present on the Institute’s campus and in the greater Atlanta area. Joe Shedleski, Ph.D. ME, explained his love for birding.
“I started birding with my parents because they are old and into it. I thought it could be a fun thing to do in the morning and I realized it’s actually kind of cool,” Shedleski said.
People are drawn to birding for many different reasons and keep up with the hobby for just as many reasons. The group present at the event represented this diversity of beliefs.
“I love getting new birds to identify; I’m big into collecting things like trading cards and such, and birding kind of fits that,” Shedleski said.
Kamilah Roberts, Program and Operations Manager of the Office of Sustainability, who is a birder, planned the event. Roberts invited Rose Guerra, Education Program Coordinator for Birds Georgia, to lead the walk through the Kendeda gardens.
“Planning the event has been straightforward and simple, thanks to Birds Georgia, who have been such great partners,” said Roberts.
Birds Georgia has a long history in the city of Atlanta, with the organization being founded a century ago as the Atlanta Bird Club. Birds Georgia has many educational and community-based programs throughout Atlanta and all of Georgia, and with their long history, they are experienced in bird planning and bird watching events.
“Unknowns are primarily natural elements, including finding the perfect day without rain. We also work with Birds Georgia to determine the best time of day where birds are most active and the best time of year,” Roberts said.
The Bird Walk has been hosted at the Institute before, but there were some changes this time around.
“This year, we held the event during migration season, which allowed participants to see a variety of birds, including some not native to Georgia,” Roberts said.
Rose guided the group through a walk around the Kendeda EcoCommons, showing off a comprehensive knowledge of birds by pointing out the different species of birds present in the area, giving a couple of fun facts about each and answering questions from the group.
The group even saw birds not commonly seen in cities, showing the natural habitat of the Kendeda EcoCommons.
“Our relationship with Birds Georgia started in 2020 with the Wildlife Sanctuary Certification of the Kendeda Building’s landscape and neighboring EcoCommons. The landscapes were rehabilitated to include Georgia native plants to encourage the return of native birds and wildlife on site,” Roberts said.
The rehabilitation was a large accomplishment for the Office of Sustainability, and it did not stop with the EcoCommons. They continued working on making campus safer for wildlife around Atlanta.
“Since receiving the certification from Birds Georgia in 2020, we have continued to work with them over the years on projects such as installing bird-safe glass film to reduce bird strikes and hosting annual bird walks,” Roberts said.
The bird walks started to get people more involved with the EcoCommons and connect them with nature around the Institute.
“The bird walks have been a great way to get people out into nature and develop a great appreciation for birds and the protection of their habitats,” Roberts said.
The bird walks are one of many ways for students and faculty to get more involved with the EcoCommons and sustainability on campus. Those specifically interested in birding should definitely consider joining the Institute’s Birdwatchers Club. For those interested in sustainability in general, there are several upcoming events they can attend, including a Student Waste Audit on Oct. 24 about composting, recycling and Surviving at Kendeda, a Resilience Workshop on Oct. 25, which is a Halloween-themed tour of Kendeda, green cleaning and sewing workshops.
These events, along with the bird walk, help promote sustainability on campus by encouraging students to participate in and appreciate the Institute’s campus and green spaces.
“We hope that people take away an appreciation for nature, birds and all living things. We share an ecosystem, and it is important to bring our attention back to the bigger picture,” Roberts said.