Birds of GVSU: An appreciation of the creatures that share our air, keep us grounded

Preville, and many in the GVSU community and beyond, are all catching on to the same thing: That birdwatching is more than just, well, watching birds.

While the students are here birdwatching as part of their required coursework, they are certainly not alone. Birdwatching, or 'birding', is growing in popularity, with 96 million Americans saying they've engaged in birdwatching in 2022, according to a national survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

As students move throughout Holland State Park, they encounter many individuals who are there for the same reason - to birdwatch. The shared interest creates an easy conversational entry point for people, no matter their level of expertise, their background or even where they're from (one onlooker was visiting from the Netherlands).

"There's a really good sense of community that comes with birding," Preville shared, highlighting how strangers share binoculars and cameras, point out different species to one another and share their knowledge. "It's very cooperative and collaborative. It's really beautiful, the way people want to share and enjoy that community with one another."

The community is not the only aspect that appeals to Preville. Conservation is a common theme in the birdwatching community, as research by Cornell Lab found that America's overall bird population has decreased by 29% since 1970.

"Birding is multifaceted, but the part that I really enjoy is the conservation side," he said. "Even in the last 10 years, we're starting to see a lot of the more common species, even American robins, seeing population declines."

At the end of the day, his hope is that students walk away with more than just a passing grade.

"There is a quote that says, 'Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.' My way of living that out is showing students the natural world by getting them out birding," he reflected. "Once they own homes and start getting jobs and voting, they have the ability and knowledge base to go on and effect real change."