All eyes on birds at free Farview Park program

Caitlin Strikwerda, naturalist for the Outdoor Discovery Center, searches for birds at Farview Park, 6257 138th Ave., as part of the Migratory Birds program on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Caitlin Strikwerda walked down the path at Farview Nature Park on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Rain pelted her jacket, and the wind bent the treetops, but the naturalist for the Outdoor Discovery Center heard the fluttering and chirping in the leaves nonetheless.

Cardinal? Check.

Tufted titmouse? Check.

Mallard ducks flapping over the little pond? Check.

Ovenbird? Maybe. Just maybe.

“Sometimes it’s good to stop, listen for a while and see something you might not have noticed,” she said as she led the Migratory Birds program along with Keera Lung, education network ambassador, at the park, 6257 138^th Ave. She hoped to see an ovenbird, a migratory warbler that calls out, “Tea-cher! Tea-cher!”

Keera Lung, left, education network ambassador for the Outdoor Discovery Center, and Caitlin Strikwerda, naturalist, keep their eyes on a scarlet tanager at Farview Park, 6257 138th Ave., as part of the Migratory Birds program on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

The free event led by Outdoor Discovery Center staff was sponsored by the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission.

Strikwerda lifted her binoculars.

“Scarlet tanager! Oh, he’s so pretty,” she whispered.

“That was exciting!” said Lung.

“First sighting for you?” Strikwerda asked.

“Yes,” Lung replied.

“Oh, yeah,” Strikwerda said keeping the lenses fixed on the colorful bird.

Heading down the damp path, Strikwerda suddenly stopped, held out her phone, the bird app open and tuned to the loud “Tea-cher! Tea-cher!” nearby.

“That’s it! That’s totally it!” she said, identifying the ovenbird.

Caitlin Strikwerda, left, naturalist for the Outdoor Discovery Center, and Keera Lung, left, education network ambassador, point out birds at Farview Park, 6257 138th Ave., as part of the Migratory Birds program on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Upcoming events

The next birding event is 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at Sanctuary Woods, 4750 66^th Ave. where a naturalist will teach identification techniques. If possible, download Merlin Bird ID or eBird.

Other upcoming free events in June are Frog Catching (for all ages) at Farview Nature Park from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, June 16, and Little Explorers (for children up to 6 years old) at Wolters Woods, 6281 147^th Ave., on Monday, June 23 from 10-11 a.m.

Registration is not required for the events but appreciated at outdoordiscovery.org. Click on “Calendar” and go to the date for details.

For more information, visit outdoordiscovery.org.

Caitlin Strikwerda, naturalist for the Outdoor Discovery Center, looks over the little pond at Farview Park, 6257 138th Ave., as part of the Migratory Birds program on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Other upcoming events are:

July 8 at 5:30 p.m.: Family Kayaking at Gilligan Lake, 66^th Street north of 142^nd Avenue.

July 21 at 11 a.m.: Blueberry Fields Forever at Huyser Farm Park, 4188 64^th St.

Aug. 21 at 10 a.m.: Incredible Insects at Shore Acres Park, 6602 138^th Ave.

Sept. 16 at 2 p.m.: Hawk Watch at Laketown Township Beach Park, 6710 142^nd Ave.

Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.: Night Hike at Huyser Farm Park, 4188 64^th St.