Activity 1: As a child, my Grandpa showed many birds to me and taught me some basics about bird life. Even though I have loved birds all my life, my attention was elsewhere for quite some years and I have really only found my back to them during the pandemic, when I built a feeder in our garden with my son. Since then, I have really started birdwatching everywhere, in my surroundings and while travelling. I have joined a group of volunteers who map migratory birds near Berlin (e.g. Corncrakes, Hen Harriers) and protect the local population of Great Bustards. I'm learning so much from them, and books and webinars, and also this course, so thank you for this.

Activity 2: I'm already doing some of it, like reducing plastic in my life and environment, planting local plants and not using pecticides, and watching birds and sharing my observations. Bird-friendly coffee is new to me and as a coffee-lover, I will try to find it here to buy! Cats are a big worry to me as many neighbors let theirs roam free and do  not react positively to my suggestions :( I regularly chase them out of my garden if I see them, but that does not really solve the problem. If anyone has any good ideas how to better convince people to keep cats indoors, please let me know.

Activity 4: I have already signed up for the Bird Biology course, so that's my next learning project. Also, to keep volunteering, hopefully even more, and also watching and getting to know more birds on my travels this year. For that purpose, I will get better binoculars, too.

Activity 4: I want to get better at identifying bird calls. While I'm decent at identifying common birds I can see, I know that I am missing a lot of birds because I do not know a lot of calls. I am looking forward to taking the Bird Academy call class to learn more.

Activity 1: I’ve always liked birds, but only actually got into birding last October. I decided to download Merlin just for fun and maybe learn to recognize a few birds that live nearby. When I first used the app in the backyard and saw the names of around 5 different birds pop up at once it made me wonder what else I was missing out on. It’s crazy to look back and realize that I sort of ignored birds for years and never really attempted to get to know them until now. They’re truly beautiful and interesting animals. The course didn’t exactly change my view on birds, but it did deepen it.

Activity 2: I think my family and I already doing pretty well with the 7 actions! All our windows are covered with screens, we don’t have cats (and when we did they were strictly indoor only), could do better with native plants though I plan on doing some native gardening this year for the local birds and insects along with removing invasives, we don’t use pesticides and mostly buy organic, I don’t drink coffee, I try to avoid single-use plastics (though it’s tricky) and reuse them whenever possible, and I contribute to iNaturalist and eBird.

 

Activity 3: Not really, I’m only 23 and unfortunately didn’t pay much attention to birds before.

Activity 4: I want to see more birds in different habitats rather than just at my house, provide native food sources in my yard, and contribute more to eBird. I’m also really looking forward to my first migration as a birder.

Activity 3: When I was in undergrad, I tracked Bald Eagles and Ospreys at Island Beach State Park in NJ. We would count how many fish were brought to nests. We also counted how many young were hatched and survived.  We only had about two pairs and a few years we had no surviving young. It is amazing to see that within 25 years, I see Bald Eagles all over the place.  I had a few classes in undergrad and now I am a college professor, I plan to make a urban birding class and implement in the fall 2026. This course had taken me one step closer to getting back into birding after a long pause.  Excited to get back.

Activity 1: Birds matter to me because my pop pop was a birdwatcher, and then my mom did it with me, so they are at the center of a lot of nice childhood memories. On a more on-topic note, they keep insect levels down and add both visual and auditory beauty to my surroundings. This course hasn’t changed my thoughts on why they’re important, but not through any fault of the materials. They were already very important to me.

Activity 2:
Make Windows Safer: I no longer live somewhere with windows that get hit by birds, which is nice, but when I did we always stuck decals made to keep them from doing it and it worked well. We still have the decals somewhere, so if I find myself in that situation again I know what to do.
Keep Cats Indoors: I don’t have cats, and I’m pleased my friends with cats know to keep them indoors.
Plant Native Plants: I don’t have a yard right now, and I’ve never had one I had any control over, but this is a topic I’ve heard of in other circles and always enjoy watching when somebody who can runs with it.
Reduce Pesticide Use: I buy organic when I can as it is, and since I don’t have any yard or outdoor plants there isn’t much I can do otherwise.
Drink Coffee That’s Good for Birds: I don’t drink coffee, but this was educational for me! I had no idea it preferred dark areas or that bird friendly coffee existed.
Reduce and Reuse Plastics: This is the only one I can fully do, and I take it seriously. Even when I rarely use one-time-use plastic bags, it’s always for something that I cannot use a reusable bag for. (Most notably putting ticks I find on myself or my dogs in so I can mail them to a state university for study.)

Activity 3: When I was a child we regularly saw Eastern Bluebirds in my parent’s backyard, but they became scarce as I got older, and I haven’t seen them in decades. On the other hand, there were fewer woodpeckers when I was young, so it’s nice seeing and hearing those around.

Activity 4: I started making a life list for the first time this summer to give myself a reason to really stop and look around, not just go “oh that is a blue jay call” or “that is a robin ahead of me” and not think of it past that. Six months, and this course, later I have decided to try fully stopping walking when I update my list, stand still for 5-15 minutes and listen/watch the birds at least once a day, and maybe explore sketching birds. That last one is really hard for me, but it’s also really appealing.

Activity 1: Birds teach me life lessons:  such as: how to behave in a group; how to parent (when to nurture, when to let go-even with friends); how to listen and be aware of my surroundings; how to stand up for myself when others get pushy and when to back off. (FYI: I don’t participate in mobbings!) Birds are always surprising me. The way they live and survive; how they have evolved colors and patterns for very specific reasons. Finally, I just like watching them. They make me laugh, they give me comfort.

tivity 2: Seven Simple Actions. Some of these 7 steps I do already some I don’t do (have no cats) and others need more attention. After a self-assessment, I identified what I have been doing frequently and consistently and what I need to improve on. (1) IMPROVE Make Windows Safer. Our windows have decals to deter birds and this has worked but there were still one or two accidents this year. Fortunately, neither resulted in death of a bird; but this step still needs attention.  (6) GOOD AT Reduce and Reuse Plastics. I reuse all plastic (including one-time use plastics) that come my way. These include cheese bags from the deli, bread and similar plastic bags used for bread, buns, bagels, etc.. I also avoid plastic utensils and refuse plastic straws. I bring a reusable take away box to restaurants to avoid the styrofoam stuff which is still used! I have saved a lot of money by re-using one-time plastic bags. I no longer buy these items and I get a small kickback from the Co-Op where I shop. Also, I reuse all paper bags at least one time (depending what I put in them). (8) Other activities: My husband is a good photographer and takes many pictures of birds. We use these photos for eBird and FB postings. But also my husband has created cards (holiday, birthday, etc.) using these photos. On the back of the card, the bird in the photo is identified. What has been surprising is that our friends, who are NOT birders, will say they have looked up the bird online to learn about it, ask us about the photo and the bird. Below is one of the photos used that caused several of our friends to contact us.



 

Activity 3: I’m only addressing the Blue Jay population of the last 4 years when my husband and I became serious birders.  My experience has been that there are many Blue Jays in our region and the population feels like it is increasing. I hear and see Blue Jays everywhere we bird with the exception of the shoreline.  At my feeders, I am seeing 5-6 BJs daily. I like Blue Jays they are smart and funny. And they love peanuts in the shell. They seem to wait for me to put them out. They are beautiful birds and stunning to look at and watch. My experience feels different from what I read in the article, Vanishing: More than 1 in 4 Birds has Disappeared in last 50 years (G. Axelson, Autumn 2019 Living Bird Magazine. Joy of Birding class.). The article indicated that  several birds that visit my feeders are on the decline. These species include: Baltimore Orioles, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. All four have been seen at my feeders. I am hoping that, as I write this, the population of BJs as well as the others of the article that visit my feeder are holding steady and maybe increasing. Below is a photo of two of my visiting Blue Jays.



 

Activity 4: Will continue with the online classes and birding at favorite spots.  My new activity for 2026 will be to review and improve the window decals and to find at least one native plant that attracts birds for our backyard.

I didn’t know about bird-friendly coffee! I’m going to be looking for that the next time we’re at the store.

I’ve been planning on planting some flowers in an area of my front yard, and this has made me really think about using native plants, and plants that have food for birds.

Activity 1: I am happy to have finished this course.  It took quite some time because I had a lot of work.  I cannot say that it has changed my thoughts about the importance of birds, but it has strengthened them.  I see the importance of birds in the ecosystem and the importance of working on preserving the ecosystems for the benefit of birds and other living creatures.  The area where we live is semirural but construction for humans is growing and now, we are concerned about the wetlands and forests that may suffer due to human expansion.  Yesterday we saw a migrant duck from the southern hemisphere, and they only spend winter in a very reduced area near where we live.  What will happen if the lakes where they come to spend the winter is altered?

Activity 2: I will try to follow even more the seven simple actions for bird preservation.  One of Colombia's main products is coffee, and I have seen that a lot of the coffee grown is not shaded anymore; I hope I can find coffee that is grown in shaded fields, but it is not easy to know how the coffee brands available are grown like that.  The other issue is that in the neighborhood park there are some trees that are not native, which has worried us, but in my balcony, I have planted some flower plants for the hummingbirds.  I will see what we can do to make the windows in our apartment safer for birds and promote that beginning with the members of our birding club.  We do try not to buy things that are not wrapped in plastic, but that is not easy to find here.  Regarding citizen science, I have started to register in eBird my birding activities; in addition, one of the objectives of our birding club is to educate our community regarding birds and nature conservation.

Activity 4: The biggest takeaway for me from this course was learning more about how birds prefer specific habitats. I had learned that somewhat by observing birds over the past few years but with a more in-depth knowledge of where to start looking I’ll be able to expand the variety of birds I can observe around me by checking out new habitats.

Activity 3: I didn't start paying attention to birds until just a few years ago but one dramatic change I noticed was the effect of the removal of marsh grasses from a drainage pond at work. The grass had to be removed for environmental compliance which was unfortunate because red-winged blackbirds absolutely loved that pond. There would be dozens of them there every year all through spring and summer. Fortunately, there are other suitable habitats for them very close by but it was sad to see them come back and try to use the area only to move on.

Activity 2: Currently just drinking coffee and citizen science. I've been contributing to Merlin and iNaturalist for over 2 years now and have shifted from Merlin to eBird in the past few months. When I'm able to garden, I'd love to research what kinds of birds pass through the area and provide a habitat of native plants in my yard to attract a variety of them. I'm really interested in trying permaculture.

Activity 1: I spend a lot of time outdoors at work and began to notice over time that we had an abundance of birds passing through at different times of the year. There's a range of habitats on the property that includes open grasslands, scrub areas, forests, ponds, and a variety of manmade structures that attract nesting birds. Where I work, the largest benefit of the birds is keeping insects that breed around the property--especially in the ponds--at bay. I was already familiar with birds being important but this course helped me gain a more specific knowledge of their contributions.

I love birds so much. I want to get into conservation work and field work. I really want to contribute to helping birds thrive in our world.

Birds are essential to the biodiversity and survival of our planet. Birds are beautiful and calming to listen to. I learn so much from just watching how they interact. My backyard and front yard are all native plants - the lawn is removed. The gardens bring peace to me and joy to the neighbors. This course has given me more ideas of how I can contribute to the health of birds/ bird populations.

They matter to me becase they play an important role in  our ecosystem and it's lead to want to create an environment to help these birds catch their breathe and rest. I've been doing my best to be not litter and document different kind of birds I have the chance to come across and upload them in iNaturalist or using Merlin to learn more about them.I have noticed a decline in their population growing up over my lifetime because there been a decline in nothern cardinals,owls and ravens in my neighborhood that would be perched or fly about during midday to night. What next steps do you want to take in your birdwatching journey? Has this course inspired you to try anything new or make any changes in your life? Share in the discussion. This course has inspired me to want to dociment different birds that I come across and learn of any native birds in my state and engage in more activities to preserve enviorments for birds.

Birds truly help me to appreciate life more. I get such a rush when I see a new bird and feel excited to learn about them and the need to protect them at the same time. It often leads me to have a greater appreciation for the natural world and all of its natural beauty. It may sound silly, but it is also a way for my cat and I to connect. I started bird watching because I set up a feeder outside as entertainment for her. We now spend hours together by the window watching the feeders.

For my next steps in my bird watching journey, I plan to submit observations in ebird to help with data collection. I am also planning my second trip to my state's annual birding festival in May where I will be able to further expand my knowledge.

I signed up for the EBird Essentials class because of this class. I also redownloaded EBird and Merlin and plan to submit more checklists because this class helped me understand why they are important.

Activity 1: Birds matter to me because they are adorable creatures full of personality. This class, like the many others I have taken, has helped me learn more facts and interesting points about birds that make me love them more and help to do my bit to protect them. This class has also helped me become more aware of the birding I have been doing already and makes me want to keep it up and learn more about birds. Activity 2: I already do the Seven Simple Actions and have found them easy to do! I have even gone a step farther than the 7 steps in that I don't drink coffee as I never enjoyed it and drink organic or non-gmo (which I think goes a long way to helping birds just like organic foods!) tea instead. I think another tip could be to be mindful as you drive (like drive the speed limit and scan the road) since roads can intersect bird habitats that birds may have to walk across.  Activity 3: I am not sure how bird populations have changed over my life time, especially in my area, as I have only birding for a few years. In my birding trips, things seem to be fine, but I know that looks can be deceiving, so I want to dedicate my time as a birder to helping reducing any more adverse changes. Activity 4: I think my next steps are to keep finding ways to go birding, to have fun, and see how I can apply this class to my birding trips!

This is a great starting course, and I have also bought the backyard bird feeder one.
To a greater or lesser degree, we do all 7 activities, except looking for shade grown coffee. So I can put that on the to-do list. And do a lot more citizen science.  My husband and I have a New Year’s resolution to get very serious about reducing plastic. And the 11 cats I have had in my life have always stayed indoors or gone out on leashes only. I don’t believe any of them has ever killed a bird. I like this activity list and will try to do more with all of them.
I am 74 years old and have always liked to look at birds, but am just now getting more serious about birding. So many things I should have done!

Very good

Thank you for this great introductory course. As a new birder I found it to so helpful in understanding the basic concepts important to being a lover of birds. I have found a new passion and inspiration for living. I will do all I can to protect the habitats and ecosystems our birds rely on for their survival.

I enjoyed this course. I like seeing all of nature’s little creatures. I live in a condo and do not have a yard. My balcony is my garden with native plants and bird feeders. I love watching the little hummingbirds. Sometimes they sit and rest a while. I love to hear their little cheeping sounds, too.  My cat has been indoors all his life, he is 16 years old and very spry. I used to see a number of meadow larks in the pastures near here but I haven’t seen them in a few years. I don’t know if there are fewer or if I just don’t drive by at the right time anymore. I’m looking forward to taking another of these courses.

1 Birds matter to me selfishly since I derive endless joy from watching my hummers and backyard birds and critters multiple times per day.

2. I will never have an outdoor cat- all of my cats are strictly indoor.

3. I’m still evolving as a birdwatcher and haven’t paid enough attention to my year round or migrant neighbors to notice a difference.
4. I would like to improve my ID skills - enough to feel confident enough to contribute to the Merlin community or as a citizen scientist.

Activity 2: Of the Seven Activities to help make a safer world for birds I do:

2. We do our best to keep our cats inside the house.

3. I have been gradually adding more native plants to my lawn.

4. I don't use pesticides in my yard. For weeds in the cracks on my driveway, I pour boiling water of the weeds.

6. I try to reduce plastic when I can. Instead I opt for reusable items.