By Liz Cassidy
The other day on my way into University Library, a ruby-crowned kinglet fluttered past me. This paired with the cacophony of red-winged blackbirds, robins, and finches, made it apparent that spring migration is in full swing.
This songbird is a golden-crested kinglet, here seen near Annie May Swift
With spring in motion, many community members are enjoying the springtime flora and fauna, and Northwestern’s Evanston campus offers many opportunities for doing so. Birdwatching is one of the many ways to study local ecology. In fact, the Evanston Campus is considered a “hot spot” for birding, with over 286 species being recorded here, including many rare birds. The campus is covered with trees, shrubs, and ivies that act as a great hiding place for tiny warblers or as perches for raptors. The lakefill also attracts all sorts of shore birds, including ducks and cormorants.
“Birdwatching can be a wonderful way to connect with nature and learn about our local ecosystem,” said Cria Kay, Program Administrator for sustainNU, a University-wide program for reducing Northwestern’s contribution to climate change through engagement and education.
The Libraries, through a partnership with sustainNU, are now offering birdwatching kits at the main Circulation desk. There are 4 kits available to be checked out. The kits include high-quality binoculars, neck strap, lens cloth, instruction manual, and a QR code that links to a Bird Watching LibGuide, created by ardent birder Josh Honn. Patrons can visit the Circulation desk on the first floor of University Library or request a kit on NUSearch. For those interested in community birding on campus, NUBirders is a group of students, faculty, and staff that go on accessible bird walks during fall and spring migration. The NUBirders Spring Migration Bird Walk is on May 15.
Birdwatching is only one method for engaging with local wildlife; student groups such as Wildlife Club, Students for Ecological and Environmental Development, and Prairie Cats Ecological Restoration Club educate on the environment and encourage sustainability and ecological stewardship. Classes such as “Maple Syrup and Climate Change“, offered through Weinberg and CNAIR, study the sap production of local trees and contribute to the federal research project Community Research on Climate and Urban Science. The Wild Roots Garden grows food each fall and spring as directed by undergraduate student stewards, who also host educational events on sustainable food production.
This cedar waxwing spent a morning snacking on berries in campus trees
“SustainNU encourages everyone to find ways to connect to nature and we put on events throughout the year to facilitate this engagement, including our annual arbor day tree planting and our spring and fall bat walks. Anyone can follow sustainNU’s newsletter and Instagram to learn about events hosted throughout the year,” said Kay.
Since the 1970s, Northwestern has participated in celebrating Earth Day, and this year was no different. SustainNU invited community members to reduce their impact on the environment, connect to the planet, and celebrate the Earth during the month of April through several events and programming, including the Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Fair.
Charla Wilson, curator for the Black Experience, represented Northwestern Libraries at this year’s Fair. Charla hosted a table for the University Archives to promote the online exhibit, Up All Night with a Sick Environment: Project Survival and its Legacy. This exhibit tells the story of the nation’s first environmental “teach-out” that was organized by Northwestern Students for a Better Environment (NSBE), the predecessor to current student environmentalists SEED. As many as 10,000 students, faculty, staff, and community members passed through the Technological Institute that night. This early example of student-led environmental education had an immediate impact on environmental policy.
This Cooper’s hawk and its mate were seen hunting and nesting near Norris, University Library, and Annie May Swift
“It was a fantastic opportunity to encourage visitors to learn about Northwestern’s connection to the history of environmental activism,” said Wilson. “It is always great to let students know that the University Archives is a resource to them,” said Wilson.
The Libraries is proud to partner with other campus organizations to build opportunities for students to learn and appreciate campus ecology, whether as hobbyists or career environmentalists.