May the Spark Be with You Bird Outing at Forest Lawn

Do you have a friend who is bird curious and just waiting for their spark bird? Findings from The Spark Bird Project indicate that people are a critical factor in over 2/3 of spark bird experiences! We invite you to use the spark and help ignite their lifelong passion for birds by bringing a bird curious friend or two out for a celebration of spring migration with The Spark Bird Project, Feminist Bird Club of Buffalo, and the WNY Young Birders Club - birders of all ages, interests, and abilities are enthusiastically welcome & Star Wars costumes (it IS May the 4th after all) are encouraged :) 

Leader Bio: Jenn Lodi-Smith, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at Canisius University and director of The Spark Bird Project. She is a personality developmental psychologist who uses mixed methods research to study identity development over time, including in birders and ornithologists! She is currently a scholar-in-residence with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and mentors the WNY Young Birders Club. Her spark birds are her kiddos who helped her notice birds and then fall in love with birding. 

Directions & Parking

Please meet at the Chapel (yellow 2 on Forest Lawn Map - https://forest-lawn.com/plan-your-visit/map/) by the group holding The Spark Bird Project flag. To find the Chapel, enter Forest Lawn at either the Delaware/Delavan (yellow 9) or Main/Delavan (yellow 8) entrance and follow the white lines. Forest Lawn is accessible on multiple bus routes and from the Delavan/Canisius station as well as by car, bicycle, and foot. Please consider carpooling if you are driving! Parking including accessible parking is generally available for approximately two dozen cars near the Chapel. 

Outing Details

Our outing will start with a round of introductions including learning a little bit about The Spark Bird Project and sharing your spark bird or favorite bird. We will then meander approximately 1 - 1.5 miles around Mirror Lake and along the Scajaquada Creek. Our primary path will be on level, paved surfaces including regularly spaced benches and shade with opportunities to explore grassy and hilly spots  or enjoy a more stationary birding experience for interested individuals. Everyone should dress for the weather to be comfortable for an hour or two outside - sunscreen, raingear, etc. as appropriate! Binoculars are available on request with advance notice and at least one spotting scope will be available for use by the group. Bathrooms are not always available at Forest Lawn so please plan accordingly. Because this outing is happening in an active cemetery, please note that memorial activities always take priority. Be respectful of the other users of Forest Lawn and ensure you are familiar with the rules & regulations (https://forest-lawn.com/about/rules-regulations/). 

The Birds of Forest Lawn

May is the peak time of year for birds at Forest Lawn! Warblers and other migratory songbirds are the highlight species. They are often quite vocal and active this time of year so taking some time to familiarize yourself with songs may be a fun and helpful activity! Other birds are present too from waterfowl to raptors! Here are some eBird lists from last May to give you a sense of who we might encounter: https://ebird.org/checklist/S171940584 & https://ebird.org/checklist/S173501998.  

The Spark Bird Project is an ongoing community science initiative designed to gather, share, and study the stories of people’s passion for birds. Research findings go directly back to community partners to inform their efforts towards inclusively sparking and sustaining birders. Learn more and share your story at www.spark-bird.org!