Autumn is a great birding season, with many fantastic opportunities for birding clubs to get together and share their love of birds. While there may not have been much in the way of club action over the summer, just as fall birds get ready and migrate, fall birders also reconnect with the birds they love and the people who share that passion.

Top 10 Fall Activities for Birding Clubs

The temperatures may be dropping in autumn, but the birding action is heating up as migration gets underway and birds are more active after being secluded during the breeding season.


There are many fun activities birding clubs can arrange to take advantage of fabulous fall birding, including…

1. Visiting Migration Hotspots
   Field trips are a mainstay for many birding clubs, and autumn is a great time to revisit migratory hotspots to catch glimpses of birds that may not have been seen since they passed through the area in spring. Also visit staging areas for flocks of waterfowl, swallows and other birds, as they can be amazing sights and unusual vagrants may be mixed in with more familiar species.
    
2. Fall Festivals
   Many regions take advantage of great fall birding to organize bird, wildlife and nature festivals. These events may offer field trips as well as expert speakers, educational lectures, live raptor presentations, vendor areas and more. A local birding club could arrange to visit a festival, or may want to get involved with an informational booth or volunteering at the event.
    
3. Litter Cleanups
   After the last rush of end-of-summer picnics, hikes and camping trips, litter cleanups are welcome in popular areas, and make a great service project for birders to help protect local habitats and ensure they are clean and safe for all birds to use, including migratory birds that will be stopping by on their seasonal journeys.
    

1. Hawkwatching
   Hawkwatching – counting migratory hawks as they pass popular observation points – is a critical autumn citizen science project that birders can be involved with. Identifying birds in flight and getting more familiar with raptors is a great way to contribute to these projects and help gauge raptor populations, and hawkwatch organizations are always eager for volunteers.
    
2. Bird Banding
   Many bird research stations set up autumn banding areas where migratory birds are temporarily captured so they can be identified, weighed, measured and banded. The data collected is invaluable for studying bird populations and different aspects of bird migration, and birders can volunteer to help with banding tasks under authorized supervision.
    
3. Seed Harvesting
   As seeds ripen in autumn, it's a great time for a group harvesting session of sunflower seeds grown in a community garden. If the birding club has not had a communal garden, try a seed exchange, where different birders share extra seeds from their garden to share more bird-friendly flowers with other members, and everyone will be ready for spring planting.
    
4. Make Pumpkin Bird Feeders
   Pumpkins are an easy and popular fall yard decoration, but why not make them useful for birds at the same time? There are several ways to turn pumpkins into attractive autumn bird feeders, and if a birding club goes to visit a pumpkin farm together, they may be able to arrange a discounted rate for a bulk purchase of pumpkins ideal for feeders.
    
5. Pumpkin Carving Contest
   There are plenty of great pumpkin carving stencils and patterns featuring birds, and a carving contest can be a fun Halloween activity for any birding club, especially to involve younger members. Prizes may be offered for the best designs, or the pumpkins could be entered into a local display or used as luminaries on Halloween during trick-or-treating hours.
    
6. Citizen Science Project Planning
   Autumn is the right time to get planning for citizen science projects that are popular in winter, such as Project FeederWatch, the Christmas Bird Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count. Birding clubs may want to organize a committee to oversee participation in these events, or investigate other local events so they are ready to join in when the time comes.
    
7. Membership Drive
   As interest in birding increases during migration, fall is also a great time for a membership drive for the birding club. Organize a community event or put a booth at the county or state fair, and take steps to spread the word about the club and what it offers to encourage more people to join the membership roll and get involved with birds and birding.

What to Expect at Autumn Meetings

As more people develop an interest in birding during fall migration, attendance at fall meetings may rise, and there may be more new birders in the group, so it is essential to be welcoming to everyone and not inadvertently alienate novices. Be sure introductions are made and driving directions or instructions are clear, and take steps so everyone feels equally included and valued, and the club's human flock will grow even as they take note of feathered flocks all autumn long.

Photo – Canada Geese in Autumn © Kathy & sam