Fledglings in the Field: The Post-Nest Season

Join Zoey Magner, Education Assistant and Guest Naturalist Chelsey Jourdain for this Walk on the Wild Side.

Late spring and early summer mark one of the most dynamic times in the bird life cycle: the post-nest season, when fledglings leave the nest but are not yet fully independent. This Walk on the Wild Side program invites participants to explore Neilson Spearhead Nature Preserve and observe how young birds navigate this critical transition from nest life to survival in the wild.

Zoey and Chelsey will help you explore how birds and other young animals develop in real time through observation, storytelling, and place-based knowledge. Together, we’ll look for fledglings along trails and forest edges, learn how to distinguish them from adult birds, and discuss the natural behaviors that often get mistaken for distress or abandonment. Additionally, we’ll highlight a few Ojibwe words such as Niibin (summer) and Bineshiinh (bird) to deepen our connection to the season and the living landscape.

This walk offers a close-up look at growth, vulnerability, and resilience in wild bird populations, while building stronger observation skills for birders of all experience levels.