Avid birders sometimes rise early to greet the dawn—seeking out chance sightings of the feathered variety. On November 23rd, in the early morning hours, scouts and their adult leaders flocked to North Dakota State University’s campus, where they had their sights set on earning merit badges. 

Merit Badge University, a day-long event in the Northern Lights Council for nearly 20 years, has consistently provided engaging learning and hands-on experiences to scouts from across North Dakota and Minnesota; this year 122 scouts and 27 adult leaders participated. Event Director, Jefri Jones, is eager to emphasize the impact of the event, stating it “...provides an opportunity to connect scouts to professionals and experts in their vocation to share their expertise and excitement for what they do. The scouts receive a quality program because of the willingness of the volunteers to participate.”  23 merit badges were offered at this year’s event—including Bird Study. Kelly Tebben, the Bird Study Merit Badge counselor and an Outreach Coordinator for Audubon Great Plains, led the class for the day.  It began with each student excitedly selecting a native species “bird buddy” (Audubon plush) to be their bird companion and point of inspiration for the day. To start the session, Audubon Great Plains Working Lands Programs Manager, Juli Bosmoe, exhibited her professional expertise while scouts learned about native and non-native regional bird species, considered avian adaptations, and explored careers related to bird study.    

While many scouts in attendance reside in the Fargo-Moorhead area, some scouts enrolled in the Bird Study Merit Badge traveled up to three hours to take part in the class. Bird Study covered a wide range topics and had scouts demonstrating their skills at a variety of tasks: adeptly using binoculars for bird spotting, identifying birds with a variety of field guides, researching and presenting on threatened or endangered bird species, analyzing historical local bird count data and hypothesizing about trends and anomalies, creating a bird feeder, and even writing their very first bird sighting entry into a hand-crafted field notebook.     

The photographs captured by Audubon Great Plains Communications Manager, Amanda Booher, may be visual documentation exhibiting the precise moments when future birding aficionados were inspired to begin avian pursuits with passion.   

Following hours of impressive dedication to the study of birds, the class was dismissed with well-wishes, shared excitement for future birding excursions, and the reluctant return of each scout’s “bird buddy” to the bird bin.  

Two inspired scouts stayed behind afterwards to discuss ideas for bird-focused conservation projects with Tebben, who enthusiastically offered to be a point of contact and support as they begin their pursuit of scouting’s Distinguished Conservation Service Award. Tebben, who plans to offer Bird Study at next year’s Merit Badge University, says of the experience, “The scouts attending merit badge classes today are overflowing with potential!  They’re our future leaders, naturalists, ranchers, outdoor enthusiasts, scientists, policy experts, and wildlife advocates.  It’s a privilege to be investing in their scouting experience through the Bird Study Merit Badge and enriching their understanding and consideration of birds in our world, which very naturally supports Audubon’s mission of protecting birds and the places they need.”