LEWISTOWN — If you’ve ever heard a bird call in your backyard and wondered who was singing, the Towpath Naturalist Society of Juniata and Mifflin County’s upcoming “Birdsong Bingo” program is ready to turn that curiosity into confidence — and a whole lot of fun.

Environmental Education Specialist Kylie Orndorf of the Reeds Gap State Park Complex is bringing her lively, sound-side birding game to the community, offering a fresh way to learn the voices of the forest.

The Towpath Naturalist Society will host Orndorf’s program, “Birdsong Bingo,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 120 N. Main St., Lewistown.

“We hear birds all the time, but we often don’t know who it is we’re hearing,” Orndorf said. “To be able to put a name and face to the sound brings a new appreciation to the birds we hear on a regular basis.”

Each session begins with a group discussion of about 15 birds. Orndorf walks participants through each call, sharing comparisons and memory tricks that help the sounds stick. She explains how robins sing, but they don’t have the “drink your tea” rhythm of the Eastern Towhee. She points out how American Crows “sound like they’re slowly laughing at us,” while the Fish Crow sounds more like it’s disagreeing with a slow “uh-uh.”

“These birds have a way of telling us who they are, if we just know what to listen for,” she said.

Once the group has learned the lineup, the cards come out and the room shifts into friendly competition. Orndorf plays the calls again — this time in random order — and participants race to recognize each voice.

“I could stand in front of a crowd, play a call of a bird and say what it is, but where’s the fun in that?” she said. “Bingo is a game that most everyone enjoys and the repetition round after round of hearing these calls and their associations sticks with people longer than just an off chance of hearing the bird in the wild from time to time.”

The result is a fast-moving, laughter-filled review session that keeps even first-time birders engaged.

A gateway into deeper birding

For many participants, “Birdsong Bingo” becomes the next step in their birding journey. Some arrive confident in identifying birds by sight but want to expand their skills. Others come because they hear birds around them but can never quite spot them.

“Birds can be quick and secretive like that,” Orndorf said. She points to the Ovenbird as a perfect example. “I hear (it) most days in the summer when walking around Poe Paddy, but I’ve seen it maybe once or twice in my 7 years here.”

Learning calls, she said, helps people trust their ears as much as their eyes.

More than just birds

The bingo format has been such a hit that Orndorf now uses it for raptors, frogs, and toads — the latter of which she admits might be her favorite. The structure works for any group of animals with distinctive calls, and the mix of repetition and play keeps audiences of all ages involved.

“Learning and practicing these bird calls and songs is just another way to get people interested in birding,” she said.

Open to all nature lovers

“Birdsong Bingo” fits naturally into the Towpath Naturalist Society’s mission of offering accessible, community-centered programs that deepen appreciation for the natural world. The evening promises a chance to learn something new, laugh together, and walk away hearing the outdoors with fresh ears.

“I hope this helps, if you have any other questions, let me know! Thanks for writing about it!” Orndorf added.

The Towpath Naturalist Society welcomes new members and visitors. Annual dues are $10, payable in November.