Spend a year at Whitefish Point with Michael Kielb, who has devoted much time to this far north bit of Michigan, on the shores of Lake Superior, watching migration as the seasons change. Michael teaches biology at Eastern Michigan University, and is a board member of Whitefish Point Bird Observatory.

Leaders: Lathe Claflin and Gary Siegrist

This is a perennially popular trip, jointly sponsored by the Jackson and Washtenaw Audubon societies. Snowy and Great Gray owls, Sharp-tailed and Ruffed grouse, Boreal Chickadee, Bohemian Waxwing, grosbeaks, and crossbills are some birds that make driving to the Upper Peninsula worth the effort. The weather can be rough, but no matter what the weather is like, the birding is reliably excellent.

The event begins on Friday evening and ends during the day on Sunday. The number of participants is limited, and reserving a space is mandatory. There is a $20 charge for the trip, and individual participants are also responsible for their own food and lodging costs. For more information or to register, please call Lathe (517-522-3949) or Gary (517-522-5990). UPDATE: Registration for the trip is full, but you can get on the standby list by contacting Gary or Lathe.

Leader: Dea Armstrong

This tour of local waterfowl hotspots will be a wonderful introduction to birding and great first field trip for a new birder! Meet at the far end of the Park-n-Ride lot at Plymouth Road and US 23 at 9:00 AM. PLEASE NOTE: THIS WILL BE THE FIRST SUNDAY OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, SO DO NOT FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS THE NIGHT BEFORE!!

Link to Plymouth Road and US 23 Park-n-Ride map, click HERE. 

Please dress for the weather, assuming that it will feel much colder by the rivers and lakes that we will be visiting. Bring a drink and snack if you think you might need one. PLEASE ALSO NOTE: Sometimes local lakes are still frozen on March 11. If that is the case this year, we’ll put out a notice on birders@umich.edu  and on the Washtenaw Audubon field trip webpage, and we’ll move the trip to the following Sunday. Finally, bring binoculars and a spotting scope if you have them, but these are not required.