Birding in Michigan

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory

Whitefish Point is a triangle of land projecting into Lake Superior on the northern shore of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, 35 miles northwest of Sault Ste. Marie. This famed spot tops out at more than 340 species, the greatest number of any site in the state. It’s home to the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, which has been documenting migration since 1979.

The observatory conducts counts of migrating geese, ducks, loons, grebes, shorebirds, and other waterbirds, as well as an important count of migrating raptors. Visitors are welcome at the site, which celebrates an annual Spring Fling festival with field trips, lectures, and workshops around the beginning of May.

During migration, visitors may see great numbers of ducks, Red-throated Loons, Common Loons, hawks, Sandhill Cranes, Whimbrels, Bonaparte’s Gulls, and of course thrushes, warblers, and other songbirds. It’s impossible to cover even the highlights, other than to say that anything’s possible. For example, a Mississippi Kite, Lewis’s Woodpecker, and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher have all strayed off course and shown up here.

Whitefish Point is also known for its owl studies, annually banding primarily Northern Saw-whet Owl, but also Northern Hawk-Owl, Long-eared Owl, Boreal Owl, and other species.

Nesting species in this general area include Spruce Grouse, Piping Plover, Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, and Pine Siskin.
 

Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Located in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this 95,000-acre refuge rewards a visit with a wonderful mix of northern habitats, including bog, marsh, and forest, along with a diversity of nesting boreal birds.

Because of the region’s harsh winters, the refuge visitor center off Highway 77 is open only from May 15 to October 15. A seven-mile, one-way wildlife drive (also closed in winter) begins at the visitor center and clearly reflects that wetlands compose around two-thirds of the refuge. The drive passes three observation decks along its route. In addition, the refuge has trails and many miles of roads to explore on foot.

The Trumpeter Swan is one of the notable birds nesting at Seney, and Common Loons seem to be on every pond. Other breeding species include the Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Ruffed Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, American Bittern, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Sandhill Crane, Wilson’s Snipe, American Woodcock, Black-billed Cuckoo, Merlin, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Gray Jay, Winter Wren, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Le Conte’s Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Brewer’s Blackbird, and Purple Finch.

Sought-after species such as Spruce Grouse, Yellow Rail, and Northern Saw-whet Owl are present at Seney as well—but, as usual, count yourself lucky if you see one of these secretive birds.

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

Just south of Saginaw, Shiawassee has gained prominence as one of Michigan’s finest birding sites. As an example of its possibilities for visitors, around 280 species have been recorded on its 6.5-mile auto tour route alone.

With 9,800 acres of habitats comprising bottomland hardwood forest, marsh, and grassland, the refuge is part of an ecosystem where four rivers meet. Shiawassee has built several impoundments that the staff use to manage water for the benefit of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wildlife. Tens of thousands of waterfowl are present during migration, and the refuge has been designated as an Important Bird Area.

The wildlife drive is closed seasonally to protect nesting Bald Eagles. When it’s open, visitors in spring and fall may see vast flocks of Canada Geese, plus Snow Geese, Trumpeter Swans, Tundra Swans, and nearly 20 species of ducks.

Birds that nest in the refuge’s wetlands include the Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Gallinule, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Sedge Wren, Marsh, Prothonotary Warbler, and Swamp Sparrow.

Flocks of Sandhill Cranes rank among the highlights of Shiawassee. When winter arrives they depart, but Rough-legged Hawks, Long-eared Owls, Short-eared Owls, Northern Shrikes, Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings and Common Redpolls usually stick around.

Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve

This 273-acre site near the town of Arcadia offers the chance to see marsh birds and, when the water level is right, shorebirds. Highway 22 runs through the marsh, allowing roadside scanning of the wetlands. There’s an unpaved trail into the marsh now, and a boardwalk with viewing areas is planned for the future.

Many species of waterfowl winter or migrate through here, including the Trumpeter Swan, American Black Duck, Common Goldeneye, and Common Merganser. Nesting birds include the Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Green Heron, Virginia Rail, Sora, Sandhill Crane, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, and Swamp Sparrow.

Four miles northwest (on Keillor Road) is the Dryhills Grassland area of Arcadia Dunes Nature Preserve. Here, 350 acres are being restored to native vegetation for grassland birds. It holds a large population of Grasshopper Sparrows. Upland Sandpipers, Clay-colored Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Bobolinks, and Eastern Meadowlarks also nest here, and Sandhill Cranes are a fairly frequent visitor.

Warren Dunes State Park

This park on the Lake Michigan shore is known for its dunes, which reach as high as 240 feet above the water, and for being an extremely popular summer-getaway destination. It’s also one of two fine birding sites, along with Warren Woods State Park, located only five miles apart.

During migration birds follow the lake’s shoreline, making Warren Dunes a great destination. In April, eight or more species of raptors may pass overhead. Occasional flocks of Sandhill Crane may migrate through, as well. The peak for most migrant songbirds is May.

The park’s nesting species include Wild Turkey, Red-headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Veery, Pine Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Canada Warbler, Vesper Sparrow, and Scarlet Tanager.

Both Warren Dunes and Warren Woods State Park are breeding sites for some “southern” species uncommon in much of Michigan. Birders look here for Acadian Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Carolina Wren, Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Prothonotary Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Summer Tanager.

Kirtland's Warbler Tours

Kirtland’s Warbler is a small gray-and-yellow songbird that needs young jack pine forest for successful breeding. Lack of habitat and parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbird caused its population to sink to a few hundred pairs in the 1970s, making it critically endangered.

Through decades of management, the population has now increased to nearly 2,000 nesting pairs. Though the Kirtland’s Warbler nests sparingly in Wisconsin and Canada, most of its range lies in Michigan. In fact, Michigan birders have essentially adopted it as the avian symbol of their state.

Each year hundreds of people visit the area around Grayling in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula to see this bird. Of course, it’s vital not to disturb or harass an endangered species in its breeding grounds, and so from mid-May to July, guided tours leave from Mio and near Grayling to let birders catch a glimpse with minimal disturbance. Visit the Michigan Audubon website or that of the Huron-Manistee National Forest for details.

Tawas Point State Park

This 183-acre park lies on a narrow peninsula on Lake Huron just north of Saginaw Bay. Its location and distinctive shape make it one of the best locations in the region to see migrant birds. A good May day at Tawas Point, in fact, can truly be called a birding spectacle.

In spring and fall, birds tend to concentrate on this relatively small spit of land, funneled there by the natural contour of the shore. A walk down the Sandy Hook Nature Trail may yield small trees and shrubs virtually dripping with birds: flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, warblers, orioles, and more. Although spring is peak season, fall is productive as well.

Marsh and mudflats lie on one side of the peninsula and the sandy beach of Lake Huron on the other. This serves to attract wading birds and shorebirds as well as ducks, gulls, and terns. Piping Plovers nests here, and Caspian Terns, Black Terns, Common Terns, and Forster's Terns breed locally. Bald Eagles are also seen here nearly year round.

Tawas Point’s bird list tops out at around 280 species. Several rarities have made the list, including Say’s Phoebe, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and Prothonotary Warbler. Notably, the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler appears here with some regularity in May.

Belle Isle Park

Located in the Detroit River, just minutes from downtown Detroit, this 985-acre park has one of the highest species totals of any birding site in Michigan. The state took over the park from the city in 2014 and renovated many of its facilities.

The surrounding river and the park’s ponds attract a range of waterfowl in winter, including the Tundra Swan and dabbling and diving ducks, such as Canvasback, Redhead, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, and all three mergansers. A number of rare waterfowl have appeared over the years, including Brant and King Eider. Many rare gulls have been spotted here in winter, too.

Local birders visit Belle Isle in spring and fall for songbird migration. While migrants can show up anywhere, the eastern end of the island has more woodland, as well as cattail marsh. May and September are the best months to see migrants such as flycatchers, vireos, and thrushes. More than 30 species of warblers have been recorded, including rarities such as Worm-eating and Kentucky warblers. Bald Eagles are seen most often in February, and the locally rare Pileated Woodpecker has been seen in May.

Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area

This location on the western shore of Saginaw Bay is known for teeming flocks of waterfowl in spring and fall. Canada Geese and dabbling ducks, such as the American Wigeon, Mallard, and Northern Shoveler, are most common, but Nayanquing Point also sees numbers of Tundra Swans, Ring-necked Ducks, scaup, and mergansers, among other species.

The marshes of Nayanquing Point host nesting birds such as the Blue-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Gallinule, Sandhill Crane, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Forster’s Tern, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Swamp Sparrow, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.

There’s an office on Tower Beach Road that can provide advice. Following East Kitchen Road east and south leads to an observation tower with panoramic views of the marshes. Note that hunting is allowed and very popular at Nayanquing Point, so birders should check in advance for seasonal schedules.