Spring migration is underway, so grab your binoculars and check out these spring birdwatching spots from Arcadia to Harbor Springs.
Mackinaw City Recreation Complex
507 W. Central Ave. | Mackinaw City
Watch migrating raptors such as bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, and golden eagles fly across the Straits of Mackinac. The Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch has an official recorder, Kevin Georg, who counts the migrating birds from behind the Mackinaw City Recreation Complex. Visitors are welcome to join him there.
Arcadia Beach
West End of Lake Street | Arcadia
Join the Benzie Audobon Club for its spring birding outing on April 16 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Arcadia Beach. Birders will look for waterfowl and spring migrants along the water and at several Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy preserves. If you can’t attend the event, you can explore at C.S. Mott Nature Preserve and Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve.
Lighthouse West Natural Area
14999 N. Cathead Bay Dr. | Northport
Migrating songbirds and raptors stop, feed, and rest in the 42-acre natural area. Birders can see wading birds and waterfowl near the beach along with woodpeckers, chickadees, jays, and cardinals in the hardwoods, among many other species. There is also ideal wetland for sparrows, indigo buntings, waxwings, and other birds.
Thorne Swift Nature Preserve
6696 Lower Shore Dr. | Harbor Springs
The 30-acre wildlife sanctuary is home to waterfowl, nesting gulls, chickadees, and warblers, among other birds. There are three trails for visitors to choose from—the Cedar, Balsam, and Beach Trail—each, for the most part, are wheelchair accessible. For more information about accessibility, call 231-526-6401.
Glen Cove Road
Glen Clove Road | Drummond Island
Ever tried adventure birding? Glen Cove Road is a 4×4 road crisscrossed by several ATV trails. Birders can see sharp-tailed grouse, northern goshawk, broad-tailed hawks, mourning warblers, bald eagles, and migrating sandhill cranes. ATV rentals are available on the island.
Find a Local Michigan Audubon Chapter:
- AuSable Valley Audubon, Oscoda
- Benzie Audubon Club, Frankfort
- Copper Country Audubon Club, Houghton
- Grand Traverse Audubon Club, Traverse City
- Laughing Whitefish Audubon Society, Marquette
- Manistee Audubon Society
- Petoskey Regional Audubon Society, Petoskey
- Sault Naturalists Club, Sault Ste. Marie
- Straits Area Audubon Society, Cheboygan
- Thunder Bay Audubon Society, Alpena
Find more Northern Michigan spring birdwatching spots along the Sleeping Bear Birding Trail and North Huron Birding Trail.
More Northern Michigan Birdwatching
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Michigan Birds of Prey Migrate Across Straits of Mackinac
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Peregrine Falcons Banded on Isle Royale
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The Science Behind Northport’s Gull Island
#2016 #Up_North #Outdoors #Birdwatching