Workshops & Special Tours

Thursday 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Enjoy a mini-pelagic trip aboard the Lady Michigan, a 65’ glass bottom boat used to view shipwrecks in
Thunder Bay and Lake Huron. We’ll take a short pelagic cruise with expert birders out near islands used
as nesting roosts by many water bird species. You will even get the opportunity to see a shipwreck on
the lake floor. Festival registration packet can be picked up after the cruise.
Tour Rating: Moderate - Boat Travel
FEE: $50
LOCATION: Trip will depart from Alpena
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Thursday 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
If you’re interested in combining your love for birding with your passion for cycling, join Josh Haas for a Big Green Tour of Iosco County by bike. This exciting way to see birds at the festival is a new hit and will yield upwards of 80-90 bird species while enjoying a great ride through mostly flat terrain. Josh will show birders the ins and outs of tallying birds safely by bike, how to strategize routes and ways to stay comfortable on the bike for long periods of time. A 32-mile route begins at Gateway Park in East Tawas and will take riders along Lake Huron via the Alabaster multi-purpose trail in search of waterbirds and shorebirds before heading north to beautiful Tuttle Marsh where riders will be blown away at the diversity of birds. The group will enjoy a restful lunch (provided) while birding Tuttle Marsh before returning to Gateway Park, birding all the way. ***Special this year, Michigan Audubon Executive Director Jonathan Lutz will join the tour and ride & bird with the group! Sign up today and join Josh and Jonathan for a great opportunity full of birding and unique social time. Festival registration packet can be picked up after the tour.
Tour Rating: Challenging (cyclocross or hybrid bikes recommended). Riders should be prepared to ride 30 miles at a leisurely pace and have an extra tube on hand. Helmets required. Josh will carry a scope for everyone to share as well as the lunches.
FEE: $40
LOCATION: Begins at Gateway Park, East Tawas
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Thursday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM & FRIDAY 7:30-10:00 AM
Thursday’s classroom session is instructed by Peggy Ridgway, past President of Michigan Audubon, and will be held in the conference room at the Bay Inn in Tawas City (not the event headquarters). Participants will learn about use of optics and field guides, get helpful hints on bird identification - both by sight and sound, and learn other helpful hints on finding our feathered friends. This workshop is designed for novice birders. A one-hour lunch break is provided. Festival registration packets will be handed out in the classroom. Part two of the workshop is a birding walk at Tawas Point State Park lead by Bill Thompson III, editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest, held on Friday morning.
Tour Rating: Moderate (birding on Friday)
FEE: $45
LOCATION: Held at the Bay Inn, 1020 W. Lake St. (aka US-23), Tawas City
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Thursday 6:30 pm
Join Michigan Audubon and your fellow birders for dinner and a brew at the Northwood’s Steakhouse,
1222 East US-23 in East Tawas (just north of the US-23/Tawas Beach Road intersection). The
anticipation of the Festival will fill the air with bird stories galore! FEE: $5
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Friday and Saturday at 10:00 AM
If you’d like to make sure that “The Point” remains a beacon for migrating songbirds, participate in this
work session to help eradicate Garlic Mustard and other invasive species that are overtaking the park.
Our leader will talk about the reasons invasive removal is important and what should be done to restore
the native habitat. Support the birds that use this park! Please bring your own work gloves and meet at
the State Park office.
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Saturday at 7:00 AM
Board the bus at the Festival Headquarters, headed to the Eagle Run Trail in Oscoda with guide Bill
Thompson III. The trail runs along the AuSable River, so expect waterfowl species along with birds of
the forest and forest edge. Eastern Towhee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Veery, and Hermit Thrush are all
possible. Tour returns to Festival Headquarters at approximately 11:00 AM.
FEE: $15
Tour Rating: Moderate - Trail is a maintained grass trail; walk will be approximately 2.5 miles
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Saturday 4:45-5:30 PM
Join your fellow birders to review the Festival species list and hear the stories that go along with the
most exciting sightings.
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Sunday 7:00 AM
Enjoy a boat trip to Charity Island in the middle of Saginaw Bay. Many birds land on the island to rest
before continuing their migration north. Lunch (included) will be served on the island at the lighthouse
before departure. FEE: $50
TRIP WILL DEPART FROM AU GRES, returns at 1:30 PM
Tour Rating: Moderate - boat travel of 1 hour each way
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