Experience Spring Migration @ Whitefish Point (Sunday & Monday, May 18-19)
Join Michigan Audubon in a post-Tawas Point Birding Festival adventure to one of North America’s most significant hotspots for migratory birds—Whitefish Point, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Migration will be coming to a crescendo and mid-May is the perfect time of year to witness a wide range of species as they migrate north along the shores of Lake Superior. Ducks, loons, hawks, warblers and sparrows of all kinds are all regularly sighted at Whitefish Point at this time of year, and the trip is a great opportunity for observing a wide range of species diversity.
Some of the target species to be seen at this time of year include: White-winged Scoter, Spruce Grouse, Red-throated Loon, Whimbrel, Piping Plover, and Black-backed Woodpecker.
Out on the beach, handsome White-winged Scoters and other tundra-nesting waterbirds will be winging their way past the cobblestone beaches. Early in the morning and again in the early evening is the best time to see migrating waterbirds. Later in the morning, large kettles of Broad-winged Hawks will be circling overhead, and a real possibility exists for plucking out a Swainson’s Hawk. Hawk counters at Whitefish Point see a couple of these elegant western raptors every year. Warblers can be fantastic at this time of year as well. The low jack pines and shrubs bring the warblers closer to eye-level, and up to 20 species are possible on a good day. Boreal Chickadees roam the point some spring seasons, and it will be a great time of year to observe something truly rare. Birds like Mississippi Kite, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and Lark Sparrow have multiple May records for Whitefish Point, and while we can’t plan on seeing something rare, the potential for the unexpected will keep us on our toes!
We will mostly be birding at Whitefish Point, though if there is time we may wander in the boggy forests of Tahquamenon Falls State Park, so be sure to bring some hiking boots that keep your feet dry.
This tour begins at the Whitefish Point parking lot at 7:00 PM on the evening of Sunday, May 18. Tour fee includes lunch on May 19 and guide services. Bird from sunrise on May 19 until approximately 6:00 PM. Specific details of the tour will be provided upon registration.
10% of the profits will be donated to the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory to support ongoing bird monitoring programs.
FEE: $100 for Michigan Audubon members; $125 for non-members
LOCATION: Whitefish Point, Paradise, Michigan
