Nothing says spring like the “conk-a-ree” call of a red-winged blackbird or the raucous sounds of a sandhill crane. The Department of Natural Resources invites wildlife lovers to celebrate spring and explore Michigan’s Wetland Wonders with birding tours at several locations around the state.
Highlights of the birding tours may include diving and dabbling ducks in full breeding plumage, trumpeter and tundra swans, osprey, bald eagles, sandhill cranes and many others. DNR wildlife biologists and technicians and volunteers from Ducks Unlimited and Audubon clubs will lead the tours, which may include a “sneak peek” driving tour into refuge areas that normally are closed.
Upcoming birding tour dates and locations include:
March 26 at 9 a.m. – St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area, 3857 Columbine Road, Harsens Island; 810-748-9504
April 2 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. – Fish Point State Game Area, 7750 Ringle Road, Unionville; 989-674-2511
April 2 at 9 a.m. – Maple River State Game Area, southwest corner of South Baldwin and Crapo roads in Washington Township, east of U.S. 127; 616-446-0555
April 9 at 9 a.m. – Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, 37025 Mouillee Road, Rockwood; 734-379-9692
April 9 at 9 a.m. – Muskegon County Wastewater Facility, 7600 East Messinger Road, Twin Lake; 231-788-5055
April 16 at 9 a.m. – Shiawassee River State Game Area, 225 East Spruce St., St. Charles; 989-865-6211
April 23 at 9 a.m. – Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, 1570 Tower Beach Road, Pinconning; 989-697-5101
April 23 at 9 a.m. – Manistee Marsh at the Manistee River State Game Area, on M-55, one-quarter mile southeast of U.S. 31 in Manistee County; 231-775-9727, ext. 6032
April 23 at 9 a.m. – Houghton Lake Flats State Wildlife Management Area, north of M-55 on Old 27, one-quarter mile east of U.S. 127 in Roscommon County; 231-775-9727, ext. 6032
April 30 at 9 a.m. – Fennville Farm Unit of the Allegan State Game Area, 6013 118th Ave., Fennville; 269-673-2430
For questions about any of the birding tours, please call the number, listed above, for the tour you are interested in.
Most tours will meet at the area’s headquarters building. Please dress for the weather and bring binoculars. Spotting scopes also are helpful for long-range viewing. The ground may be quite muddy and wet, so plan to wear boots.
These birding tours are part of the Michigan Waterfowl Legacy, a 10-year, cooperative partnership to restore, conserve and celebrate Michigan’s waterfowl, wetland and waterfowl hunting community. The initiative is a “call to action” to honor yesterday, engage today and build for tomorrow.
