WHAT TO BRING: If the trip is scheduled to go beyond 11:00 a.m., bring a lunch. Binoculars are essential; scopes, field guides, insect repellant, layered clothing and waterproof footwear are suggested. Notice that even trips which don't have a set leader will still take place - we'll all pitch in and have a good trip anyhow.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Unless noted, all trips take place regardless of normal rain and snowy weather. However, trips will be canceled in extreme blizzard conditions.
1. Stony Creek Metropark- Leader: Joanna Pease January 18th (Saturday) 9:00 AM
Meet us at Stony Creek Metropark for our first field trip of 2025! The expansive park can be good for birds even during the winter. If the lake is partially open, there may be an array of ducks to view. Aside from the lake, the trails are scenic with overwintering birds including eagles and other raptors. In some irruption years there have been winter finches such as crossbills. No matter what the severity of the weather, it is fun looking for birds and enjoying them throughout the season.
For this field trip, we’ll meet at the Eastwood Beach parking lot, near the bathhouse, then determine which part of the park we’ll explore, depending on snow and ice conditions.
Daily pass or yearly metroparks sticker required for entry. Please RSVP to Joanna by text at (313) 720-9475 or email at centymeme@aol.com so you can be notified if there is a weather cancellation.
2. Beaudette Nature Park - Leader: Paul Messing February 15th (Saturday) 10 AM
Our February field trip will be held at Beaudette Park, a jewel of a park in Pontiac which features a small mill pond. There are often hundreds of waterfowl to spot at the pond, and sometimes so close you don't even need binoculars. It's a great place to spot several species of ducks and practice your skills.
Meet in the morning at Beaudette parking lot at 786 Orchard Lake Road in Pontiac. As in years past, after birding we will go to a local restaurant for lunch. Contact Paul Messing at (586) 899-2157, or email macombaudubon@gmail.com with any questions.
3. Wolcott Mills Farm- Leaders: Joanna Pease March 15 (Saturday) 10:00 AM
Our next field trip will be at Wolcott Mills Metropark at the Farm. This location has some nice habitat with meadows, woods, and trails down to the Clinton River. This time of year, there may be some early migrants such as Eastern Meadowlarks. There should also be a variety of overwintering sparrows, woodpeckers, and hawks. After we are done checking out the farm, we can drive around some of the dirt roads and look for other early migrants in the many fields in the area. The trip will end about noon but could continue longer if we decide to explore the area further.
The address of the farm is 65775 Wolcott Rd., Ray Township, MI 48096. Please RSVP to Joanna by e-mail at centhymeme@aol.com or by text at (313) 720-9475
4. Kensington Metropark CANCELLED - Leader: CANCELLED April 9 (Wednesday) 10 AM
Hand-feeding the birds has been CANCELLED for both scheduling issues as well as advice that the MetroParks is moving away from encouraging this type of interaction with the birds due to issues that arise.
5. GM Tech Center- Leader: Paul Messing April 21 (Monday) 1-hour tours on-the-hour 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
We are very fortunate that Paul is willing to show us around the Tech Center to see some of the birds there in this natural habitat oasis in the middle of the highly urbanized city of Warren. Large reflecting pools at the GM Global Tech Center are a stopover for a variety of waterfowl including Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Scaup, Bufflehead and Common Loon. Open areas and forest edges have favorite habitat for Horned Larks and Yellow Warbler. Raptors are also likely to begin nesting including Peregrine Falcon, Osprey and Red-tailed Hawk. Come see what species are present on the 710-acre campus.
Sign-up will be at the March and April regular member meetings. Tours need to be reserved in advance. After April 7, you can contact Paul Messing at 586-899-2157 or email macombaudubon@gmail.com. for information about available times.
6. North Clinton River Park- Leader: Barb Baldinger May 3 (Saturday) 8:30 AM
May is the peak time for migrants passing through toward their breeding grounds, particularly warblers. This park across the river from the Sterling Heights Nature Center has had excellent viewing over the years. Rarities such as Kirtland’s Warbler have shown up, along with difficult-to-find warblers such as Golden-winged Warbler or Louisiana Waterthrush. You never know what is going to show up next, but it will certainly be fun looking for whatever we can find.
Meet at the North Clinton River Park, 8711 Riverland Drive, Sterling Heights, in the back lot, and we will walk the trails. Trip should end by noon.
7. Tomlinson Arboretum- Leader: Barb Baldinger May 7th (Wednesday) 9:30 AM
This 24-acre park has hundreds of native trees, wildflowers, and shrubs with a wildflower prairie, pollinator garden and rain garden all maintained by volunteers. There is also a creek and a surrounding woods so many species of birds including migrating warblers are attracted to this site. A variety of nesting birds is here too including Mallard, Blue Jay, House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, House Finch, Song Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle. Meet at the cul-de-sac parking area at the end of 18 Mile Rd. approximately 0.6 miles east of Garfield Rd. Contact Barb Baldinger by e-mail at bbwren@yahoo.com to RSVP or obtain additional information.
8. Salt River Preserve- Leader: Joanna Pease June 8th (Sunday) 8:30 AM
In keeping with my goal of trying a new place for a field trip every year, this year it is the Salt River Nature Preserve located at 33210 Hooker Rd. in Chesterfield Township. The preserve has riparian habitat right along the Salt River as well as a small area of meadow and some trails in woods. There should still be some migrants coming through and it will be interesting to discover what breeding birds are on territory. Trails can be muddy and there could be mosquitoes. Trip should be done by 11. Please RSVP to Joanna by e-mail at centhymeme@aol.com or by text at 313-720-9475.
9. Pointe Mouillee State Game Area: An Exploration by Car- Leaders: Tom Heatley and Jim Fowler August 23 (Saturday) 8 AM
Pointe Mouillee SGA provides som
e of the best shorebird viewing in the state, especially during late summer and early fall. Did you know, White Pelicans are
frequently seen here (yes, that’s in
Michigan)?!
Leader Jim Fowler has been guiding field trips here for many years for various Audubon groups. He has a special permit which allows cars to enter on these trips ((whereas travel is usually limited to
pedestrian or bike).
A limit of four vehicles may caravan onto the
dikes. We can only accept 20 people. Ride
sharing is required. Reservations can be
made through August 20th. Please email Barb
Baldinger at bbwren@yahoo.com including
your name and phone number so you can be
reached regarding any changes. You will
receive an email reply to let you know if
you’ve made the list. Spots will be filled on a
first-come, first-served basis.
Suggestion: Bring water, a hat, sunscreen,
insect repellent, and any optics you like to
use (binoculars, camera, scope). Because of
the vast expanse of the place, scopes are
definitely an asset.
Directions: Take I-75 south to Exit 26, then take S Huron Rd. east to U.S. Turnpike. Take U.S. Turnpike south to Sigler Road, then head east on Sigler Road until you reach the parking lot at the end.
10. Lake Erie Metropark - HawkFest- Leader: Paul Messing
September 20th/21st (Saturday/Sunday) 10 AM-5 PM
This year, Macomb Audubon will have a table
set up at the Marshland Museum at Lake Erie
Metropark’s annual HawkFest weekend. This
isn’t a guided “field trip” per se, but a
collaborative festival with a variety of things
to see and do.
Activities start each day at 10:00 a.m. with
live birds of prey, crafts, games, and food
vendors. There are other educational and
hands-on activities through 5:00 p.m. You’ll
be able to peruse the various activities and vendors and take part in whichever you like.
Come any time throughout the day and say
hello at our Macomb Audubon table.
There are also walkable trails at the park, so
if you feel like doing some self-guided
birding, there’s plenty of space to explore.
This event is suitable for all ages. No need to
RSVP. Metroparks sticker or daily park pass
required for entry.
11. Kensington Metropark- Leader: Wade Leonard October 15 (Wednesday) 10 AM
Join
Wade Leonard at Kensington
Metropark’s Nature Center for a stroll
around the surrounding trails, with the
added bonus of feeding wild birds by hand.
We’ve done this field trip many times before,
but it’s recurring for a reason – it’s super fun!
There’s a special sense of wonder that comes
with handfeeding birds, a sense of getting to
know them on a whole different level.
You’ll stand there waiting patiently, hand
stocked with bird seed, until a bird is brave
enough or curious enough or hungry enough
to land. When it does, it’s sure to be a
magical moment.
As for why the birds at this park are
amenable to this practice, it seems it’s just a
matter of repetition and learning over time.
Not every species will go for it, but the usual
subjects include chickadees, nuthatches,
titmice, and even a Downy Woodpecker here
and there.
For this occasion, meet at the Kensington
Metropark Nature Center parking lot at
10:00 a.m. Wear weather appropriate
clothing and hiking/walking shoes (the walk
is mostly flat and an easy pace). Bring a small
baggy or pocket full of seeds (some of the
birds’ favs are shelled peanuts and sunflower
seeds). You might also consider bringing
binoculars and/or a camera, water, and a
packed lunch to enjoy after our walk.
Please RSVP to Wade by October 14th at
(586)
808-4442, or via email at
wadeleonard1922@att.net. There will be no
rain date for this one. We hope to see you
there!
