Spring birding tours at Michigan’s Wetland Wonders

Red-Winged Blackbird (wikipedia)

Nothing says spring like the “conk-a-ree” call of a red-winged blackbird or the raucous sounds of a sandhill crane. Celebrate spring and explore Michigan’s Wetland Wonders with a birding tour at one of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' seven managed waterfowl areas in April and May.

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 much more. The tours, led by DNR wildlife biologists and technicians, will include a "sneak peek" driving tour into refuge areas that are normally closed.

Michigan’s Wetland Wonders are the seven premier managed waterfowl areas in southern Michigan: Fennville Farm Unit at Allegan State Game Area, Fish Point State Wildlife Area, St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area on Harsens Island, Muskegon County Wastewater Facility, Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, Pointe Mouillee State Game Area and Shiawassee River State Game Area.

Birding tours are scheduled on the following dates:

• April 12 at 9 a.m. - St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area, 1803 Krispin Road, Harsens Island; 810-748-9504 
• April 12 at 9 a.m. - Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, 37025 Mouillee Road, Rockwood; 734-379-9692
• April 12 at 10 a.m. - Muskegon County Wastewater Facility, 7600 E. Messinger Road, Twin Lake; 231-788-5055
• April 12 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. - Fish Point State Game Area, 7750 Ringle Road, Unionville; 989-674-2511
• April 27 at 9 a.m. - Fennville Farm Unit of Allegan State Game Area, 6013 118th Ave., Fennville; 269-673-2430
• May 3 at 8 a.m. - Shiawassee River State Game Area, 225 East Spruce St., St. Charles; 989-865-6211
• May 10 at 9 a.m. - Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, 1570 Tower Beach Road, Pinconning; 989-697-5101

For questions about bird tours, please contact the office of the appropriate managed waterfowl area at the phone number listed above.

All tours will meet at the area’s headquarters building. Please dress for the weather and bring binoculars. Spotting scopes are also 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 (MWL), 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.

To learn more about Michigan’s Wetland Wonders, visit www.michigan.gov/wetlandwonders.