Spring birding tours at Michigan’s Wetland Wonders

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 wetlands with a birding tour at one of the Wetland Wonders near you! 

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. Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologists and technicians, Audubon Great Lakes staffers, and volunteers from Ducks Unlimited and local Audubon Clubs will lead the tours, which may include a “sneak peek” driving tour into refuge areas that are normally closed. 

The birding tours will be held on the following dates:
— March 30 at 9 a.m. – Fennville Farm Unit of the Allegan State Game Area, 6013 118th Ave. in Fennville; 269-561-2258
— March 30 at 9 a.m. – Fish Point State Game Area, 7750 Ringle Road in Unionville; 989-674-2511
— March 30 at 8:30 am – Maple River State Game Area, 9858 S. Crapo Road in Ashley (one-quarter mile south of Ranger Road, 2 miles east of 127); 616-446-0555
— April 6 at 9 a.m. – Muskegon County Wastewater System, meeting at the Muskegon State Game Area Office, 7600 E. Messinger Road in Twin Lake; 231-788-5055
— April 6 at 9 a.m. – Shiawassee River State Game Area, 225 East Spruce St. in St. Charles, 989-865-6211
— April 6 at 8 a.m. – St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area, 3857 Columbine Road on Harsens Island, 810-748-9504
— April 13 at 9 a.m. – Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, 1570 Tower Beach Road in Pinconning; 989-697-5101
— April 13 at 9 a.m. – Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, 37025 Mouillee Road in Rockwood; 734-379-9692

If you have questions about bird tours, please call the phone number listed above for the appropriate location. 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. 

Michigan's Wetland Wonders include the seven premier managed waterfowl hunt areas in the state: Fennville Farm Unit at the Allegan State Game Area (Allegan County), Fish Point State Wildlife Area (Tuscola County), St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area on Harsens Island (St. Clair County), Muskegon County Wastewater Facility (Muskegon County), Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area (Bay County), Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (Monroe and Wayne counties) and Shiawassee River State Game Area (Saginaw County).