Spring migration is coming to a close at Whitefish Point, but that doesn’t mean the excitement is gone. Waterbird numbers have begun to drop, with only loons, mergansers, geese, and some shorebirds being reliable each day. One of the highlights at the season’s end has been large pushes of Whimbrels; the evening flight on May 23 produced 340, and another 130 moved through the following morning. Ruddy Turnstones and Semipalmated Sandpipers have also begun to become a near-daily occurrence.
The rarest bird of the season also arrived last week. On May 23 a female Great-tailed Grackle showed up at the Point. This bird not only represents the first record for the Point, also all of Michigan!
The female Great-tailed Grackle checking out the brush around the feeders. Photo by Troy Herrel
Songbirds are begging to quiet down, but there are still handfuls of warblers, flycatchers, and other migrants that can be found poking around the Point. With only two days left, there is still plenty of time for something to surprise us!
~ Troy Herrel
2024 Spring Waterbird Counter
Featured photo by Troy Herrel
Troy is a recent graduate from The Ohio State University where he obtained a degree in zoology. He has experience banding passerines and raptors, conducting point counts, and doing migration surveys. He spent last fall at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, where he assisted the biologists with various research and educational outreach. He hopes to one day get a master’s degree and continue working with wildlife.
