Follow the WPBO Blogs
WPBO maintains three blog categories to keep you up-to-date with happenings at the Point. Click below to read the latest posts.
This blog is your go-to for recent sightings at the Point, including both the usual suspects and the rare species that have been spotted, more in-depth looks at the habitats found here, educational programming being offered, and more. The unique juxtaposition of land and water at the Point funnels many birds through WPBO and over 340 species have been identified at the Point. Be sure to check this blog for regular updates!
Seasonal staff at WPBO conduct waterbird counts in the spring and fall and a spring raptor count. During the seasons, counts are conducted daily. Raptor counts run March 15-May 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Waterbird counts run April 15-May 31 and August 15-November 15, 8 hours starting at dawn daily during each season. The Hawk Deck and Waterbird Shack are accessible to the public, and you can follow this blog to get regular updates during the counting seasons!
WPBO has conducted seasonal owl banding for over three decades. There are currently three owl banding seasons: spring, summer, and fall. Owl banding runs nightly in the spring from March 15-May 31, in the summer from July 1-August 25, and in the fall from September 15-October 31. Check this blog during the owl banding seasons to learn more about this research effort and to see photos of the owls banded!
All Recent WPBO Blog Posts
Raptor Count Week 3 Update (3.26–4.01)
The third week of the hawk count saw highs [...]
Owl Update 03/27/2024
Coming into this past week, we knew the weather [...]
Raptor Count Week 2 Update (3.19–3.25)
Bad weather tested the second week of the count. [...]
Owl Update 03/20/2024
We're happy to be back for Nova's 20th spring [...]
Raptor Count — Week 1 Update (3.15–3.18)
The dunes of Whitefish Point were free of [...]
Fall Waterbird Count – Week 14 Update (11.9-11.15)
The final week of the fall waterbird count! Migration continued [...]
Fall Waterbird Count – Week 13 Update (11.2-11.8)
As the season slowly tapers down, this past week [...]
Fall Waterbird Count – Week 12 Update (10.26-11.1)
This past week featured the first signs of the [...]
Fall Owl Banding Week 7
One of the last Northern Saw-whet Owls of [...]
Fall Waterbird Count – Week 11 Update (10.19-10.25)
This past week was quite interesting and fun at [...]
Fall Owl Banding Week 6
This past week, we had our biggest flight of [...]
Fall Waterbird Count – Week 10 Update (10.12-10.18)
It was a fairly slow start to the week, [...]