Michigan Audubon Office: (517) 580-7364|birds@michiganaudubon.org

Migration Counts

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!

Fall Waterbird Count- A Great Day for Grebes (8/20-8/26)

The fall count has just begun, but already this week has produced what is sure to be one of the most memorable days of the season. It was one of those days at Whitefish Point where there are birds everywhere you look. There were thousands of waterbirds zipping by, the flight calls of warblers [...]

2025-08-27T15:48:06-04:00August 27th, 2025|Migration Counts, Waterbird Count|Comments Off on Fall Waterbird Count- A Great Day for Grebes (8/20-8/26)
Read More

Fall Waterbird Count-The Beginning (8/15-8/19)

Another season of waterbird counting is officially underway at Whitefish Point! Our work started the day before the count on August 14th. With the help of some dedicated local volunteers we moved the waterbird ‘shack’ to its fall vantage point. This structure will serve as an important windbreak and refuge for the waterbird counter [...]

2025-08-22T13:57:18-04:00August 20th, 2025|Migration Counts, Waterbird Count|Comments Off on Fall Waterbird Count-The Beginning (8/15-8/19)
Read More

Spring Waterbird Count: The end of the season (May 25- May 31)

Greetings! Former counter Skye Haas here, with a wrap-up post about the end of the WPBO spring 2025 Waterbird Count. With Martina needing to start her summer gig, I, along with Louie Dombroski and Max Henschell (also both former WPBO waterbird counters), filled in for the last week of the season. The late spring favored [...]

2025-06-18T09:23:19-04:00June 18th, 2025|Migration Counts, Waterbird Count|Comments Off on Spring Waterbird Count: The end of the season (May 25- May 31)
Read More

Spring Raptor Count 5/20-5/26–Winding Down

Osprey by Sean McLaughlin In the penultimate week of hawkwatching at Whitefish Point this spring, we have finally begun to see migration slip back into low gear. Seasonal totals are nearing their zenith, but daily totals are dropping by the day. It is sad to see the final days of migration arrive, [...]

2025-05-30T13:46:25-04:00May 28th, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on Spring Raptor Count 5/20-5/26–Winding Down
Read More

Spring Waterbird Count 5/13-5/19: Week 5

Hi everyone! The 5th week of the waterbird count has flown by! I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but like other weeks, it was a mixed bag of exciting days and quiet moments. This is, unfortunately, my last full week as your waterbird counter. My last day of counting will [...]

2025-05-22T07:35:25-04:00May 21st, 2025|Migration Counts, Waterbird Count|Comments Off on Spring Waterbird Count 5/13-5/19: Week 5
Read More

Spring Raptor Count 5/13-5/19–Home Stretch

The past week at the hawk watch was pleasant. Mid-May means warmer temperatures, diverse flights, and the arrival of breeding boreal songbirds. Spring-like conditions delivered consistent Sharp-shinned Hawk and Bald Eagle flights alongside dwindling numbers of buteos and falcons. It is rewarding and heartwarming to make it to the back end of a season, [...]

2025-05-21T15:42:15-04:00May 20th, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on Spring Raptor Count 5/13-5/19–Home Stretch
Read More

Spring Waterbird Count 5/6-5/12 Week 4: Scoter Season

Week 4 of the Waterbird Count was very much a boom or bust week, with a few days of remarkable migration and a few days of calm and quiet. Red-throated Loon by Martina Nordstrand May 6th continued our theme from last week- lots of loons! With 588 loons counted, this day is [...]

2025-05-15T12:42:15-04:00May 14th, 2025|Migration Counts, Waterbird Count|Comments Off on Spring Waterbird Count 5/6-5/12 Week 4: Scoter Season
Read More

Spring Raptor Count 5/6-5/12–Record Days

The second week of May sped right along, and it feels as if it was just last night I was sitting down to write a blog, rather than last week! These full spring days, growing ever longer, are action packed from sunrise to sunset, and it is hard to drag myself away to even [...]

2025-05-13T19:19:13-04:00May 13th, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on Spring Raptor Count 5/6-5/12–Record Days
Read More

Spring Waterbird Count 4/29-5/5- Diver Days

It's hard to believe, but we are already halfway through the Spring Waterbird Count! The third week of the count was very eventful and full of highlights! Red-necked Grebes by Martina Nordstrand April 29th featured an exciting weather switch, with southwest winds overnight and into the first few hours of the count. [...]

2025-05-08T18:43:08-04:00May 7th, 2025|Migration Counts, Waterbird Count|Comments Off on Spring Waterbird Count 4/29-5/5- Diver Days
Read More

Spring Raptor Count 4/29-5/5–Spring’s True Arrival

Goodbye April, hello May! The Whitefish Point Raptor Count has entered its final month, but with some serious action on the way! The final days of April maintained the pattern of diverse flights, and 12 species of raptors were counted on the 30th alone! The absolute top bird of the day was a dark [...]

2025-05-06T12:30:33-04:00May 6th, 2025|Migration Counts, Raptor Count|Comments Off on Spring Raptor Count 4/29-5/5–Spring’s True Arrival
Read More
Go to Top