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!

2023 Spring Waterbird Count Update: April 15-19

Typically, my spirits are quite light when I walk down the boardwalk toward the waterbird shack. However, when I headed that way a little before sunrise on April 15 — opening day for this count — I felt especially light: I was wearing only merino leggings, down pants, a fleece, a felted wool vest, [...]

2023-04-20T17:15:38-04:00April 20th, 2023|Migration Counts|Comments Off on 2023 Spring Waterbird Count Update: April 15-19
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Notes from the Hawk Deck: Week Two (4/11-4/17)

The WPBO spring raptor count has continued to gain momentum over the past week. As we cross into the second half of April, nearly 2,800 migrant raptors have pushed north past the Point since this year’s count began. April 11 brought less favorable migration conditions as blustery northwest winds blew in off the lake [...]

2023-05-29T22:42:56-04:00April 18th, 2023|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Notes from the Hawk Deck: Week Two (4/11-4/17)
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Notes From the Hawk Deck: Week One (4/8-4/10)

While the WPBO spring raptor count began a bit later this year (historically starting on March 15), the first days of the 2023 count have already been plenty busy while generating some great flights. I arrived at the platform on the first morning of April 8 and was greeted with clear blue skies, sun, [...]

2023-05-29T22:43:37-04:00April 11th, 2023|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Notes From the Hawk Deck: Week One (4/8-4/10)
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Waterbird Count Week 13 Update

As November rolls in, that means we have almost reached the end of the fall waterbird count. Even though there has yet to be snow that has stayed on the ground, the water and woods at the Point are dominated by winter species, including Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Common Merganser. Winter finch [...]

2022-11-11T10:22:44-05:00November 10th, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Waterbird Count Week 13 Update
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Sightings Update 11/7/2022

It's hard to believe that only eight days are left in the fall field season. It's been unseasonably mild through much of the late season, but we've had some extreme weather again this week. High winds had high waves breaking on the lake today under a classic dark November sky (featured image). Although the [...]

2022-11-17T11:26:03-05:00November 7th, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Sightings Update 11/7/2022
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Waterbird Count Week 12 Update

Greater Scaup. Photo by Alec Olivier The recent week has continued to prove that October is the month for migrating waterbirds. Long-tailed Ducks continue to migrate in notable numbers, with several days over 1,000 recently. Slow days comprise around 200–300 Long-tailed Ducks, which for any other species is a great day. Common [...]

2022-11-04T11:50:33-04:00November 4th, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Waterbird Count Week 12 Update
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Sightings Update 10/31/2022

Lark Sparrow. Photo by Chris Neri Highlights: Lark Sparrow & Boreal Chickadees A Lark Sparrow was present around the parking lot on October 30, but it was not seen the next day. There seems to be a small influx of Boreal Chickadees occurring in the Upper Peninsula, and there were two brief sightings at the Point this [...]

2022-11-01T14:33:43-04:00October 31st, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Sightings Update 10/31/2022
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Waterbird Count Week 11 Update: 36,000 Long-tailed Ducks

This week was much slower than the previous week, but there have still been some decent flights of waterbirds. As of the writing of this blog, the season total for Long-tailed Ducks is 36,438! This is the highest season total for the fall waterbird count, and this is likely due to the major windstorm [...]

2022-10-28T11:26:01-04:00October 28th, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Waterbird Count Week 11 Update: 36,000 Long-tailed Ducks
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Sightings Update 10/24/22

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Photo by Chris Neri Highlights: American Three-toed Woodpecker & Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The epic season for vagrants seen by Waterbird Counter Alec Olivier out at the waterbird shack continued this past week. An American Three-toed Woodpecker made a brief appearance for Alec in the early morning on October 22. Unfortunately, all efforts [...]

2022-10-25T13:36:10-04:00October 25th, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Sightings Update 10/24/22
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Waterbird Count Week 10 Update: Bar-tailed Godwit and Long-tailed Ducks

Two species have dominated the past week. The first is possibly the rarest waterbird to be recorded on a waterbird count at Whitefish Point. On Sunday, October 16, a Bar-tailed Godwit briefly circled the pond at the Point and eventually headed west down Lake Superior. This is a mainly old-world species with a small [...]

2022-10-21T09:54:31-04:00October 21st, 2022|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Waterbird Count Week 10 Update: Bar-tailed Godwit and Long-tailed Ducks
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