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!

Week 3 of the Fall 2021 Waterbird Count

Waterbird Highlights: This week (Aug. 28–Sept. 2), 36 species (+1 other taxa) of waterbirds have passed by the Point. If you have been keeping up with Dunkadoo numbers, you are probably wondering where all the Red-necked Grebes are! We are wondering the same thing. This time last year, there had already been over 5,000 individuals; this [...]

2021-09-03T10:06:57-04:00September 3rd, 2021|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Week 3 of the Fall 2021 Waterbird Count
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Bring On the Fall 2021 Waterbird Count!

It’s that time of year again where we waterbird counters set out to the Point prepared to count the fall waterbird migration. As you may have seen in our recent social media posting, I (Mario) will be your guide during this fall adventure. This will be my first time working and living in the [...]

2021-08-27T10:42:35-04:00August 27th, 2021|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Bring On the Fall 2021 Waterbird Count!
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So Long, and Thanks for All the Hawks

In my blog last week, you may recall that I wished for one final push of Broad-winged Hawks. I am happy to report that my wish came true. On the very next day, I counted 780 broad-wings, and by the last day of the count (yesterday), I added another 400 to the season total. [...]

2021-06-02T13:22:29-04:00June 1st, 2021|Migration Counts|Comments Off on So Long, and Thanks for All the Hawks
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The Tale of Two Birds

With the waterbird migration count winding down and in its final days, I just want to say how much of a pleasure it's been to take you all on this adventure with me. You know, to be certain, this has been quite an interesting season, and I've learned a lot about birds, migration, and [...]

2021-06-01T10:54:38-04:00May 29th, 2021|Migration Counts|Comments Off on The Tale of Two Birds
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And the Raptor of the Season Award Goes to…

Rough-legged Hawk! Yes, indeed, this beautiful buteo will be taking home the Copper Kettle, our illustrious and in every way, non-existent, totally made-up, Raptor of the Season award. While not an actual award, an old, unusable kettle at the field house could easily be repurposed for just such an honor. With raptor migration winding [...]

2021-05-27T09:52:41-04:00May 25th, 2021|Migration Counts|Comments Off on And the Raptor of the Season Award Goes to…
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Diamonds on a Sapphire Sea

For countless hours I stand vigil on the windswept beach of Whitefish Point; my only shelter, the weather-beaten Shack. This season has often looked like this picture, a high sun casting a sparkling glare across the water in front of me. Scan after scan, my eyes set to maximum power, searching the horizon for [...]

2021-06-01T10:55:33-04:00May 20th, 2021|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Diamonds on a Sapphire Sea
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Blue Jays Take Whitefish Point by Storm!

This past weekend, raptors seemingly forfeited the migratory flyaways in response to high Blue Jay traffic. Fred, a Broad-winged Hawk, who has been traveling this route for many years, had this to say: “What in tarnation!?! You know, I’ve been traveling this route for many years, and I have plum had it with the [...]

2021-05-27T09:53:06-04:00May 18th, 2021|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Blue Jays Take Whitefish Point by Storm!
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Beautiful Noise

Happy migration, folks! Now you may be wondering, "What's with the title of this blog, 'Beautiful Noise?'" Isn't this supposed to be about waterbirds and waterbird migration? Isn't what I do, counting birds, all visual? Well, not exactly. Migration and bird ID is much more than just what an observer can pick up visually. [...]

2022-01-12T13:57:27-05:00May 13th, 2021|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Beautiful Noise
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What Bird is That?

To some people, bird identification can seem like a mystical art. Those who master it have gleaned their knowledge from studying the arcane lore of bird ID, leafing through dusty tomes called field guides far into the wee hours of the morning. These masters have journeyed to distant lands, sought the unseekable, and made [...]

2021-05-27T09:53:43-04:00May 11th, 2021|Migration Counts|Comments Off on What Bird is That?
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