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!

A Slow Start to April

By Gary Palmer, 2018 Spring Hawk Counter After a solid start to the count in March, migration is suddenly far behind schedule here at the Point. Eight days into April only five species of raptor have been recorded for the month, and their numbers have been dismally low: one Turkey [...]

2018-04-09T12:10:24-04:00April 9th, 2018|Migration Counts|Comments Off on A Slow Start to April
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March Migration Wrap-Up

By Gary Palmer, 2018 Hawk Counter Bald Eagles, Photo Skye Haas Migration seems to be on pause here at Whitefish Point, as March ended with a sizeable snowstorm accompanied by fierce north winds to continue a string of slow days. The month ended with a total of seven species of raptors and [...]

2018-04-02T11:25:22-04:00April 2nd, 2018|Migration Counts|Comments Off on March Migration Wrap-Up
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Signs of Spring!

By Gary Palmer, 2018 Spring Hawk Counter Despite the thick blanket of snow which remains at Whitefish Point, there have been some clear indications that spring really is beginning. Today the thermometer crept above freezing for the first time this season, the warm air brought in by our first southerly winds. And along [...]

2018-03-27T13:24:38-04:00March 27th, 2018|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Signs of Spring!
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And We’re Off!

By Gary Palmer, 2018 Spring Hawk Counter The 2018 hawk count here at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory is underway! We got off to a bit of a slow start on Thursday, March 15, when wind and snow conspired to produce some truly crummy viewing conditions. During the opening day blizzard, [...]

2018-03-20T08:22:01-04:00March 20th, 2018|Migration Counts|Comments Off on And We’re Off!
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Spring 2017 Waterbird Count summary

Here is a list of all of the waterbirds that were counted during the waterbird count at Whitefish Point in Spring 2017, along with the seasonal totals from Aril 15 through May 31. The count was usually conducted for eight hours, beginning at sunrise, but there were a few days when the count was shortened [...]

2018-01-12T13:04:17-05:00July 3rd, 2017|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Spring 2017 Waterbird Count summary
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Spring 2017 Waterbird Count summary

Here is a list of all of the waterbirds that were counted during the waterbird count at Whitefish Point in Spring 2017, along with the seasonal totals from Aril 15 through May 31. The count was usually conducted for eight hours, beginning at sunrise, but there were a few days when the count was shortened [...]

2017-06-15T13:30:01-04:00June 15th, 2017|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Spring 2017 Waterbird Count summary
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Waterbird count ends with huge goose flight

The WPBO waterbird count for spring 2017 came to its scheduled end on May 31, though some species are still migrating, such as Red-throated Loons, 11 of which were seen on June 1. The highlight of the last three days of the official count period was the incredible influx of Canada Geese. There has always [...]

2017-06-02T14:28:30-04:00June 2nd, 2017|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Waterbird count ends with huge goose flight
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Whimbrels and Scoter numbers peaking

Marbled Godwit by Skye Haas The last week has been a good one for seeing big shorebirds at Whitefish Point. On May 22, not only did flocks of Whimbrel totaling 184 birds fly past the point, but we were twice visited by individual Marbled Godwits. The first flew by with a flock [...]

2018-02-21T13:39:40-05:00May 28th, 2017|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Whimbrels and Scoter numbers peaking
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Big Day on the Hawk Deck!

Saturday was the eBird-sponsored Global Big Day, and the hawks here at Whitefish Point made it a big one. I've already done well for Broad-winged Hawk this season -- earlier this week they usurped second place from previous number two, Red-tailed -- but with today's spectacle their season total has just about doubled! When nine o'clock rolled [...]

2017-05-14T08:00:56-04:00May 14th, 2017|Migration Counts|2 Comments
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Waterbird Count update through May 11

Yikes! I have some catching up to do with this blog! Here are some highlights from this May so far, beginning with the most recent: May 11 – A good morning flight of Long-tailed Ducks, with 325 passing by within the first three hours after sunrise. Morning clouds made for good viewing to the southeast [...]

2017-05-11T17:44:47-04:00May 11th, 2017|Migration Counts|Comments Off on Waterbird Count update through May 11
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