Birding tours set for early May at Michigan’s Wetland Wonders

Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 04/21/2015 12:06 PM EDT

You could see trumpeter swans, osprey, bald eagles, sandhill cranes and many others!
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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2015

Contact: Holly Vaughn, 313-396-6863


Spring birding tours set for early May at Michigan’s Wetland Wonders

trumpeter swan on the waterThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds wildlife watchers that spring birding tours – coming up Saturday, May 2 and 9 – are a fun way to celebrate the warmer weather and explore the state’s Wetland Wonders.

Birding tour highlights may include diving and dabbling ducks in full breeding plumage, trumpeter and tundra swans, osprey, bald eagles, sandhill cranes and many more. The tours will be led by DNR wildlife biologists and technicians and will include a sneak-peek driving tour into refuge areas that normally are closed.

Michigan’s Wetland Wonders are the seven premier managed waterfowl areas in southern Michigan: Fennville Farm Unit at the Allegan State Game Area, Fish Point State Wildlife Area, St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area on Harsens Island, Muskegon County Wastewater Facility, Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, Pointe Mouillee State Game Area and Shiawassee River State Game Area.

Spring birding tours are set for the following dates, times and locations:

  • May 2, 9 a.m. – Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area
    1570 Tower Beach Road, Pinconning; 989-697-5101

  • May 2, 9 a.m. – Fennville Farm Unit of the Allegan State Game Area
    6013 118th Ave., Fennville; 269-673-2430

  • May 2, 10 a.m. – Muskegon County Wastewater Facility
    7600 E. Messinger Road, Twin Lake; 231-788-5055

  • May 9, 9 a.m. – Shiawassee River State Game Area
    225 East Spruce St., St. Charles; 989-865-6211

For questions about any of the tours, please call the specific Wetland Wonder location as listed above. 

All tours will meet at the area’s headquarters building. Please dress for the weather (including boots, since the ground may be quite muddy and wet) and bring binoculars. Spotting scopes also are helpful for long-range viewing. 

These birding tours are part of the Michigan Waterfowl Legacy, a 10-year, cooperative partnership to restore, conserve and celebrate Michigan's waterfowl, wetland and waterfowl hunting community. The initiative is a "call to action" to honor yesterday, engage today and build for tomorrow.  

Learn more about Michigan’s Wetland Wonders at www.michigan.gov/wetlandwonders. 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

/Note to editors: Trumpeter swans sometimes are seen at Michigan’s Wetland Wonders, where early May birding tours will be hosted./