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November 2018
Mug Club Pre-Sale!
- Show your support for the Nature Education Center and the Coffee with the Birds program by purchasing your 2019 MUG CLUB mug! The mug will feature a bird-of-the-year, and membership will come with special bird-related perks through the year. A great holiday gift for a bird lover!
- Membership: $25/person
- Member Perks:
- 1) Limited edition mug
- 2) Members can keep their mug at the Nature Center for each Coffee with the Birds Program and for use with punch card
- 3) Hot Drink Punch Card: 10 free drinks
- 4) Entry into a members-only raffle for prizes including (free field trip, binocular strap, bird feeder)
- 5) Two Member-Only Bird Walks (Spring & Fall)
- The 2019 winning mug design will be unveiled at the December 8 Coffee with the Birds program.
- There are a limited number of mugs available for sale. Purchase your membership online by clicking here. Or by calling the Nature Center at 616-786-4847! Mugs can be picked up at the Nature Center (after December 8).
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 12/08/2018 9:30 am-12:00 pm
- Hemlock Crossing Nature Education Center
- Enjoy a hot cup of coffee & some baked goodies as you watch the birds at the feeders & discuss various birding topics with a naturalist. Bring your bird questions, curiosities and stories & don't forget your favorite mug! Donations appreciated.
- There will be 2 sessions of the Feeder Watching to choose from: 9:30 and 11:10 am.
- Birding Tidbits - 10:30am - Bite-sized presentations on anything bird-related. From tidbits on bird identification, and birding equipment to stories of birding adventures, these short programs are sure to be entertaining and informative.
- Local Bird Club Forum – Several local Audubon clubs from West Michigan will have representatives available to talk a bit about their club and to pass out information on what they do and how you can be involved and benefit too! Holland Audubon, Owashtanong Island Audubon, Muskegon County Nature Club and Grand Rapids Audubon will be represented.
- SPECIAL NOTE! The 2019 Mug Club bird mug will be revealed! Membership Pre-sale coming soon!
- Schedule:
- 9:30 - 10:20 - Feeder Watching Session 1
- 10:30 - 11:00 - Birding Tidbits Presentation: "Local Bird Club Forum"
- 11:10 - 12:00 - Feeder Watching Session 2
- Upcoming Topics:
- 1/5/19 - Winter Birding Hotspots
- 2/2/19 - South Texas "Trash Birds"
- 3/2/19 - Conspicuous Cardinals
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Upcoming Audubon Club Programs
- FREE PROGRAM! PUBLIC WELCOME! Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 7 p.m. at the Loutit DIstrict Library Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society invites you to join us for our November program. Caleb Putnam, Environmental Consultant and eBird Reviewer will be presenting on the history and current status of Black Terns in Michigan.
- Caleb is a Michigan native, environmental consultant, and former Michigan Bird Conservation Coordinator for Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. He earned a B.S. in Biology from Alma College in 1999 and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana in 2003. A lifelong birder, Caleb has extensive knowledge of Michigan’s birds and places. He is currently an eBird reviewer for an 11 county area of the w. central Lower Peninsula, and former Michigan Bird Records Committee chairman.
- Monday, November 26th, 2018; 7pm social, 7:30 program
- John F. Donnelly Conference Center; Aquainas College Campus
- Speaker: Shawn Howard “Just Dune It”
- Lake Michigan’s dunes are part of the largest freshwater dune system in the world, providing critical habitat for migratory birds, federally endangered plants and rare insects. Hear from Eastern Lake Michigan project manager Shaun Howard as he shares how we’re protecting this extraordinary habitat for people and nature.
- The public is invited to attend this interesting program as a guest of the Grand Rapids Audubon Club. There is no charge for admission.
 Winter Waterfowl Field Trip
February 16, 10:00 AM- 1:00 PM at various locations
Bird Pigeon Lake and the Lake Michigan Shoreline in search of the waterfowl of winter. Finish off at lunch time by viewing birds at the Hemlock Crossing Nature Center feeders.
Don't forget to sign up for the "Birding the Barrens" Birding Field Trip on the same date at 2pm-5pm!
Fee & registration required. Additional information and meeting location will be emailed to participants prior to the trip.
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 Birding the Barrens Field Trip
February 16, 2:00 PM- 5:00 PM at various locations
After watching the feeders for a while, trek the snowy open farmland "barrens" of central Ottawa County in search of winter bird specialties.
Don't forget to sign up for the Winter Waterfowl Birding Field Trip on the same date at 10am-1pm!
Fee & registration required. Additional information and meeting location will be emailed to participants prior to the trip.
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Wildlife Encounter - Bird feeding 101
Learn the how you can improve your yard and feeders to attract birds better. Enjoy watching the Nature Center feeders afterward.
The Wildlife Encounters series aim to introduce people to the amazing natural history of the wildlife found in our own yards, parks and region. These 30-45 minute presentations are geared for older children and adults. An optional guided nature hike or local field trip will follow after the program.
No registration required.
Snowy Owl Field Trips
January 20, 3:00 PM- 4:30 PM at various locations
Register here.
February 17, 3:00 PM- 4:30 PM at various locations
Register here.
These denizens of the arctic tundra irrupt into Michigan in winter. Learn about these beautiful birds while searching local farmland "barrens" to find and view them yourself!
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Nature Center Feeder Update
- The bird feeders at the Nature Center have been busy as of late! The cold weather has brought a plethora of activity including 30+ Pine Siskins, Fox Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and much more! Be watching your feeders this winter for irruptive winter finches. This year is predicted to be a good one for winter finches and is already showing signs that this is true. Evening Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls have already been seen in Ottawa County! Also keep an eye out for Crossbills and Pine Grosbeak as well as Bohemian Waxwings on the berry trees. Let us know if you are visited by an unusual winter birds!
- For more information click here: winter finch forecast.
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