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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sep 2, 2025
Press contact: Rylie Dorman, (616) 994-4774
Click here for additional photos
 Master Bander, Mike Bishop, along with other volunteers recording data on a Northern Cardinal.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI — Ottawa County Parks invites nature lovers, families, and curious minds of all ages to witness bird conservation in action. Join Parks staff, Master Bander Mike Bishop, and a team of dedicated volunteers as they catch, band, and release migratory birds traveling through the Lake Michigan Coastal Corridor.
These Bird Banding Public Open Houses offer a rare opportunity to see birds up close, learn from field experts, and gain a deeper understanding of the research being conducted to protect bird populations in our region and beyond.
This open-house-style program welcomes visitors to drop in at any time during banding hours. Birds are most active earlier in the morning, so early arrivals will have the best chance of seeing more species up close.
Meet at the Idema Explorers Camp Welcome Center at Ottawa Sands County Park.
Get a Preview: Naturally Speaking Event
Naturally Speaking: Bird Banding at Ottawa Sands and Saw-whet Owl Banding
Before the banding events, join us for a Naturally Speaking program on bird research and conservation in Ottawa County and beyond. This evening will include a deep dive into the upcoming banding operations at Ottawa Sands and a special guest presentation by Jenison native Laura Hulbert, who will share stories from her work banding Northern Saw-whet Owls in Oklahoma.
📅 Date: Thursday, September 4, 2025
🕕 Time: 7-8:30 PM
📍 Hemlock Crossing County Park
Click here to register!
Why It Matters: Protecting the Grand River + Lake Michigan Coastal Corridors
Ottawa Sands is part of the Grand River Coastal Corridor, a region recognized for its exceptional biodiversity and critical role in bird conservation. This area has been identified by Audubon Great Lakes and over 20 partners as one of the most important migratory stopover sites in the Great Lakes region. It supports rare and sensitive bird species and provides critical habitat for marsh bird populations.
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