Manistee Audubon

2012

2012-01-23T07:05:00.001-08:00

THE LAKE MICHIGAN FLYWAY
SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2011 MEETING SCHEDULE

MEETINGS 7pm on 2nd Wednesday of each month at Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary 2890 Lakeshore Rd. Manistee, MI Visitors welcome! 2012 OFFICERS: President: Brian Allen 231-723-7956 tananger@manistee.com Secretary: Rich Krieger 231-233-4209 krieger@charter.net Treasurer: Deb Krieger 231-233-7737 kriegd49@gmail.com Bird Counts: Tim Granger 231-723-9822 timgranger@hotmail.com Internet: Manisteeaudubon.blogspot.com Michigan Audubon’s Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary 231-723-4042 lakebluff@michiganaudubon.org

PROGRAMS January – June 2012

ALL PROGRAMS AT LAKE BLUFF SANCTUARY
2890 LAKESHORE ROAD, MANISTEE UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE.
CALL 723-4042 FOR INFORMATION

WED FEB 8, 7pm Film: ”Incredible Journey of the Butterflies”. PBS/Nova documentary about the life cycle of monarch butterflies.
SAT FEB 11, 10am Nature Hike at Lake Bluff with birder Tim Granger.
WED MAR 14, 7pm Jill Witt, wildlife biologist with the the Little River Band Natural Resources Department, talks about pine martens in the Manistee NF.
SAT MAR 10, 10am Nature Hike at Lake Bluff with birder Tim Granger.
WED APR 11, 7 pm Ramona Venegas, past pres of Manistee Audubon, reviews her three week trip to Chile and discusses life in that country.
SAT APR 14, 10AM Nature hike at Lake Bluff
WED MAY 9, 7pm Chris Sullivan from Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy reviews the efforts to preserve and restore Arcadia Marsh, an Audubon Important Bird Area
SAT MAY 12, 10am Natutre Hike at Lake Bluff
SAT JUN 9, 10am Nature Hike at Lake Bluff
WED JUN 13, 7PM Film: “The Big Year” about three birders vying for most species seen in a year. Steve Martin, Jack Black and and Owen Wilson.

No meetings in July and August.
See in again in September! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MEMBERSHIPS ARE RENEWED IN JANUARY
SEND YOUR DUES TO MCAS, POX 705, MANISTEE, MI 49660-0705.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Manistee Christmas Bird Count

2011-12-07T07:29:00.001-08:00

Manistee Christmas Bird Count

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Field birders: call Brian Allen at 231-723-7956
Feeder watchers: call Don Kogut at 231-723-5928

Count center is at Fisk Rd. and US 31 and the count circle extends from this center point 7.5 miles east to nearly Brethren, north to just south of Bear Lake, west to Lake Michigan, and south to the Little Manistee River.

Optional brown bag lunch and warming up at the Allen's house at 5539 Bar Lake Rd. from 12:30 till 1:00. Free hot chocolate to all field observers that see at least 25 species for the morning, all others must BYOHS.

November Audubon meeting coming up!

2011-11-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

Join us Wednesday November 9 at 6:30PM at the Lake Bluff Audubon Center

The program for the evening is Greg Miller from the Michigan Bluebird Society.

Also this evening is the annual potluck and election of offices and of course time for your bird and wildlife observations from this fall. Hope to see you there!

October Meeting cancelled

2011-10-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

Due to reasons beyond our control the presenters for tonight's meeting are not able to be there.

We have decided to cancel the meeting for tonight Oct. 12, 2011. See you in November!

September meeting

2011-08-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

Wed. Sept. 14, 2011

Welcome back, the first meeting for the fall will be a quick overview of the increasingly important computer program for tracking bird observations called eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird.

Dr. Brian Allen will demonstrate how you can use this program to keep track of your birding, to find birds in Michigan and even anywhere in the world.

Share your bird and wildlife sightings from this summer.

Lampreys and other alien creatures

2011-06-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

Manistee Audubon Meeting tonight with Tim Granger presenting Sea Lampreys in the Great Lakes. Join us for an interesting program and discussion about these and other invasive species in Lake Michigan.

Program at 7:00 this evening (Wed. June 8, 2011)

Meeting for May 11 Cancelled due to Deluge

2011-05-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

The meeting originally scheduled for tonight at the Spirit of the Woods Conservation Club headquarters has been cancelled due to floods, hail, bridge washouts and other various disasters this afternoon and evening.

2011-05-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

Arcadia Dunes Bird Blitz – June 4, 2011

A 4^th Bird Blitz is being planned to bring area birders together on Saturday, June 4th to count birds in the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy’s Arcadia Dunes Nature Preserve and in portions of nearby Arcadia Marsh.

What is a Bird Blitz?

A Bird Blitz combines a good morning’s birding with the fun of providing population data on birds that use a property during the breeding season. The survey uses volunteer birders, and is similar to a Christmas Bird Count.

How is the data being used?

Arcadia Dunes Nature Preserve is a 3,800 acre preserve in southwestern Benzie and northwestern Manistee counties owned by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. The conservancy is restoring nearby Arcadia Marsh. The data from the previous three years Bird Blitz’s has already been used by conservancy staff. Arcadia Marsh bird count data was used extensively in a restoration grant application. In the long term, Bird Blitz data from the marsh will measure whether the restoration work is affecting bird populations. At Arcadia Dunes, conservancy staff has already used the data to make management decisions.

Who can participate?

A Bird Blitz is a simple survey method because it can be done by individuals or small groups and does not require complex training. All it requires is that at least one observer in each group can identify birds in the territory by sight and sound.

Date and time

Saturday, June 4^th from 5 or 6 to 10 am with refreshments served afterwards. Participants will be asked to be on their birding area sometime between 5 am and 6 am. We are allowing a flexible start time to accommodate both those who want to get out early when the birds start singing and those who drive a further distance and want to start later. If June 4^th turns out to be a stormy bad-weather day, participants can go out on their own some morning the week after June 4^th and count their assigned area.

Territories

Each individual or group is given a map of a territory to cover and it is up to the team to scour their territories as thoroughly as possible, counting every bird they see or hear. Territory size ranges from 100 to 250 acres and habitats include northern hardwood forest, old fields, grassland, and marsh.

After Birding

At 10 am, a light brunch (muffins, juice, and tea & coffee) will be provided where participants can turn in count sheets and share highlights of the day. Everyone will be sent a summary of the Blitz after the counts are tallied.

Want to participate?

Please sign up ahead of time so that you can be matched up with a territory and group. Maps, data sheets, and complete instructions will be mailed or emailed out on June 1st.

Please RSVP by May 31^st by sending the following information:

 your name

 mailing address

 email address

 phone number

 habitat preferences (forest, old field, grassland, marsh)

 group preference (Do you have someone you’d like to bird with? Would you like to be paired with a more experienced birder or be willing to take beginning a birder along? Would you prefer to bird alone?)

Please RSVP to: Paula Dreeszen

dreeszen@centurytel.net

(231) 275-7199

Spend a Fun Morning Helping our Birds!

Arcadia Field Trip

2011-04-11T06:29:00.001-07:00

Saturday April 16 8:00AM. Meet at the parking lot on Lake Michigan at the end of Lake St. in Arcadia (west of M-22).

Members of the Manistee, Benzie and Grand Traverse Audubon clubs are holding their joint field trip to Arcadia Marsh and environs this Saturday. Check the weather report, get your binoculars, field guide and prepare for lots of ducks, Sandhill Cranes, early spring songbirds and if we are lucky some migrating hawks and possible exiting rarities. We always seem to find something good with so many birders on the lookout. The groups will break up after meeting into smaller groups to help everyone get a good look at the birds and to have a chance to ask questions of the field trip leaders.

For anyone that wants to carpool from Manistee call the Lake Bluff Audubon center at 723-4042.

BA

Arcadia Marsh causeway birders photo by John Ester

Out like a Lion

2011-03-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

This was the scene in one of my only flowering crabs that still had a bit of fruit last Wednesday.

Two dominant robins fed off the last few fruits and fought off all comers until the fruit was gone as well as their reason to fight. As soon as they settled down about 20 robins landed in the tree and 15 more on the ground pictured here. They all seemed to be pondering "what now" as the blizzard continued.

This cold spell has lasted a full week and seems to have killed off some early spring arrivals such as Woodcock, Tree Swallows, and Eastern Phoebes. The weather is looking better for the end of the week with highs returning to the 40's and hopefully better conditions for the birds.

One of "Our" tropical preforest preserves expands

2011-02-02T08:07:00.000-08:00

Manistee and Benzie Audubon have teamed up in the past during the spring bird count to raise funds for the American Bird Conservancy and projects protecting forests both here in the US and in the tropics of Central and South America. One of the preserves that we helped add a significant amount of acreage to has increased again recently protecting more habitat.

See: http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/110110.html

Birds and Nature Photography Workshop

2011-01-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

Nine fortunate people signed up and attended Bob Paetchows's Birds and Nature photography workshop this last Saturday at the Lake Bluff Audubon Center. This was during a very snowy day and some of us had to plow through deep drifts to make it but it was worth it.

In addition to learning about all the settings on the digital cameras and techniques to get great bird shots we had a practice session taking advantage of the audubon center's excellent feeders to get photos like the Carolina Wren pictured here. The birds were cooperative and we were able to photograph Cardinals, Hairy and Downy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Chickadee, Tree Sparrow, Junco, and Blue Jays in addition to the Wren. Thanks for the great program Bob. Stay tuned here for the next workshop.

2011-01-04T11:21:00.000-08:00

We Survived. That was the consensus for the field counters on Manistee's Christmas Bird Count. With temperatures in the teens and winds at 30mph along with snow squalls it was much more pleasant for those that sat inside and watched their feeders. No wonder the feeder counters did so well seeing a total of 31 of our 66 species. Good birds at the feeders were Carol Pasco's White-throated Sparrow Gloria Savory's Eastern Towhee
along with Rich Krieger's Carolina Wren at the Lake Bluff Audubon Center and Sharon Taylor's Evening Grosbeak, a bird that used to be common here but has declined supposably due to spruce budworm spraying control in the Canadian boreal forests.

Highlights for field counters were newcomer Chris Lipps's Lesser Black-backed Gull
Don Stroup and Kurt Schindler'sRed-headed Woodpecker and Tim Granger's Northern Harrier. Common Snipe is now almost an annual bird on the count but Brian Allen now greatly appreciates the effort Carl Freeman goes to to find them in the marshes at the east end of Portage Lake.

This was a down year for Red-breasted Nuthatch (4) and most ducks as we only had 10 species due to the complete freeze of Portage Lake and Manistee Lake. Barred Owl was the only owl out, as we could not do effective owling in the gale force winds.

See the link on the National Christmas Bird Counts on the right side of this blog to see our 2011 results.

Next year can only be better, thanks again to all that helped!

CHICKADEE CHRISTMAS at Lake Bluff

2010-11-24T04:22:00.000-08:00

Join us Saturday December 4th for Chickadee Christmas:
Michigan Audubon gift & bookstore...buy some presents!
Local artist Carl Freeman...purchase an outstanding watercolor or print!
Nature photog Bob Paetschow...pick-up a great bird or butterfly picture!
Chocolate items for sale...homemade brownies and more :)!
Kids origami crafts....make a paper crane or swan!
Silent auction...unique items, something for everyone!
Michigan Loon Preservation Association meeting...public welcome!
Manistee Audubon president Brian Allen and other birders on hand, answer questions, leading forays into the yard.

10am to 2pm at the Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary, 2890 Lakeshore Rd, Manistee, 231-723-4042
[0.5 mile north of Orchard Beach State Park]

December Meeting!!

2010-11-24T04:17:00.000-08:00

Manistee Audubon & Spirit of the Woods Conservation Club
Joint Christmas Meeting
Wednesday, Dec 8, 2010, 7pm at the Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary, 2890 Lakeshore Road, Manistee, 723-4042.

Program: A YEAR IN ALASKA. Join Jeff Pullen, Planning and Resources Staff Officer for the Huron-Manistee National Forest, for an exploration of the 49th State, Alaska. He’ll take us up the Inland Waterway by ferry, along the Alaska Highway, to the state capi-tol, Juneau, and nearby Mendenhall Glacier. We’ll foray inland along old gold-miners’ paths over frigid passes, and experience fascinating views, historic cabins, fish, eagles, bears, moose and other intriguing wildlife in the Land of the Midnight Sun.Join us for an exciting view of our largest state through a naturalist visitor’s eyes, as Jeff shares his family’s year living in Alaska.
Public Welcome. Refreshments.

Programs for Fall 2010..

2010-08-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

Green Point Nature Area looking south towards Manistee County.

Programs located at Lake Bluff unless noted otherwise.
Call Sanctuary at 231.723.4042 for more info.

Aug. 21 Butterfly Hike program 2:30-4pm

Sept. 7-10 Migration Week. Sanctuary tours, bookstore open to 9pm, film screenings, hikes.

Sept. 8. Manistee Audubon Meeting 7PM. Program Native Plants given by Plant-It-Wild.

Sept. 11 Migration Celebration. 9am - 2pm. Displays, programs, kike, free lunch.

Sept. 25 Fall Mushrooms, program 9-11 am.

Sept. 25 Second option! Fall migrants at the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy grassland preserve near Arcadia in Manistee County. Join members of the conservancy and Benzie Audubon for this joint field trip to explore the grasslands a unique Michigan preserve. Meet at 8am at the kiosk and parking area on Keillor Rd. about 1 mile north of Glovers' Lake Rd. between US 31 and Arcadia.

Oct. 13 Manistee Audubon, 7PM Film: Hummingbirds.

Oct. 23-24 Trail Maintenance Workshop inManiste National Forest. Requires pre-registration.

Nov. 6 Gull Identification Program.

Nov. 10 Manistee Audubon , 7pm . Program Soils. Annual Potluck Dinner and elections of officers.

Nov. 20. Basics of Bird Feeding program 10-11:30.

Shorebird Field Trip

2010-07-30T12:59:00.001-07:00

photo by Barb Graf

Shorebird Trip

A field trip for anyone interested in seeing shorebird migration is set for Saturday morning August 7, 2010. Meet at the First St. Beach parking lot in Manistee at 8:00 AM. We will check the beach and pier for shorebirds then carpool to the Ludington Waste Water Treatment Facility, one of the better shorebird sites in Michigan, and return to Manistee about noon. If anyone is interested we may be able to finish up at the new Onekama Waste Ponds if it isn't too warm by then. Please call me at 231-510-9380 and leave a message if you are interested.

June Audubon Program, Butterflies with Steve Mueller

2010-06-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Karner Blue Butterfly, an endangered Michigan specie.

Ranger Steve Mueller, consummate naturalist,park ranger,consultant and researcher will present a program on butterflies Wednesday, June 9, 7pm at the Lake Bluff Audubon Center, 2890 Lakeshore Rd., Manistee. Mueller, current president of the West Michigan Butterfly Association and a Michigan Audubon Board mamber, is the discoverer of a new specie of moth and a nationwide traveler. His enthusiasm for the outdoor world is infectuous and his programs are always spell binding. For more information call the center at 723-4042 or email lakebluff@michiganaudubon.org .

West Michigan Birding Festival

2010-05-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

This Weekend in Ludington. Tim Granger and Brian Allen of the Manistee Audubon will be presenting programs.

http://www.sabledunesaudubon.com/West_Michigan_Birding_Festival.html

Double Header for Meeting on April 14th

2010-04-19T13:27:00.001-07:00

Mary Paine headlined the programs for the April Lake Bluff monthly meeting with a very informative and fascinating review of her recent trip to Tanzania with her family. Among the sites visited were Ngorogoro Crater http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngorongoro_Conservation_Area and the Serengetti as well as the indiginous tribal area of the Tanzanian Bushmen. We all appreciated Mary's enthusiastic descriptions of her trip and insights into the culture and wildlife of Eastern Africa.

Akos Hivekovics and his wife Jessica did a short program on their ecotourism company
http://www.wildlifeandnaturetravel.com. After showing some very amazing pictures of Antartica we were able to see the plans for the Esperanza Center which is hoped to be a survival ark for dozens of species of amphibians and birds currently facing extinction. Akos and Jessica will return in fall for a more extensive showing of their travels and efforts to protect biodiviersity.

April Activities for Manistee Audubon

2010-04-06T13:39:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday April 14th Mary Paine will present a program on her family's trip to Tanzania and the incredible Ngorogoro Crater Wildlife Refuge. Program at 7:00PM at the Lake Bluff Audubon Center.

On Saturday April 17th Meet at the causway at Arcadia at 8:00AM for the annual Arcadia spring birding trip with Benzie Audubon.

Pat Ryan and the Alaskan Islands

2010-02-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

Horned Puffin one of the many birds studied by Pat Ryan during his stay in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

Members of the Manistee Audubon enjoyed an excellent slide program by Pat Ryan of the USDA on his studies of seabirds of the Alaskan Islands during February's meeting on Wednesday Feb 10th.

Come join us for our next meeting on March 10th at 7:00PM for a viewing of the amazing PBS video on hummingbirds. We will talk about hummingbird feeders, gardens and sightings after the video with refreshments and hot chocolate.

The Seven Mysteries of Birding by Doug Cook

2010-02-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

Doug Cook, President of the West Michigan Bank and Trust presented the January program at the Manistee Audubon Center. This was a thought provoking and humorous subject, the development of birding skills from beginner to master. Mr. Cook also had some very timely jokes on the economy and the US Banking system. This was a very entertaining program and I hope to see an article modeled after this lighting up the pages of "Birders World", "Birding", "Winging It" or some other publication. Thanks Doug!

Manistee Christmas Bird Count Results 2009

2010-01-11T07:10:00.000-08:00

Fox sparrow on 2009 count. Photo by George and Mary Ann LaDuke

Field and Feeder observers combined efforts to find a total of 70 species for the count day plus one for the count period on our 2009 Manistee Christmas Bird Count.

The weather was fair this year unlike the mess we contended with last year and light winds, relatively mild temperatures and better road conditions helped observers cover most of the area. Many of the inland waters were frozen but sections of Portage Lake and Manistee Lake were open to help boost the numbers of ducks seen. That in addition to several good birds at feeders helped boost the total up into the 70 range which we have only attained a few times before.

Best Birds: Glaucous Gull found by David Dister at First St. Pier, 2 Red-throated Loons at Fifth Avenue breakwall by Tom Pavlik a Detroit metro birder that came up to help out with Brian Allen. They also found a Catbird near the Lake Bluff Audubon Center. Carl Freeman found only the second every record of Common Yellowthroat at Portage Lake surviving near a stream in dense cattails and phragmites. Barry Barto and Doug Cook found a lone Great Blue Heron. At the feeders George and Mary Ann LaDuke had what might be our first Fox Sparrow ever on the count and Annette Peterson had both a Grackle and an Eastern Towhee!

Big numbers: Long-tailed Duck 10,900, White-winged Scoter 2,352, Common Goldeneye 3628, Eastern Bluebird 26, and Black-capped Chickadee 466. Total individuals were at 23,279 a possible new high for the count.

Thanks to all who helped out, it was a very good day.

Manistee Christmas Bird Count 2009

2009-12-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

photo courtesy of Barb Graf

Manistee Christmas Bird Count 2009

December 19th.

Please join us in our annual winter bird survey. We need volunteers to help us identify and count birds in the field and along the shore (Contact Brian Allen at 723-9911 days, and 723-7956 eve.) and at feeders (Don Kogut 723-5928).

This is an all day event. Some field counters will meet for lunch at the Blue Slipper Pizzeria & Bakery in downtown Onekama at 1:00PM (not the Bistro).

Birders are also invited to help on the Benzie CBC the following day by contacting Carl Freeman at 352-4739.

Chickadee Christmas at Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary

2009-11-20T11:49:00.001-08:00

Chickadee Christmas - Lake Bluff
Event Time: December 5, 2009

Additional Info
Don't miss this winter's Chickadee Christmas at the Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary. The fun filled event will take place from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Decemeber 5th. Take part in guided nature walks around the property, make a bird feeder from pine cones, or place a bid on an evergreen wreath or other items during the silent auction. Work of local wildlife artists will be on display and there will be homemade chocolates for sale.

Chickadee Christmas is part of Manistee's annual Victorian Sleighbell Parade and Old Christmas Weekend. For more information on that event and its numerous activities,visit the Manistee County Chamber of Commerce website at Manistee Chamber of Commerce. For more information on Chickadee Christmas contact Wendy Tatar.

Double Digit Sparrow Species Field Trip

2009-09-29T13:14:00.001-07:00

On Saturday September 26 Brian Allen of the Manistee Audubon Society led a field trip of about 12 participants from Benzie Audubon and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy to the grasslands at the Arcadia Dunes Preserve along Keillor Rd. in Manistee County. The trip was billed as a concentration on migrating sparrows and the conditions of sunny skies and light winds made it a great day. We saw eleven species of sparrows including: Savannah, Song, Vesper, Swamp, Field, Chipping, Clay-colored, Lincoln's, Grasshopper, White-crowned, and White-throated. Other birds seen including fly-overs were Golden Plover, American Pipits, Lapland Longspurs, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warblers, Sandhill Cranes, and a Harrier.

BA

Help Save Arcadia Marsh

2009-09-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

Volunteers of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy Host Harvest Dinner
Benefit to raise needed funds to protect the Arcadia Marsh

(Traverse City, MI) – A group of dedicated community volunteers are hard at work cooking up a Harvest Dinner to support efforts of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy to protect the Arcadia Marsh. They’ve recruited volunteers, sponsors, donors of services, and have secured a dozen special items to auction at the event. Kristine Harvey, one of the organizers, states “this project is bringing together people who have some of the same loving thoughts towards the marsh. We are getting to know each other, and we are learning things from each other.”

Arcadia Marsh is located at the mouth of Bowens Creek and drains into Lake Arcadia. The health and viability of Arcadia Marsh has significant impacts on maintaining and improving the water quality of Lake Arcadia. “Fresh water estuaries like Arcadia Marsh have the second-most productive ecosystems per unit area—even more productive than tropical rainforest” says Chris Sullivan, Land Protection Specialist for Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, “We have a unique opportunity to purchase, restore, and create a nature preserve on 155 acres of the nearly 400-acre Arcadia Marsh.”

Since 1991, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has protected over 32,000 acres of significant natural, scenic, and farm lands and nearly 100 miles of irreplaceable shoreline in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Manistee counties. As part of their ongoing commitment to protecting the Lake Michigan Coast, the Conservancy has protected over ¼ of the approximately 16,000 acre Lake Arcadia Watershed, mostly within the Arcadia Dunes project,which protects the northern headwaters area.

The Harvest Dinner will be held Saturday, October 10th, at 6:00 p.m. at Camp Arcadia,
3046 Oak Street, Arcadia. Tickets are $100, and only 200 tickets will be sold. Chef Kurt Harvey is "planning to prepare pot roast using beef supplied by Rice Farm, roasted and steamed vegetables from Manistee and Benzie County, naturally-leavened bread from Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery, and a great deal of volunteer labor and love. Desserts will not disappoint. It will all add up to a fantastic meal for a great cause."

For information or to purchase tickets, visit the Conservancy’s website: www.gtrlc.org or call them at 231-929-7911. Tickets are also available at Camp Arcadia, 231-889-4361.

'Migration' open house at Lake Bluff

2009-08-29T10:39:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, Sep 12 there will be hikes in morning and afternoon with experienced birders, a hot dog lunch and exhibits/lierature from local and regional environmental angencies and organizations.

Audubon August Meeting

2009-08-13T05:21:00.000-07:00

Last night's program was sparsely attended (only 8 attendees) but was excellent nonetheless as Mark Mantych discussed the work of Manistee's Ducks Unlimited work. Most of Mark's program consisted of answering questions from the group regarding work on the Manistee Marsh, Arcadia Marsh, landowner wetland conservation and waterfowl migration.

It was a great evening to hear about the history of the Manistee River delta and all the changes resulting from Lake Michigan water levels, the changes in the Tippy Dam outflow, and the impact of Mute Swans and increasing Canada Geese populations. From Mark's work and efforts of Ducks Unlimited, the DNR, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy it looks like the Manistee and Arcadia Marsh lands may again be productive for everything from turtles to Black Terns, Green-winged Teal and River Otters.

It was fascinating hearing about the vast migrations of waterfowl on Lake Michigan including sightings of the eider pictured above and the movements of ducks determined by the full moon.

Serrania de las Quinchas

2009-07-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Manistee/Benzie Audubon Conservation project: Serrania de las Quinchas in Colombia South America.

For an update on our project see

http://www.worldlandtrust-us.org/index.php?page=magdalena_rainforest

Phoebe on North Manitou island

2009-07-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

My wife, granddaughter and I spent several days on North Manitou Island helping to monitor the piping plover nesting area.

During free time we explored what we could of the island. The plover area is remote and not connected to any trails but we did locate a spur trail to the old Bournique homestead. Up under the roof of the rear porch was a ball of grass with several hungry mouths popping out of it. Then something flew by in an excited blurr and landed on a nearby out building. It was this concerned Eastern Phoebe. Amazingly, I got a decent foto before it buzzed me again! We also noted many cedar waxwings.

North Manitou is part of Sleep Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and is managed as a wilderness and will give anyone a good feel for what that means. You'll need a permit to backpack/camp but it's well worth with. -Rich Krieger/ Lake Bluff

World Birder Gives Talk

2009-06-18T05:50:00.001-07:00

Recently New Zealander Carol 'Kiwi' Donovan gave a slide show presentation at Lake Bluff Sanctuary. She highlighted her travels around the world in search of seeing at least one member from all 204 worldwide bird families. She's accomplished this goal and now has moved on to visiting every national park in the United States. Her talk focused on unusual or hard to find birds and also on the logistics of world travel. She gave plenty of 'insider' tips on traveling alone and on a shoestring budget. Twenty-six very interested visitors attended the 2 hour presentation. -Rich/Lake Bluff

Arcadia Dunes Bird Blitz (Bird Survey)

2009-05-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

What: 2nd Bird Blitz

When: Saturday, June 6th
Where: Arcadia Dunes Nature Preserve & Arcadia Marsh

Join other birders in helping the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy survey the birds of Arcadia Dunes and nearby Arcadia Marsh. From 5 or 6 am until 10 am, birders (or small groups) will cover different parcels of the property and list the species and numbers of the birds found. Afterwards, participants will meet for refreshments, to turn in count sheets, and share highlights of the morning. For more information or to sign up, call or email Paula Dreeszen at 275-7199. Please RSVP by May 31.

Take Your Birding to the Next Level with “Inside Birding”

2009-05-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

It’s May, perhaps bird watching’s biggest month, as millions of birds return from the tropics, filling the Northern Hemisphere with summer’s full array of birds. It’s a great time to go bird watching, and Chris Wood and Jessie Barry from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology are inviting you to go out with them—in a new free series of web videos, “Inside Birding.”
Jessie and Chris share their tips, tools, and techniques for identifying birds with confidence—whether you’re new to birding or seeking to hone your skills. In the first four episodes, learn the secrets of the “four keys” to bird identification. Join Chris and Jessie in the field as they practice using size and shape to identify common birds. Learn how to use color pattern and behavior for critical clues about a bird’s identity. And travel with Chris and Jessie to the swamps of Florida as they explain the importance of habitat when you’re looking for birds.
After watching the videos, explore the rest of the newly redesigned All About Birds website. It’s packed with stunning images and information about every aspect of birding. Enhance your bird knowledge by visiting our popular Bird Guide, with more than 500 species profiles, new photo ID tools, cool facts, sounds, and video. Peruse the Living Bird section for articles about travel, science, and conservation. Practice using the four keys to identification or sharpen your knowledge about Songs and Calls in the Building Skills section. Check out the Multimedia theater to watch videos about birds from the Arctic, coasts, and grasslands—or learn more about attracting birds right to your own yard.
We hope you’ll bookmark your favorite pages and visit often. Enjoy the birds!

Your friends at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

ARCADIA MARSH FIELD TRIP

2009-04-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

About thirty folks from Manistee Audubon and Benzie Audubon met at the lakeside park in Arcadia for a morning of birdwatching. The Grand Traverse Audubon also had a field trip in the area. About 82 species were seen by Manistee folks. The following is a list of species seen by our group during the beautiful, sunny, warm, morning:

Common Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Sandhill Crane, Mute Swan, Snow Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Wood Duck, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Common Snipe, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Osprey, American Kestrel, Ruffed Grouse, Ring-necked Pheasant (released bird), Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Horned Lark, Tree Swallow, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, White-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Vesper Sparrow, Song Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, Eastern Medowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, House Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, House Finch.

If we had some more warblers and shorebirds it would have been a really big list, but hopefully that will come later!

Closer to home, at Lake Bluff we've seen a rose breasted grossbeak and towhee. The male goldfinches are all wearing their bright 'courting yellow' and a woman in Freesoil reports hearing an oriole. Now if it would just stop snowing...

Rich and Brian @ Lake Bluff

Help raise money without giving a penny!

2009-04-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

A proposal from American Bird Conservancy has become a finalist for a major $200,000 grant from the Green Mountain Coffee Company in their Changing Climate Change grant competition. ABC is one of five finalists in the "Threats to Coffee Growing Communities" category, and part of the selection process includes public input. In other words, we need your vote to help us win the grant! Follow this link and click the "Support it" button on the right of the web page.
Shade coffee plantations in the Andes Mountains are valuable habitat for wintering migratory birds such as the Cerulean Warbler, the fastest declining songbird in North America. The mature trees that grow alongside the coffee crop also act as a valuable carbon store. Unfortunately, shade coffee plants produce a lower bean yield than plants bred to grow in sun coffee farms that are devoid of trees, and thus they provide a lower income for farmers. As a result, shade farms are being converted to sun farms, and birds and the environment are paying the price.
ABC's proposed project, developed in partnership with the Colombian coffee federation (CENICAFÉ), will calculate the amount of carbon stored in shade coffee plantations versus the much lower carbon value of sun coffee plantations. It will then test a system to provide financial incentives to farmers to keep their coffee in shade using funding for carbon offsets paid for by corporations.
If successful, this project stands to benefit farmers across millions of acres of the Andes, and could be a major advance in the battle to save the Cerulean Warbler. The project will have multiple additional benefits for local communities in terms of the protection of watersheds and traditional farming techniques.
Please support ABC's proposal today (or please, no later than April 6). It will only take a moment of your time, so vote now!
Just click here, then click the "Support it" button on the right-hand side of the web page.
And don't forget to forward this email to a friend, too!
Thank you,
Michael J. ParrVice President,American Bird Conservancy

The State of the Birds

2009-04-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Important Reading!!
U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar recently released a comprehensive report on bird populations in the country. The report indicates that while some bird population declines have been stemmed or reversed by habitat restoration, still over 30% of the nation's 800 species are in decline or threatened or endangered. More information can be found at http://www.stateofthebirds.org/news-release.
Birds, like almost every living thing, play a vital role in how the planet works...not the least of which is control of insect populations. Visit the web link above! Take action!

Bluebird Nest Box Monitors Needed!

2009-03-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

The Michigan Bluebird Society installed 3 nest boxes in the field surrounding the house at Lake Bluff. These boxes need to be monitored once a week and we're looking for volunteers to do that. A monitor can be responsible for one or several boxes.

Monitors check for invasive house wren and house sparrow nests and remove them, check for bird activity, keep a log, note eggs and generally follow the progress of the hatchlings. Monitors are need for the entire bluebird nesting season which is basically March thru August. The birds often have more than one brood and a vol monitor could just montor one brood if they wished.

This is an excellent learning activity for families and children. There is the chance to not only help bluedbirds but to watch young birds develope and fledge.

For more info or to vol as a monitor contact Lake Bluff at lakebluff@charter.net or 231.723.4042.

The Challenge for Birds and People...

2009-03-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

Someone recently emailed me the following article written by Cornelia Dean that appeared in New York times March 19, 2009. It’s not ‘just more bad news’ but a reality that deserves some thought:

‘Habitat destruction, pollution and other problems have left nearly a third of the nation’s 800 bird species endangered, threatened or in serious decline, according to a study issued on Thursday. Described as the most comprehensive survey of American bird life, the report analyzed changes in the bird population over the last 40 years. “This report should be a call to action,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said at a news conference in Washington. Citing surveys by government agencies, conservation organizations and citizen volunteers, the report said that the population of grassland birds had declined by 40 percent and birds in arid lands by 30 percent. It estimated that 39 percent of bird species that depend on American coastal waters were in decline. Many forest birds are threatened by urban sprawl, logging, wildfires and “a barrage of exotic forest pests and disease,” the study said. In Hawaii, the home of more than a third of American bird species, the situation is particularly grim, the report said. Most of that state’s bird species are in danger. Climate change will make things worse, and work is urgently needed to prevent “a global tragedy” of bird loss, the report added. But there was also an upbeat side to the news conference. The study found that herons, egrets, ducks and other birds that benefit from wetlands conservation were rebounding. Findings like this “show us that conservation can really work,” Mr. Salazar said. Other speakers agreed. The report’s gloomy assessment makes it “a key document,” said John Hoskins of the United States North American Bird Conservation Initiative, an umbrella group for public and private efforts. But its data also show that “when agencies, organizations and individual citizens work together to conserve precious resources, some really good things happen,” Mr. Hoskins said. The report draws on data collected by the federal Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Geological Survey, organizations like the American Bird Conservancy and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and volunteer participants in the Christmas Bird Count of the National Audubon Society. John Fitzpatrick, the director of the Cornell laboratory, which also oversees citizen bird-counting, said that a wealth of data gathered in such volunteer efforts had helped scientists make major strides in assessing the health of bird populations and in drawing more general conclusions about the environment. Beyond taking part in counting efforts, the report urged ordinary citizens to assist conservation by drinking shade-grown coffee (coffee-growing in the shade helps preserve the winter habitat of species like warblers), donating unused binoculars for distribution to biologists in the tropics, reducing pesticide use, landscaping with native plants and keeping pet cats indoors. “Education is urgently needed to make the public aware of the toll of pet cats,” Darin Schroeder of the American Bird Conservancy said at the news conference.’

Spring is in the air...

2009-03-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

....and a young squirrel's fancy turns to construction. This red squirrel decided he had an urgent use for some clothesline cord at Lake Bluff. We used the cord in winter to jury rig a feeder away from black and gray squirrels. Yesterday this little fellow decided it was now his. When I tapped on the window he stopped and looked at me with a 'What? It's mine now' look.

Rich, Lake Bluff

Owling field trip Saturday March 7th

2009-03-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

Fifteen members of the Manistee Audubon and friends met at the Manistee airport on a still, damp, March night for an owling expedition to the Manistee State Game area and part of the Manistee National Forest. We car-pooled out to the State Game Area access to Jenken's Bayou and hiked through the packed snow to the edge of the bayou. After instructions on patient listening Brian Allen used Saw-whet Owl imitations to try to lure in this difficult to find little owl. Despite a very quiet and patient group and ideal still conditions no Saw-whet owl responded, dissapointment!. On to the next species.. Screech Owl. After several tries we heard one trilling nearby but the bird demonstrated little enthusiasm in checking us out. Fortunately a second bird started to call, this time with a more dramatic wail. The second bird came in closer but we were unable to spot it in our flashlights. Some of the group also heard a third owl farther out, three screech owls in this area is a good find even if we were not able to see them.

Next we tried what we though was a sure thing, luring in a Barred Owl. Brian had actually heard one calling as he loaded up the car back at his house, a good omen? For the first time Brian couldn't make the call, a frog in the throat? Tim Granger to the rescue. Tim made many good hearty Barred Owl imitation calls but to no avail. For some reason the owls (they had to be out there) wouldn't call back as we watched the clouds clear and the moon come out behind the tall oaks. On to Rainbow Bend in the National Forest but even here on the along the quiet waters of the river there were no owls responding. Despite not seeing the owls the group seemed happy to have heard the screech owls and we all enjoyed the relatively pleasant night with clearing skies.

SPRING APPROACHES...

2009-03-11T04:29:00.000-07:00

...and so are hummingbirds. You can follow the ruby throat migration at http://www.hummingbird.net/. The site has a page with a map and when people see the birds in their area they can submit a siting which is then posted. Hopefully the map and site are kept updated (so many are not)! At the time of this writing, hummers are reported as far north as northern Louisiana-Georgia. This website also has some care and feeding tips worth looking at.

Reminder 1: hummer feeders should protect the nectar against ants and bees. Conventional wisdom says the birds won't drink when ants are there (maybe their formic acid taints the nectar taste?) and that bees, especially hornets, may attack hummers. Buy a feeder with an ant moat (or try a homemade version) and that is designed aganist bees.

Reminder 2: always, always, always check nectar often. We do daily. If it's cloudy or if you see any black mold. immediately discard the nectar and clean the feeder. Some experts say the birds won't drink from a dirty feeder but mold can sicken and kill them so why take that chance? Birds already face enough human created hazards!

Northern Orioles also drink sugar water nectar but can't use the bee-proof hummer feeder design. There are nectar feeders made for them. At http://www.oriolefeeders.com/ you may find some info or check with our local hardware or feed stores. The foto here shows a female perched on an alder branch. There's usually a small group of orioles that hangs around Lake Bluff and it's a real pleasure to watch 4 to 6 or more bright yellow males mixed in with females jockeying at the feeder.

-Rich Krieger, Lake Bluff

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT BEGINS!

2009-02-12T13:12:00.000-08:00

Want to make a difference?Participate in the GBBC. Submit your bird counts and photos. Data is used to monitor bird populations, migration patterns and health.This is a four day event, Fri Feb 13 thru Mon Feb16. Anyone can participate for as little a 15 minutes on one day or all day on all days. Go to www.birdsource.org/gbbc for more information or stop by Lake Bluff Sanctuary in Manistee.

The Uncommon Loon

2009-02-12T04:41:00.000-08:00

Twenty-eight persons from as far away as Cadillac attended the Weds, Feb 11, 2009 meeting of the Manistee County Audubon Society held at Lake Bluff Sanctuary. After chapter president Brian Allen called the meeting to order, guest Jeff Lange presented his film 'The Uncommon Loon'. No business meeting was held but lively discussion was held after the film. Mr. Lange spent the night in the Lake Bluff guest room before heading home to Petoskey.

-Rich Krieger

Cedar Waxwings

2009-02-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

The trees around Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary were filled with these birds about a week ago. Sun was reflecting off their breasts making them look like yellowish-golden ornaments while their 'chee-chee' songs were filling the air. Tim Granger estimated over a 100...or more... birds were flocked together. These are really colorful birds. These photos are not the best. The birds were taking turns in groups of about 20 descending onto a high bush cranberry by the old stable and devouring berries: eat one or two and then fly off with another berry in the beak. An impressive show. We also spotted a robin and two eagles. For more info on waxwings, go to http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Cedar_Waxwing.html

-Rich Krieger, Lake Bluff

Manistee Christmas Bird Count Results 2008

2009-01-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

The 2008 Manistee Christmas Bird Count
By Tim Granger

This was a great count under the circumstances. The circumstances were bad. The weeks prior to the count were amount the worst on record for snow. The weather conditions on and around count day caused the worst road conditions our counters have ever faced. My vehicle got stuck in the snow several times. Other observers were stuck as well.

We located ducks, geese and swans in most areas that had some open water. Out teams around Portage Lake and North Manistee found most of them. Their totals included 1 Canvasback, 4 Redheads, and 1 Ring-necked Duck. Our Lake Michigan duck numbers were good. 5610Long-tailed Ducks, 189 Buffleheads and 4792 Common Goldeneyes were spotted.

We did better on raptors than would be expected, thanks to our sharp eyed observers seeing 11 Bald Eagles. As the weather forced songbirds into feeder areas Sharp-shinned Hawks followed them with 3 being tallied by feeder watchers. Our field teams spotted another 2 for a total of 5 and 2 Cooper's Hawks were also found. Brian Allen found a Red-shouldered Hawk, an unusual find for a severe winter hunting in the Bar Lake Rd. area. Other field teams found 3 Red-tailed Hawks and most of the Rough-legged Hawks were found in the Chief Lake area by Jerry and Sherry Freels, former Onekama residents that came down from Traverse City to help on the count.

Not many gulls were located and most of those were the expected Herring and Ring-billed Gulls many of which were seen by Doug Cook and Barry Barto in the Onekama area. Two teams were fortunate to see a Glaucous Gull in Manistee.

Our feeder watchers did well for our count this year. Despite bad weather and little bird activity on cound day possibly due to the rain, they still recorded 21 species. Their individual totals greatly increased the counts overall numbers. Feeder watchers logged 69% of our American goldfinches, 70% of our Red-bellied Woodpeckers and 95% of our Pine Siskins.

Our field teams worked very hard in the rain, drizzle, slush and deep snow. Some areas that were easy to drive and cover in a short time in previous years required a long slog through slush or snowshoeing in deep snow just to get there. We recorded all the expected species of woodpeckers, including 4 Pileateds. Brian Allen also found a Northern Flicker, a Hermit Thrush and the lone Robin. Carl Freeman was the thrush champion finding a remarkable 22 Eastern Bluebirds. In the south Manistee area Dave Dister and I found a Song Sparrow and a Northern Shrike. The Freels also found a good variety of songbirds in the Chief Lake area. Don Stroup and Kurt Shindler had little free time to cover their area due to the Sunday schedule but were still able to compile a good list in a few hours. Don Kogut had perhaps the most challenging area to cover but still picked up a load of good birds despite the icy driving.

We unfortunately missed some birds we expected this year. This was THE year of the White-winged Crossbill and they were seen in good numbers both before and after the count day in Manistee County and on counts in Benzie and Mason County as well as flocks of Redpolls. Either we missed them due to the rain and lack of movement that day or we weren't fortunate to come across them as we struggled to get cars unstuck during the count.

We are Thankful to everyone who worked to make this count a success. Everyone did an excellent job. Thanks go out to all participants; be they feeder watchers or field teams. Credit is due to Brian Allen for the overall leadership of the field effort and Don Kogut for organizing the very successful feeder count.

On behalf of our club I want to wish all of you a Happy 2009 and I hope you can join us December 19, 2009 for the next Manistee Christmas Bird Count.

posted 1/16/09 BA

Northern Flicker

2009-01-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, Manistee! These birds live in Michigan year round but we don't see them at Lake Bluff often. Today this female was here feasting on Don Kogut's hi-calorie special recipe mix that we pack into the log. Ants make up 40-50% of their diet so they are often seen feeding on the ground in summer. Their numbers are reportedly in decline. These birds are large: bigger than jays or hairy woodpeckers but smaller than pileateds. Flickers have very interesting markings: dots on a whitish belly and bars over a gray-brown back, a patch of black on the throat and one of red on the head. Learn more at this link to the Cornell Ornithological Lab http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Flicker_dtl.html#sound
-Rich Krieger, Lake Bluff

Red Bellied Woodpecker

2008-12-27T13:46:00.000-08:00

Some maps show this area of Michigan as the northern range of the red bellied woodpecker; they traditionally inhabit most of the eastern/southeastern US. The female has red from the top of her head down back to the nape of her neck; the male has that plus additional red in front down to his beak. We've seen them eat suet, mixed seed and sunflower seed from the feeders and from the ground in company of other birds. Along with the downy and hairy woodpeckers, the red bellies hide chunks on suet in the trees for later retrieval. This link will give you more info on these birds: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker_dtl.html

-Rich Krieger, Lake Bluff

Siskin 'invasion'

2008-12-23T11:54:00.001-08:00

These little birds in the finch family are pine siskins. The two females shown here are eating nyjer seed from a feeder on the front lawn at Lake Bluff...and they have a real fondness for nyjer. A group of about 16-18 has been hanging around for a couple weeks now. I was within an arm's reach of the feeder when I took this foto. I approached slowly and they seemed unconcerned. To learn about this bird, go to the Cornell site at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Siskin.html

-Rich Krieger

Manistee Christmas Bird Count Dec. 14th.

2008-12-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

Join us this Saturday for the Christmas Bird Count. We will survey the bird population of our area from early morning till dusk. Field parties will meet at the Blue Slipper Coffee Shop in Onekama at 12:30 to get warmed up and then hit the field again until 5:30 when the compilation dinner starts at the Allen's at 5539 Bar Lake Rd.
RSVP.

To join the count contact Brian Allen at 723-9911 office, or 723-7956 home. Feeder observers contact Don Kogut at 723-5928.

Results will be posted here in January.

Christmas at Lake Bluff

2008-12-06T10:23:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, December 6, the Manistee Chapter of Michigan Audubon and Resident Managers, Rich and Deb Krieger, hosted "A Chickadee Christmas." The open house event featured book and candy sales, as well as interactive learning opportunities for families and kids. Despite the wintry weather, we had visitors from as far away as Grand Rapids.

Of course, Lake Bluff's avian visitors were out in terrific numbers. Red- and White-Breasted Nutatches, English House Sparrows, Goldfinches, Tufted Titmouse, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, and Juncos were all seen on Saturday. Click here for a YouTube video of visitors at the feeder:

Birds at Lake Bluff (YouTube)

Lake Michigan Lakeshore Watch

2008-11-20T10:56:00.000-08:00

The final (and coldest!) Lake Michigan Lakeshore Watch of the season will be this Saturday. Counters will be in place at stations along the coast from New Buffalo all the way north to the Platte River Mouth in Benzie County watching and counting the last of the fall migrants on the big lake.

Our club will again man the post at the First St. Pier in Manistee this time from 7:45 AM until 9:45 AM. Come and join Brian Allen and other Manistee area birders as we try to keep warm and count the ducks, gulls, and loons that pass buy. Dress warm and meet at the parking lot at the base of the First St. Pier.

Manistee Christmas Bird Count Dec. 14th.

2008-11-17T10:47:00.000-08:00

Note the change, Manistee's CBC is SUNDAY Dec. 14, 2008. We will survey our 15 mile diameter circle (centered at Fisk Rd. and US-31 to include Onekama, Portage Lake, Chief Lake, Bar Lake, Manistee, the Manistee State Game Area, Manistee Lake, and parts of the Manistee National Forest and Lake Michigan shoreline).

We have several teams of field counters and many feeder watchers ready for the count but we can always use more volunteers.

For questions call Brian Allen at 231-723-7956 eve. and 231-723-9911 days. Hope you can join us!

Join Us for Chickadee Christmas!

2008-10-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

Photo by Corey Gildersleeve

On Saturday, December 6, join Manistee Audubon and Michigan Audubon for the winter event, A Chickadee Christmas. The celebration will take place at the Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary (directions).

Activities will include:

Guided hikes; possibly snowshoeing, sledding, and or cross-country skiing
A Winter Workshop: attracting birds to your backyard
Making gifts for the birds – garlands and ornaments for decorating outside trees
Kids games and activities

In addition, both the gift shop and Michigan Audubon bookstore will be in full swing for holiday shoppers. All of the activities are free and open to the general public. The celebration is part of Manistee’s “Old Victorian Christmas” weekend.