DETROIT AUDUBON SOCIETY

FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE

FALL 2012

Please call the DAS office by the Thursday before each trip so that we can know how many to expect and be able to notify you of any changes. Leave your name, number coming and

phone number. Call 248 354-5804.

Winter waterfowl - Belle Isle, Detroit

February 2, 2013 (Saturday) 9 a.m.

Leaders: Steve Santner and Fred Charbonneau

The Detroit River is one of the key wintering areas for waterfowl in North America, and Belle Isle is a very convenient location to bird without having to go too far from your vehicle.

Address: Belle Isle Nature Zoo, 176 Lakeside, Detroit, MI 48207-6300.

Directions: Take Jefferson to the Belle Isle Bridge. Cross over and drive to the east end of the island and park in the Nature Center/Zoo parking lot.

Owl Prowl - Grosse Ile, MI

March 2, 2013 (Saturday) 7:30 p.m.

Leader: Jim Bull

Great Horned Owls will have been nesting since early February, and Screech owls will be getting ready to nest. Since they are defending territories, playing an owl tape or imitating their calls will likely bring a response from them, and there is a good chance they will come in where we can see them in the beam of light from a lantern. We have changed locations this year because Jim has had such good success in bringing in both Screech and Great Horned Owls on Grosse Ile. Meet at St. James Episcopal Church for a brief slide program on owls. Please call the DAS office at (248) 354-5804 to make reservations.

Address: St. James Episcopal Church, 25150 East River Road, Grosse Ile Township, MI 48138.

Woodcock Watch - Oakwoods Metropark

April 5, 2013 (Friday) 7:45 p.m.

Leaders: Kevin Arnold and Jim Bull

Right at dusk this sandpiper with a long beak and huge comical eyes comes to open areas to do its spectacular aerial courtship display. This program is especially good for families with children. We will meet at the Oakwoods Nature Center.

Address: 32911 E. Willow Rd., New Boston, MI 48164.

Directions: From I-75, exit at West Road and go west. Go south on Telegraph (M-24), west on Van Horn (which becomes Huron River Drive), then west (left) on East Willow to the park entrance. Metropark entrance fee or sticker required.

Frog Symphony - West Bloomfield Nature Preserve

April 12, 2013 (Friday) 7:30 p.m.

Postponed to April 17 (Wednesday) 7:30 p.m. Due to low temperatures

Leaders: Sally Petrella (Friends of the Rouge) and Jim Bull

Join us for an evening of listening to and searching for frogs. We often see salamanders, Wood Ducks, herons, and owls. This field trip is co-sponsored by Friends of the Rouge. This program is especially good for children.

Address: 4655 Arrowhead Rd., West Bloomfield, MI 48323.

Directions: From Telegraph Road, go west on Long Lake Road to where it dead-ends at Orchard Lake. Turn left and go to the next traffic light. Turn right on to Pontiac Trail. Take Pontiac Trail and look for the sign “West Bloomfield Woods Nature Preserve” at Arrowhead Road. Follow signs to the preserve parking lot.

Spring migrants - Magee Marsh, Ohio

April 20, 2013 (Saturday) 8 a.m.

Leader: Richard Quick

We will get the early spring migrants without the crowds at this famous birding locale.

Address: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, 13229 W. State Rte 2, Oak Harbor, OH 43449.

Directions: Take I-75 to Toledo; go south on I-280 to Highway 2. Follow Highway 2 east about 18 miles and turn north at the Magee Marsh entrance. Drive to the west end of the beach parking lot to the beginning of Bird Trail boardwalk.

Spring migrants - Point Pelee, Ontario

April 27, 2013 (Saturday) 8 a.m.

Leader: Richard Quick

Pelee in the spring! It does not get better for a birder. This year we are going for the heavy spring migration, including shorebirds in the Hillman Marsh area north of the park.

Address: 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington, Ontario, CA

Directions: Cross the Ambassador Bridge and follow the signs for Highway #3. You will be on Huron Church Road, which is also Highway #3. Follow Highway #3 for approximately 35-45 minutes. There are two exits for Leamington. Take the second exit for Erie Street. Turn right onto Erie Street and travel through eight stop light intersections. At the ninth intersection (Erie St. and Seacliff Dr./County Road 20), turn left. Drive approximately 1/2 mile, and you will see a large Point Pelee National Park sign indicating a right turn. After making the right turn on Bevel Line, follow this road for approximately 10 minutes to arrive at the front gates of the park. Entrance fee required: about $8/person. Meet in the visitor center parking area. Remember to bring passport for entry into Canada and back into the U.S.

Spring birds - W. C. Wetzel State Recreation Area, Macomb County, MI

May 4, 2013 (Saturday) 8 a.m.

Leader: Richard Quick

This trip takes us to an area that provides a nice mixture of habitat. Breeding birds regularly observed include Sedge and Marsh Wrens, harriers, Forster’s and Caspian Terns, and Clay-colored, Savannah, Song, and Grasshopper Sparrows. Other regulars include Bobolink, Meadowlark, Orchard Oriole, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue-winged Warbler, Willow Flycatcher, Ruddy Duck, Redhead, and Pied-billed Grebe. This trip will require walking 3 to 4 miles on trails over several habitats and will last about 4 hours. Be prepared for wet trails.

Directions: Take I-94 east to exit 247, M-19/New Haven Road. Take M-19 north to 27 Mile Road. Go west on 27 Mile past Werderman Road. Meet in the parking lot at the end of 27 Mile Road.

Spring passerines - Lake St. Clair Metropark (formerly Metro Beach Metropark)

May 5, 2013 (Sunday) 8 a.m.

Leader: Barb Baldinger and Tom Heatley

Lake St. Clair Metropark is a justly famous migrant trap. We will see a good number of warblers as well as many other nesting and migrant birds.

Address: 31300 Metropolitan Parkway, Harrison Township, MI 48045.

Directions: Take I-94 east and exit at Metropolitan Parkway. Drive east into the park. Metropark entrance fee or sticker required. Park on the west side of the main parking lot near the nature center. Meet at the nature center.

DAS Spring Campout at Point Pelee
The annual D.A.S. Spring Campout at Point Pelee is scheduled for May 16 - 19, 3 nights of camping and waking up to the morning chorus of spring migrants.

The campout is at the "Group Campground" of Pt. Pelee National Park, Leamington, Ontario. Campground amenities include running water, flush toilets, a covered eating shelter, a large firepit for evening bonfires (wood included) and great camaraderie. Cost is $18 per night, per camper (tents only). There is a 2 night minimum.

Please send your reservation, including names of
all campers, your address and phone number, and a check made out to : Michael Fitzpatrick, 56 Hubbard St., Mt Clemens, MI 48043. A confirmation will be sent to you.

Spring birds - Humbug Marsh

May 19, 2013 (Sunday) 2 - 4 p.m.

Leader: Jim Bull

See this natural gem of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in spring.

Address: 5437 West Jefferson Avenue, Trenton, MI.

Directions: Take I-75 to Gibraltar Road. Go east toward Gibraltar, turn left on Jefferson and drive north. You will see the sign for the Humbug Unit on your right. Go past that sign until you come to the sign for the Detroit International Refuge Gateway. Turn right, go through the gate, and park in the designated area. Meet in the parking lot.

Detroit Audubon Memorial Day Weekend Nature Get-Away

May 24-27, 2013 (Friday thru Monday)

Don’t miss this weekend with wonderful people and fine birds. We are not sure if the Loon Lake Lutheran Retreat Center, where we have held this event for 30 years, will be open this year. If not, we will move to another venue. As always, in addition to great birds and wildflowers, there will be great food, music, educational programs, and children’s activities—all amid beautiful surroundings. We will take off-site field trips to places of interest as well. Watch the Flyway and the website for further details and registration information.

Breeding birds - Port Huron State Game Area

June 2, 2013 (Sunday) 7:30 a.m.

Leader: Joanna Pease

An exceptional diversity of breeding birds, especially warblers, may be found in this area, including Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, and Golden-winged Warbler. Insect repellant is advisable—no, mandatory. This trip will last 5 to 7 hours. Bring a lunch.

Address: 5080 Wildcat Rd, Clyde, MI.

Directions: Take I-94 to the last exit in Port Huron (on left) before crossing into Canada. Proceed north on M-25 to M-136. Drive west on M-136 five or six miles to Wildcat Road. Turn right into Bill Bearss Memorial Park and park near the baseball diamond. We will try to caravan from there.

Breeding and nesting birds - Eliza Howell Park

June 8, 2013 (Saturday) 9 a.m.

Leader: Leonard Weber

Join us for the second year of this trip to see over 30 species of songbirds that breed in Eliza Howell Park during the peak of the breeding season. We will look for nests of orioles, Eastern Bluebirds, Barn Swallows, and others. We can expect to watch birds feeding their young.

Address: 23751 Fenkell, Detroit.

Directions: Eliza Howell Park is located on Fenkell Road (Five Mile Road) in Detroit about one block east of Telegraph Road. Enter the park and drive about ½ mile around the road loop and park near the nature trail.

Pointe Mouillee
August 10, 2013 (Saturday) 8 a.m.
Leader: Jim Fowler
This is one of the premier shore birding areas in the interior of the continent when water levels are
favorable.
Directions: Take I-75 to Exit 26 and drive east on South Huron Road to U.S. Turnpike. Turn south and
look for Sigler Road. Turn east and drive to the parking lot at the end.

Point Pelee, Ontario
August 24, 2013 (Saturday) 8 a.m.
Leader: Richard Quick
August may seem early for fall migration, but for warblers the end of August and the first few days of
September are the peak time.
Address: 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington, Ontario, CA
Directions: Cross the Ambassador Bridge and follow the signs for Highway #3. You will be on Huron
Church Road, which is also Highway #3. Follow Highway #3 for approximately 35-45 minutes. There
are two exits for Leamington. Take the second exit for Erie Street. Turn right onto Erie Street and travel
through eight stop light intersections. At the ninth intersection (Erie St. and Seacliff Dr./County Road
20), turn left. Drive approximately 1/2 mile, and you will see a large Point Pelee National Park sign
indicating a right turn. After making the right turn on Bevel Line, follow this road for approximately 10
minutes to arrive at the front gates of the park. Entrance fee required: about $8/person. Meet in the
visitor center parking area. Remember to bring passport for entry into Canada and back into the U.S.

Lake St. Clair Metropark (formerly Metro Beach Metropark)
September 8, 2013 (Sunday) 8 a.m.
Leader: Joanna Pease

We hope to see fall migrants aplenty with summer temperatures still a reasonable expectation.
Address: 31300 Metropolitan Parkway, Harrison Township, MI 48045.
Directions: Take I-94 east and exit on Metropolitan Parkway. Drive east into the park and park on the
west side of the main parking lot near the nature center. Meet at the center. Metropark entrance fee or
sticker required.

Lake Erie Metropark - Hawkfest (no bird hike)
(REVISED DATES) September 21 and 22, 2013 (Saturday and Sunday)
All day: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bring your children and enjoy the many games, crafts, talks, demonstrations, displays, and live hawks
and owls in and around the Marshlands Museum. Be sure to visit the Detroit Audubon display and
bookstore and get down to the boat launch, where you can view the hawk migration and check the
day’s tally.
Directions: Take I-75 to Gibraltar Road. Go east toward Gibraltar, turn right on Jefferson, and drive
south to the park entrance on your left. Metropark entrance fee or sticker required.

Humbug Marsh and Lake Erie Metropark
October 12, 2013 (Saturday) 8 a.m.
Leader: Jim Bull

Sandhill Crane migration stopover viewing at Haehnle Sanctuary
October 20, 2013 (Sunday)
2:30 for hike or 4:30 p.m. to observe from hill only
Leader: Jim Bull

Point Edward and Lake Huron Shore, Ontario
November 2, 2013 (Saturday) 8 a.m.
Leader: Jim Bull

Belle Isle, Detroit
November 10, 2013 (Sunday) 9 a.m.
Leaders: Steve Santner and Fred Charbonneau

Owl Prowl - Oakwoods Metropark
November 15, 2013 (Friday) 7 p.m.
Leaders: Kevin Arnold and Jim Bull

Detroit Christmas Bird Count
December 15, 2013 (Sunday)
Coordinator: Tim Nowiki

Rockwood Christmas Bird Count
December 21, 2013 (Saturday)