LeConte's Sparrow by Adam Betuel.
Birding Michigan: Conservation, Connectivity, and Species Diversity
The Michigan Trip is now full. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list, please proceed with the registration process. We will contact you if a space becomes available.
May 28 to June 2, 2019
Leader: Atlanta Audubon's Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel
Group Size: Limited to 12 participants
Member Price: $1,360/person*
Non-member Price: $1,410/person* (includes a one-year Atlanta Audubon membership)
Single supplement for non-shared hotel room: $400/person
*Based on double occupancy
Questions? Please email Adam Betuel or call 678.973.2437.
With over 3,000 miles of coastline, an extensive state forest system, and a diversity of habitats, it is no wonder that Michigan is a top birding destination. What may be less apparent are the ways birds connect both Michigan and our own Peach State. Upland Sandpipers migrate south from breeding grounds and visit our rural sod farms. Over 60% of the endangered Great Lakes breeding population of the Piping Plover overwinter on the Georgia coast. In addition, one of the rarest birds in our country, the Kirtland’s Warbler, breeds almost exclusively in Michigan and in migration is found in its highest density in Georgia. Michigan offers a unique opportunity to learn more about some of our most desired and imperiled birds, to see many migrant species on their breeding grounds, and a chance to see some of the denizens of the expansive northern forests.
Join Conservation Director Adam Betuel on a tour of the northern reaches of bird-rich Michigan. The trip will include a tour with Michigan Audubon to see the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler and a visit to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to search for Piping Plovers. There will also be stops in the Upper Peninsula for boreal breeding species foreign to Georgia, and a visit to the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory for owl banding and migrant watching at one of the top migrant traps in the country. Other stops will yield common migrants found in Georgia and some of the northern species that do not extend to the Southeast.
Adam Betuel is a native Midwesterner and has birded in this region of Michigan in the past. For Atlanta Audubon, Adam leads international birding trips, shorter domestic trips to Merritt Island and the Georgia Coast, as well as many field trips throughout metro Atlanta.
The Michigan Trip is now full. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list, please proceed with the registration process. We will contact you if a space becomes available and collect payment at that time.
trip overview
Click on each day for more information.
day 1: arrival
After arriving at the Cherry Capital Airport (Traverse City), we will board our chartered bus and head eastward. Time permitting, we will swing by Houghton Lake, searching for American Bittern, Black Tern, Sandhill Crane, and a variety of waterfowl and songbirds. We will then travel to Grayling where we will enjoy dinner and a goodnight's sleep in this quaint town.
day 2: kirtland's warbler
An early wake-up call will get us in position to search for the rarest warbler in the United States. Representatives from Michigan Audubon will educate us on this special warbler, its preferred Jack Pine forest, and the conservation efforts that have saved this bird from extinction. After locating some Kirtland’s Warblers, we will explore nearby forests and fire maintained habitat that could produce Upland Sandpiper, Vesper Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Nashville Warbler, Common Raven, and Brewer’s Blackbird.
After lunch back in Grayling, we will then stop by Hartwick Pines State Park. The feeders at the nature center are a great spot to observe the chunky and striking Evening Grosbeak. Areas around the nature center can also produce forest birds, including Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, singing Hermit Thrush and Winter Wrens, and up to seven species of woodpecker. We will leave the nature center to explore some of the nearby trails that can host a great diversity of breeding warblers, vireos, and flycatchers. Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Ovenbird, Chestnut-sided, and Magnolia Warblers can all be found alongside Least Flycatchers and Blue-headed Vireos.
Once we become satiated of colorful birds or succumb to the dreaded warbler neck, we will hop back on the bus and travel into the wilderness of northern Michigan. Depending on the success of the first half of the day, there may be time for some late afternoon birding at Dingman Marsh or along the shore of Lake Huron. Trumpeter Swan, Black-billed Cuckoo, Sora, Common Loon, and Alder Flycatcher could all be new day or trip birds. Our bird-filled day will culminate with a relaxing dinner and good nights sleep in Mackinaw City at the top of Michigan’s mitten.
After lunch back in Grayling, we will then stop by Hartwick Pines State Park. The feeders at the nature center are a great spot to observe the chunky and striking Evening Grosbeak. Areas around the nature center can also produce forest birds, including Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, singing Hermit Thrush and Winter Wrens, and up to seven species of woodpecker. We will leave the nature center to explore some of the nearby trails that can host a great diversity of breeding warblers, vireos, and flycatchers. Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Ovenbird, Chestnut-sided, and Magnolia Warblers can all be found alongside Least Flycatchers and Blue-headed Vireos.
Once we become satiated of colorful birds or succumb to the dreaded warbler neck, we will hop back on the bus and travel into the wilderness of northern Michigan. Depending on the success of the first half of the day, there may be time for some late afternoon birding at Dingman Marsh or along the shore of Lake Huron. Trumpeter Swan, Black-billed Cuckoo, Sora, Common Loon, and Alder Flycatcher could all be new day or trip birds. Our bird-filled day will culminate with a relaxing dinner and good nights sleep in Mackinaw City at the top of Michigan’s mitten.
day 3: boreal birds in the u.p.
After a warming breakfast, we will cross the Mackinac Bridge, the third-longest suspension bridge in the United States. During our crossing we will have wonderful views of two of the Great Lakes (Huron and Michigan) and a chance for a few birds including the common (Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant) and a few less likely (Long-tailed Duck and Common Merganser). Once crossing into the Upper Peninsula, we will be greeted by expanses of northern forests, bogs, and bodies of water. We will visit a few locations within the Sault Ste. Marie State Forest Area and possibly stop by Hulbert Bog as we move northward. This area will allows us to search for a set of new species including Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Olive-sided and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, LeConte’s Sparrow, Connecticut Warbler, Mourning Warbler, and Canada Jay. We will do what we can to pull ourselves away from the birds and get to the city of Paradise for a late afternoon rest. After dinner near the hotel, participants will have the option to take part in a very special opportunity – owl banding. Those who wish to take part will learn from Whitefish Point Bird Observatory biologists as they attempt to net and band owls. Northern Saw-whet, Long-eared, and Great-horned Owls are possible.
day 4: whitefish point and the turn back to the south
The late night the day before will allow us to sleep-in a bit this morning. There may be the possibility for some early morning birding near the hotel for those who opted to pass on the owl banding. The majority of our morning will be spent at Whitefish Point. The way Whitefish Point juts out into Lake Superior causes many migrating birds to funnel down its tip before they fly across the lake and into Canada. This geography has allowed Whitefish Point to tally a species list of 335, incredible considering its location and lack of nearby large cities. Our morning birding here could result in impressive numbers of waterfowl including all three scoters and mergansers, Red-necked and Horned Grebes, over a dozen species of shorebirds, gulls and terns including Caspian and Common, Common and Red-throated Loons, and great numbers of raptors with Golden Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, and Northern Goshawk all possible. Luckily, the excitement isn’t only restricted to the larger birds. Boreal Chickadee, American Pipit, Red Crossbill, White-crowned Sparrow, Bobolink, and Wilson’s Warbler are just a few of the songbirds possible. At a place where Lewis’s Woodpecker, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and Eurasian Wigeon have all been found, anything is possible!
The rest of the day will be somewhat flexible depending on which species we have yet to find on this trip. Potential birding locations include Vermilion Rd and Farm Truck Rd for remaining boreal species, Tahquamenon River Mouth and Pointe LaBarbe for waterfowl, Jordan River Rd for Golden-winged Warbler, and Williamsburg Meijer fields for open country birds including Grasshopper Sparrow and swallows. When all is said and done we will be back where the trip started in Traverse City. The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be spent relaxing and enjoying good food and drink. The group will likely stop in at Rare Bird Brewing to celebrate the top birds of the trip so far.
The rest of the day will be somewhat flexible depending on which species we have yet to find on this trip. Potential birding locations include Vermilion Rd and Farm Truck Rd for remaining boreal species, Tahquamenon River Mouth and Pointe LaBarbe for waterfowl, Jordan River Rd for Golden-winged Warbler, and Williamsburg Meijer fields for open country birds including Grasshopper Sparrow and swallows. When all is said and done we will be back where the trip started in Traverse City. The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be spent relaxing and enjoying good food and drink. The group will likely stop in at Rare Bird Brewing to celebrate the top birds of the trip so far.
day 5: the dunes of lake michigan and their plover
The final full day of the trip will be spent west of Traverse City and along the shore of Lake Michigan. This morning we will focus on the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, primarily targeting Piping Plovers. In this area, there has been extensive research and conservation work on this endangered population, which we will hopefully be able to witness in real-time. In addition to the plovers, some species that could be new for the trip include Merlin, Warbling Vireo, any missing swallow species (especially Bank Swallow), Baltimore Oriole, and Least Bittern. Little Glen Park, Narada Lake, and Good Harbor Bay Trail are all other hotspots where we could fit in some birding away from the shore. After grabbing lunch, we will continue northward and enjoy the landscapes of the Leelanau Peninsula. In the afternoon, we will stop at Green Bird Cellars, Michigan’s only certified Organic vineyard, orchard, and winery. Here we will enjoy some of the local beverages and discuss how the sustainable practices of Green Bird Orchards benefit the birds encountered on this tour.
What remains of the day will be spent slowly meandering back to Traverse City. Depending on the mood and energy level of the group, a stop or two could be fit in for more birding. This would be a great area to see some of the more common open country birds like Eastern Meadowlark and Eastern Kingbird and some beautiful edge and forest species including Indigo Bunting and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Our final evening will be spent in Traverse City.
What remains of the day will be spent slowly meandering back to Traverse City. Depending on the mood and energy level of the group, a stop or two could be fit in for more birding. This would be a great area to see some of the more common open country birds like Eastern Meadowlark and Eastern Kingbird and some beautiful edge and forest species including Indigo Bunting and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Our final evening will be spent in Traverse City.
day 6: time to head home
Our final day consists of getting to the airport and flying south. Our hotel will provide a free shuttle to the airport. If most of the group has a later departure time, birding or exploration in and around Traverse City may be possible.
Note: Our itinerary may change slightly due to conditions and birds present at the time of travel.
> Download a full trip itinerary (pdf).
> View an interactive itinerary map on Google Maps.
> Download a full trip itinerary (pdf).
> View an interactive itinerary map on Google Maps.
additional details
Price includes:
Price does not include:
Payment Plan:
Participants may pay in full by choosing the Atlanta Audubon Member or Non-Member price. For those who wish to pay in two installments, we will accept a $680 down-payment at the time of registration. Payment in full will be due by March 1, 2019. The single supplement will also be billed at this time if that option was selected.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by March 1, 2019, a refund of all payments (less a $50 cancellation fee) made will be given. If notice of cancellation is received between March 2 and April 20, 2019, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given. Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled. In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
- All transportation during the trip ( the hotel the last night will have a free airport shuttle)
- The group will be traveling in a chartered minibus driven by a professional driver
- All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 6
- All entrance fees to parks, as well as the fee for the Kirtland’s Warbler tour
- Guide services
Price does not include:
- Airfare
- Alcohol or specialty beverages
- Snacks
- Souvenirs
- Travel insurance
- Medical costs
- Tips (for the driver, housekeeping)
- Any other incidentals that participants may wish to purchase
Payment Plan:
Participants may pay in full by choosing the Atlanta Audubon Member or Non-Member price. For those who wish to pay in two installments, we will accept a $680 down-payment at the time of registration. Payment in full will be due by March 1, 2019. The single supplement will also be billed at this time if that option was selected.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by March 1, 2019, a refund of all payments (less a $50 cancellation fee) made will be given. If notice of cancellation is received between March 2 and April 20, 2019, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given. Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled. In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
