February 18 Field Trip Report

    Except for the wind, it was a beautiful cold Saturday morning.  But the wind was strong and straight off the Big Lake, always trying to tip over the six of us as we looked for birds along the Grand Haven Channel and at the state park shoreline.

    Pigeon Creek channel was more protected but fairly birdless.  So the best bird-watching, not surprisingly, was through the window at the feeding stations of the nature center at Hemlock Crossing.

    I did add a Year Bird at each of the three locations: #35 Common Merganser at Grand Haven, #36 Bufflehead at Pigeon Creek, and #37 White-throated Sparrow (two surprisingly early individuals, one bright, one drab) at Hemlock Crossing.

    That location also provided Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White- and Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Northern Cardinal (basically all the common feeder species except House Finch and Hairy Woodpecker).

- Ric

February Events

 February 18 Field Trip

        The trip will begin at 8:00 a.m. in the Chinook Pier parking lot at the Grand River Channel (near the steam locomotive) in downtown Grand Haven.  

From there we will drive a mile west to the Lake Michigan shoreline at Grand Haven State Park to look for whatever waterbirds might be on the big lake.

Next we will drive several miles south to the boat launch parking lot north of Pigeon Creek (south of the Consumers Power Campbell Plant).  Weather permitting, we will look for birds from the boardwalk east of Lakeshore Ave.   

Finally we will drive east on Croswell St. and south on West Olive Road to the Hemlock Crossing Nature Center.  We'll watch birds at the feeder stations through the huge viewing window.  They'll have hot cider and hot chocolate at the desk for fifty cents. 

Dress warmly for the outdoor locations.  This trip will end around noon.  The public is welcome.

        In case any future field trips are canceled due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the cancelation will be posted here no later than 7:00 a.m. on the day of the scheduled trip.

February 21 Program

Long-time Muskegon County Nature Club member Brian Johnson will provide a photographic overview of local birds based on his birding and banding projects in Muskegon County.  Brian will present as many species as possible with quick commentary on status, abundance, habitat preference, phenology, and age and sex differentiation.  

Brian has banded Saw-whet Owls in northern Muskegon County for several years and will share his experiences with this elusive and beautiful bird. 

Our programs are in conjunction with the Owashtanog Islands Audubon Society.  Social Time: 6:00-6:30, Program: 6:30-8:00, at the Covenant Life Church, 101 Columbus Ave. in Grand Haven.