October Field Trip Report

    Six people found 27 bird species at Black Lake Park on October 11, 2025 (Migratory Bird Day). 

    This cool sunny Saturday morning began with a Cooper’s Hawk flying over us in the parking lot before 8:00 and perching near our cars for a minute.  

    Soon afterward we began a slow walk around the south loop trails.  Robins were everywhere.  White-throated Sparrows and flickers were also abundant.  Other species included Pied-billed Grebe, Eastern Phoebe, Winter Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Purple Finch, White-crowned Sparrow, Eastern Towhee and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

    The trip ended at 10:45.

October Events

Monthly Field Trip

Black Lake Park

NOTICE NEW DATE:  October 11, 2025

    Normally our field trips are held on the third Saturday of the month.  But October 11, 2025, is World Migratory Bird Day, so we're moving our event up one week to be in the field on the same day as birdwatchers around the world.

    Meet at 8:00 Saturday morning, October 11, 2025, in the parking lot of Black Lake Park (Wood Road about half a mile south of Pontaluna Road).  We will walk the trails of the park looking for whatever local or migratory birds we can find.

    This trip will end before noon.  We hope to see you there.

October 21 Program

Loutit Library, Grand Haven

Social Time:  6:00-6:15 p.m.  Program:  6:15-8:00 p.m.

Identiflight: Protecting Endangered Raptors

Throughout the World

Caleb Putnam

    Caleb Putnam will present his exciting work with Identiflight, the world's top AI camera system protecting birds at windfarms worldwide.  Caleb will also speak of his work at Real Birds, especially about backyard habiscaping and bird water features.

    Caleb Putnam is a professional ornithologist and owner of Real Birds LLC.  A lifelong birder, Caleb has exceptional enthusiasm and passion for birds and birding.  He has served on the Michigan Bird Records Committee and is a statewide expositor of eBird as well as a local eBird reviewer for an 11-county area in west lower Michigan.  

    Caleb spent twelve years working for the National Audubon Society as the Important Bird Areas Program Coordinator and two years with Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as the Michigan Birds Program Coordinator.  He also has spent many years in environmental consulting, especially focusing on wind power and green energy development.