(A) Clear Lake State Park ★★Stretching along two-thirds of Clear Lake’s shoreline, Clear Lake State Park is a quiet retreat for nature lovers. The park is especially beautiful during the fall when the leaves begin to change color. There are many activities for visitors to enjoy at Clear Lake, including a sandy swimming beach, disc golf course, and miles of trails. The biggest reason visitors come to Clear Lake State Park is to hear elk bellowing during the mating season. Evening and early morning are the best times to listen for the loud calls. For birders, Clear Lake State Park is an excellent place to stay while searching for Michigan woodland specialties. Black-and-white Warblers and Golden-crowned Kinglets are especially common during migration. Visitors arriving early in the year should check the headquarter feeders for nuthatches and Evening Grosbeaks. Website: michigan.gov/clearlake | Map: Click here
(B) Fletcher Pond ★Famous for hosting the second largest Osprey colony in the Midwest, the best way to see the nests at Fletcher Pond is from a boat. Sergey Postupalsky, a scientist from Wisconsin, has been researching the ospreys for more than 45 years. Birders visiting the pond during the summer months may be fortunate enough to see Common Loons, Great-blue Herons, and Bald Eagles. Directions: Click here
(C) Partridge Point ★Located on the tip of a peninsula jutting out into Lake Huron, Partridge Point provides visitors with great views of Squaw Bay. The protected waters harbor scoters, mergansers, and other ducks during the spring and fall. Be careful when driving out to the point—the trail can be impassable at times. The brushy area near the tip is the best place to look for birds. During the winter, Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings, and other northern specialties can sometimes be found hunkering down in the bushes. Directions: Click here
(D) Alpena County Fairgrounds ★Located on the edge of a large tributary of the Thunder Bay River, Alpena County Fairgrounds is an excellent birding hotspot. Birds commonly found near the fairgrounds include Mute Swans, Great Egrets, and Green Herons. Website: alpenacounty.org/fairgrounds.html | Map: Click here |
(E) Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary ★★Combining Island Park, Duck Park, and Cow Island, Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary’s triplex of nature preserves is a must-visit for any birders driving through the Alpena area. Duck Park is the sanctuary’s highlight, featuring 1,200 feet of frontage on the Thunder Bay River. The parks provide nesting habitat for many kinds of wetland birds, including Great Blue Herons, American Bitterns, and Belted Kingfishers. Website: goo.gl/wJZ8Os
|