Led By: Steve Minard

We’ll plan to check Lake Michigan to see what’s on the beach, hike the jack pines in the dunes and hike the trails from the Snug Harbor Picnic area. Many birds are possible on the beach, or it could be quiet. In the trees, late warblers, vireos and thrushes are all possible. In the past, owls have been found roosting in the pines, if we are really lucky, we could find one. If we run long, we’ll look for a place to stop for lunch. If the state park is quiet, we will consider a stop at the Muskegon Lake Conservation Area or the Muskegon Wastewater. Birders of all skills are welcome.

Essentials: Meet at the South Beach Parking Lot of Muskegon State Park at 8:30 AM. You may want a drink or snack to keep you going until lunch.

Safety Hazards: Driving in a caravan can be hazardous. Get directions from the trip leader for travel to the next stop. Please exercise caution on the roads at all times. Please have a passenger handle all radio or phone communications while in a car.

For October, we’ll continue our look at natural space conservation across Michigan and areas designated as preserves to help promote the wellbeing of wildlife across the state, especially birds.

Chad Machinski, Conservation Manager for Michigan Audubon, will talk with us about his efforts at properties managed by his organization.

Across many of Michigan Audubon’s Sanctuaries, active habitat restoration and creation is an ongoing project. Chad will discuss where this work is going on, why the work is going on, and how the work is happening. Chad’s presentation will focus on three Michigan Audubon Sanctuaries as examples of specific work: The Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary, the Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary, and the Martha Mott Bird Sanctuary. Attendees will also learn about ways they can get involved with Michigan Audubon work.

While Chad’s first love is botany, he doesn’t deny the intertwining nature of birds, plants, insects, and all other organisms we share the world with. As Michigan Audubon’s Conservation Manager, Chad is responsible for the management and care for all 20 of Michigan Audubon’s Sanctuaries around the state and bird specific programs such as Chimney Swift and Purple Martin conservation. In his spare time, Chad tends to think about many of the same things he does at work: plants, birds, and insects.

This program is open to the public, who may attend as guests of the Grand Rapids Audubon Club.

Doors open at 7:00pm; come early to meet fellow members, browse the large selection of library items, and connect with others about birding. The program begins at 7:30 pm.

Led By: Steve Minard

We will plan to look for the best reported late shorebirds, winter ducks, winter gulls, or winter finches along the lake shore.  Winter ducks should be in the area, and the other late migrants should still be moving south.  This time of year presents an opportunity for birds that can difficult to find in our area, so we'll check the bird alerts and go with the best prospects.  We are likely to start on the lake shore with Holland State Park, Oval Beach or Douglas Beach as possible targets.  From Lake Michigan, we're likely to work inland with stops possible along Lake Macatawa, the Kalamazoo River, or the Todd Farm Unit of the Allegan State Game Area.  If we are lucky, a mega rarity will be chase able and we may travel further afield.  This is planned as a morning trip, but we could extend it with a lunch stop. 

Essentials: Meet at the McDonald’s in Hudsonville.  We can leave any extra cars in the car pool lot just north of the I196 freeway.  Be ready to head out at 7:30 AM.  You may want a drink or snack to keep you going until lunch.  Come prepared for cold weather.  A spotting scope could come in handy on this trip.

Safety Hazards: Cold weather and slippery winter driving are the main hazards.  As with winter trips in particular, bad weather may cancel the trip.  Driving in a caravan can be hazardous.  Get directions from the leader for travel to the next stop.  Please exercise caution on the roads at all times, and watch the car ahead of you when driving in a caravan.  Please have a passenger handle all radio or phone communications while in a car.

Led By: Spencer High

Winter is cold, but the birding is HOT! Join us as we take a hike around the lakes at Dune Harbor Park Muskegon County to see what is spending the winter with us! Spencer High will take us throughout the park, explain why some of these birds are here and what they’re eating, and share some fun facts about them!

Thanks to the park’s proximity to the Lake Michigan migratory flyway, you never know what rare or exciting species might make an appearance!

Meeting Location: Seminole Parking Lot
(2161 Seminole Rd, Norton Shores, MI 49441)

Time: Meet at 9:00 AM — the hike will begin at approximately 9:10 AM.

What to Bring:
Feel free to bring your own binoculars. A limited number of binoculars and field guides will also be available to borrow.

Please dress for the weather — and keep in mind that it can get windy near the lakeshore!

Help the Grand Rapids Audubon Club Survey Early-Winter Birds in West Michigan!

This is our club’s 65th year of the Annual Christmas Bird Count, and we look forward to having you help us survey our local birds.

To learn more about the Christmas Bird Count, where our survey region is, and what to expect from your participation in community science, visit the Christmas Bird Count page on our website.

To register to participate in our count, email our Count Compiler, Tom Leggett today!

Led By: Steve Minard

Get your bird list for 2025 started in Kent County.  We'll try to track down some of the birds seen on the Christmas Count, and just look for whatever sounds good.  We will start at 6:00 am to look for owls in the Cannonsburg State Game Area and vicinity.  At dawn, we will shift to looking for winter passerines, waterfowl and hawks.  Birders of all skills are welcome to join us and start their bird list for 2026.  

Essentials: Meet at the Ada McDonald’s on M21 at the Citgo Gas Station by 6:00 AM.  This is across M21 from Amway and near the Post Office.  We plan to be back at McDonald's at 8:00 am for a break and in case anyone wants to join us.  We plan to finish around 11:30 AM.  Dress for cold weather and bring a snack or warm beverage to keep you fueled up.

Safety Hazards: Cold weather and slippery winter driving are the main hazards.  As with winter trips in particular, bad weather may cancel the trip.  Driving in a caravan can be hazardous.  Get directions from the leader for travel to the next stop.  Please exercise caution on the roads at all times, and watch the car ahead of you when driving in a caravan.  Please have a passenger handle all radio or phone communications while in a car.

Led By: Steve Minard

This is planned a winter trip to search for winter birds such as Snowy Owl, Northern Shrike, and Snow Bunting.  These can be quite nomadic and hard to find, so we’ll try to cover lots of territory to look for them.  We’ll search fields in northern Ottawa County and Muskegon County northwest of Grand Rapids.  We’ll probably check some of the Crockery Creek bottom lands looking for Red-shouldered Hawk.  If conditions permit, we'll try to include the Muskegon Wastewater in our search.  Expect to spend most of the time in the car searching the fields for anything different.  Birders of all skills are welcome.

Essentials: Meet at the Boy Scout Headquarters west off Walker Road just north of I-96 at 8:00 AM.  We plan to bird until noon, you may want to bring a snack to hold you over until lunch.

Safety Hazards: Cold weather and slippery winter driving are the main hazards.  As with winter trips in particular, bad weather may cancel the trip.  Driving in a caravan can be hazardous.  Get directions from the leader for travel to the next stop.  Please exercise caution on the roads at all times, and watch the car ahead of you when driving in a caravan.  Please have a passenger handle all radio or phone communications while in a car.

Led By: Steve Minard and Ruth Fridsma

One way we can help our local nesting birds is by providing places for them to nest.  Jim Ponshair aided the birds for many years with a number of bluebird box trails at the Muskegon Wastewater.  This does add up to a large number of boxes to clean every year and we need a good size group to do the job.  The annual bluebird box cleaning is a great way to learn your way around the Muskegon Wastewater.  It’s also a good way to learn about bluebird boxes, how to clean them, and see how the type of box and habitat affects who uses the box.  Since we’re at the Wastewater, we usually see some good birds while we work.  You may even get to meet mice or Flying Squirrels up close and personal.  And you get to help the bluebirds, swallows, chickadees, wrens and other birds that use the boxes.  This year you can meet the group, or head directly to clean your group of boxes.  Send Steve an email at sdminard@gmail.com to get a group of boxes to clean.  If you want, we will meet at the Maple Island Road entrance to the Muskegon Wastewater System at 9:00 am.  Lunch is one your own this year.  Following lunch, some participants may bird the nearby Muskegon State Game Area to look for early migrants.  This can be an all day trip, or you can head out before or after lunch.  For all the carpenters and builders out there, we always need more bluebird boxes.  Boxes suffer damage over the years and new boxes are always needed.  Send Steve an email at sdminard@gmail.com if you have new boxes to donate.

Essentials: Meet at the Maple Island Road entrance to the Muskegon Wastewater System at 9:00 am.  This is a bit north of White Road.  If you have an area, you can head there directly.  Come dressed for the weather.  Bring some tools (screwdrivers, pliers, scrapper, hammer and nails) and gloves for cleaning out the bluebird houses.

Safety Hazards: Driving in a caravan can be hazardous.  Get directions from the leader for travel to the next stop.  Please exercise caution on the roads at all times, and watch the car ahead of you when driving in a caravan.  Please have a passenger handle all radio or phone communications while in a car.

Led By: Steve Minard

Join us to look for marsh birds at Lane’s Landing in the Muskegon State Game Area.  Rails should be in the marsh by this date and Swamp Sparrows should be on territory.  After checking out the marsh, we’ll see how the winds blow and either head over to the Muskegon Wastewater to check out the waterfowl or head to Grand Haven to check out Harbor Island and hawk watch locations to look for migrating hawks.  At the Wastewater, Northern Shoveled and Ruddy Duck are likely; in Grand Haven, we could see Caspian Tern on Lake Michigan or rails in the Harbor Island marshes.  Birders of all skills are welcome.

Essentials: Meet at the Boy Scout Headquarters west off Walker Road just north of I-96 at 7:00 AM.  We plan to bird until noon, you may want to bring a snack to hold you over until lunch.

Safety Hazards: Driving in a caravan can be hazardous.  Get directions from the leader for travel to the next stop.  Please exercise caution on the roads at all times, and watch the car ahead of you when driving in a caravan.  Please have a passenger handle all radio or phone communications while in a car.

Led By: Steve Minard

This trip is an evening walk to the Hodenpyl Woods area at the west end of Reeds Lake.  Varied woodland, marsh, and lake habitat provides a variety of birds right in town.  On this trip, we will concentrate on waterbirds, and early warblers.  The boardwalk provides good views of the lake and marsh areas so we will visit it.  Birders of all skills are welcome.

Essentials: Meet at the East Grand Rapids Utility Building parking lot on Reeds Lake Blvd north of Gaslight Village at 6:00 PM.  Waterproof footwear and insect repellent may be useful.  Poison Ivy is thick in places.

Safety Hazards: Drive safely to meet the group. Watch for traffic when crossing the road and bicycles on the pathway.

NOTE: While we love dogs, we ask you to please NOT bring your pup(s) on club field trips, as it can stress/frighten away the birds. Thank you!

Led By: Steve Minard

This trip is an evening walk to the Hodenpyl Woods area at the west end of Reeds Lake. Varied woodland, marsh, and lake habitat provides a variety of birds right in town. We hope to find some warblers ducks, and with luck terns on the lake. Birders of all skills are welcome.

Essentials: Meet at the East Grand Rapids Utility Building parking lot on Reeds Lake Blvd north of Gaslight Village at 6:00 PM. Waterproof footwear and insect repellent may be useful. Poison Ivy is thick in places.

Safety Hazards: Drive safely to meet the group. Watch for traffic when crossing the road and bicycles on the pathway.

Led By: Steve Minard

Roselle Park is a good birding area right here in Kent County. It’s on the Grand River, and has wetlands, wooded edges, and open areas. At this date, warblers should still be moving and many of the sparrows and woodland birds should be present. We will plan to stick to the paved trails and avoid the water if there is flooding.

Essentials: Meet at the Roselle Park parking lot by the visitor center. It’s entrance is across from Michigan Ave and north of the south parking lot entrance. This is west of Ada and south of Knapp along Grand River Dr.

Safety Hazards: Drive safely to meet the group. Watch for traffic on the pathway.

NOTE: While we love dogs, we ask you to please NOT bring your pup(s) on club field trips, as it can stress/frighten away the birds. Thank you!

Led By: Steve Minard

Roselle Park is a good birding area right here in Kent County. It’s on the Grand River, and has wetlands, wooded edges, and open areas. At this date, warblers should still be moving and many of the sparrows and woodland birds should be present. We will plan to stick to the paved trails and avoid the water if there is flooding.

Essentials: Meet at the Roselle Park parking lot by the visitor center. It’s entrance is across from Michigan Ave and north of the south parking lot entrance. This is west of Ada and south of Knapp along Grand River Dr.

Safety Hazards: Drive safely to meet the group. Watch for traffic on the pathway.

NOTE: While we love dogs, we ask you to please NOT bring your pup(s) on club field trips, as it can stress/frighten away the birds. Thank you!