Wild Stories from the History of Bird Migration Research

Rebecca Heisman, author of Flight Paths, will join us via Zoom to present an interesting and informative program for our community!

We've all heard amazing facts about bird migration—the long distances that birds travel, the ways that they navigate, etc. But did you ever wonder how we figured all of this out? While working for the American Ornithological Society, Rebecca Heisman became fascinated with the varied and creative techniques that scientists have used to study bird migration, and this eventually became the basis for her book Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration. In her talk, she'll share some surprising stories from the history of bird migration research and discuss why understanding migration is so crucial for bird conservation.

Bio: Rebecca Heisman is an award-winning science writer who lives in Walla Walla, Washington, and has worked with organizations including the Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the American Ornithological Society. Flight Paths is her first book.

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

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. Note that we are starting a week earlier this year. Birds do seem to be migrating earlier and we hope to avoid congestion at the ballfield. 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: Becky Kuhn

This park has a wide variety of habitats and always has a good offering of resident and migrating song birds, especially by the idyllic creek, there are even bird feeders in one of the field openings! Birders of all skill levels are welcome. Bathrooms are available and if this is a family outing-there is a playground next to the parking area

Essentials: Meet at Wahlfield Park, 6811 Alpine Ave, parking lot at 7:00 AM. The trails in many areas are also open to bikes so we are getting an early to start so that we don’t have to do too much path sharing. Bug spray may be needed. Binoculars and the Merlin app are great tools. Shoes with good traction will help with slippery footing

Safety Hazards: Drive safely to meet the group. Watch for bicycles on the trails.

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: Becky Kuhn

We will be looking and listening both high and low on this hike! Aman is known for its large drifts of spring flowers and multiple habitats for migrating song birds and resident birds, including a Barred Owl. From the parking area, our hike will go down a steep hill (and eventually back up!) to wander beside streams and through the woods. Expect some amount of damp to muddy trail footage. Birders of all skill levels are welcome.

Essentials: Aman Park is located at 1859 Lake Michigan Dr NW, M45, in Ottawa County. This is on the north side of the highway. Meet in the main, last and larger, parking area at 7:30pm. If this lot is full, you may need to park in one of the other parking areas and walk there. Port-a-Johns have been available in the past. Bug spray may be needed. Binoculars and the Merlin app are great tools. Shoes with good traction will help with slippery footing We will be on the trails a couple of hours. After our hike, I plan on making a side trip to area greenhouses to start spring planting in my yard.

Safety Hazards: Drive safely to meet the group.

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. Birders of all skills are welcome.

Essentials: Meet at the new Roselle Park parking lot by the visitor center. It’s entrance is across from Michigan Ave and north of the old 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.

Celebrating Birds and the Wonders of Our Natural World

Join us on May 18th as we celebrate all things birds! Participants will have the opportunity to go on guided birding hikes or an accessible birding tour with local birding experts. Participants can meet and learn about a few of Blandford’s wildlife ambassador birds, and learn about wildlife photography from award-winning photographer Steve Jessmore.

Grand Rapids Audubon, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, GR Outside, The Land Conservancy of West Michigan, MSU Extension 4-H and C4 will all be attending this event with yard games, free tree saplings, bird activities, and information and additional resources about their organizations. For our young birders, we will have a bird listening station and bird coloring sheets in the Learning Lab, and a bird craft in the schoolhouse!

This event also includes the opportunity for shopping with books from Books & Mortar.

Event Schedule

Wildlife Presentation*: 11:30am – Noon
Wildlife Photography Presentation with Steve Jessmore*: 12:30pm-1:30pm
*Presentations will take place in the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center Auditorium

Birding Hikes & Tours (30 min) let by GR Audubon Club:

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**Tours will go out to The Highlands following our paved pathway, suitable for those with mobility challenges (0.9 miles).

Members: $10.40
Non-Members: $13
Children 2 & Under: Free
Pre-registration is available for this event, but not required.

Cancellation Policy:  No refunds available for this event. If you are unsure if you will be able to attend the event, please plan to purchase tickets at the event. All Community Programs will be held unless there is severe weather, in which case you will receive a full registration refund. Please come prepared for the elements as refunds are not available for weather-related conditions except in the case of severe weather and you have been contacted that the program has been canceled.

Please Note: This program will take place indoors and outdoors. In the event of severe weather, the program will be canceled and participants will be notified of their refund options.

Blandford Nature Center partners with groups like the Grand Rapids Audubon Club to support our mission to engage and empower our community through enriching experiences in nature. We are aware of the broader conversations about the impact of John James Audubon’s legacy on today’s diverse birding community and are committed to ensuring an inclusive and welcoming experience for all program participants.

Accessibility information:

The accessible trail:  
The hike will take place on Blandford’s 1-mile accessible trail, which takes you through the woods of Blandford and over into the Highlands! The accessible trail is completely paved and can easily accommodate all wheelchairs. Benches are also available along the length of the trail if rest breaks are needed throughout the hike.  

Parking: 
There are eight accessible parking spaces, two of which can accommodate vans. The parking lot is a well maintained, paved surface with minimal cracks and bumps. Curb cuts are present to provide access from the parking lot to the sidewalk.  There will be an accessible drop off area during this event in the case that all accessible parking spaces have been filled.

Entrance:  
The main entrance to the Visitor Center has a push button automatic door entry with a 0.5-inch metal slope threshold. Entryways have been measured to ensure mobility devices can easily fit through them.  

Bathroom:  
There is one accessible stall in both the men’s and women’s restrooms inside the Visitor Center. Stall size, toilet and sink heights, and entryway widths have all been measured to ensure ease of access for visitors. All-gender bathrooms are not provided at this location. There is one accessible portable toilet in the parking lot of the Highlands if needed. 

Accessibility Equipment:

We have Accessibility Equipment that can be checked out on a first-come, first-served basis for free. The following items are included:

• 2 walkers

• 1 electric mobility scooter

• 1 adult wheelchair

• 1 children’s all-terrain wheelchair (GRIT)

Equipment Check-out Process:

• Blandford staff will explain some basic elements of the equipment and provide a “Quick Start Guide” to the borrower.

• Borrowers must give a set of keys to staff to hold for the duration of equipment use. The keys will be placed in an envelope with the borrower’s name and held in the safe.  

• As the borrower, you must review and sign the Release Agreement prior to leaving the Visitor Center. Please note that if the person using the equipment is under the age of 18 or not their own guardian, the signature of either a parent or legal guardian over the age of 18 is required.

Bird on the Move: Looking to the Past to Secure the Future of the Kirtland’s Warbler

We will close out the 2023/2024 season with our GRAC Annual May Meeting with a special presentation focused on Kirtland's Warblers. Our presenter is Steve Roels - Kirtland’s Warbler Program Director for American Bird Conservancy.

The removal of the Kirtland’s Warbler from the federal endangered species list is a victory for the bird and its champions. Yet threats to the species’ future, including climate change and human development, persist. Examining the deep history of Kirtland’s Warbler and its instinctive behaviors offers hope that the bird, despite its fussy reputation, can adapt to a changing planet. Unprecedented research projects are revealing how the warbler’s movement ecology has enabled its survival across millennia and what we must do support the warbler as it navigates the new millennium. 

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

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. Birders of all skills are welcome.

Essentials: Meet at the new Roselle Park parking lot by the visitor center. It’s entrance is across from Michigan Ave and north of the old 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.

Led By: Alex Field & Spencer High

Join the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, Disability Network West Michigan, and the Grand Rapids Audubon Club for a birding event at Anderson Woods Nature Preserve. The Grand Rapids Audubon Club will lead us as we hike the accessible trail, learn the basics of birding, and put our skills to the test. 

Located near the lakeshore, Anderson Woods provides important nesting and feeding habitat for migratory birds and supports resident birds that require large tracts of unbroken forest. To assist in the identification and tracking of any birds spotted on the trail, we recommend downloading the Merlin Bird ID app. We will have some binoculars available to borrow, but please bring your own if you have them! 

We will cover 1 mile of trail during this event, the max grade of which is 2%. The trailhead parking lot is reserved for accessible parking, additional parking will be available alongside Simonelli Road.

This event will happen outside. In the case of severe or dangerous weather, the event may be postponed or cancelled. Registrants will be notified of any changes via email. 

This event is free for members and the public - however, space is limited, so please register to attend at naturenearby.org/events!

Led By: Becky Kuhn

This is an evening trip meeting first at the Luton Park parking area off Kies St: We will bird the field area for a couple hours and then head into Rockford for a snack and bird around the dam area. At dusk we will return to Luton at dusk for the Woodcocks. While in Rockford we will watch the skies for Chimney Swifts and try to discover their nights’ hideouts! Birders of all skills are welcome.

Essentials: Meet at the Luton Park parking area off Kies St. at 5:30 pm. This evening will not be strenuous. Bug spray may be needed. Binoculars and the Merlin app are great tools. Shoes with good traction are always helpful when hiking in the field. We can carpool from the Luton Parking lot into the Rockford Dam area and back, or you can join in or leave at any point along the itinerary. Safety

Hazards: Drive safely to meet the group. 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 will look for nesting birds, particularly warblers, in Allegan County. Cerulean and Prothonotary Warblers are likely along with Black-throated Green Warbler, and Ovenbird. Pine Warblers are found along connecting roads and we'll stop where we hear one. Potential flycatchers of interest include singing Least Flycatchers and Acadian Flycatchers. Other rare birds that have been found along Swan Creek include Worm-eating and Hooded Warblers. We’ll start at the M89 highbanks and head south along Swan Creek. This is planned as a morning trip, although we can run longer, with a lunch stop, depending on interest. Possible extensions include the Todd Farm Unit or Saugatuck Dunes State Park.

Essentials: Meet at the McDonald’s in Hudsonville, north of I-196, at 7:30 AM. We will move cars to the car pool lot before heading out. Construction could affect your route to Hudsonville, call if you are having issues. Watch out for heat and bugs. You may want a drink or snack to keep you going, especially if we run long.

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. Bugs and poison ivy are likely; take appropriate precautions. Please have a passenger handle all radio or phone communications while in a car.

Led By: Becky Kuhn

Bird the paved trails and boardwalks. This is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail. It passes through mature woods, shrubby fields and a marsh/lake. This supports a wide variety of resident and migrating birds, the morning could easily produce a list of 60 birds.

Essentials: Meet at 5600 Sunfish Lake Ave, the parking lot by the Cannonsburg Cemetery. We will take a coffee break in the small village of Cannonsburg about 9:30 and then bird northern Townsend Park and the Southern Cannon Trail. This morning will involve a lot of walking, so feel free to join or exit as you wish, comfortable walking shoes are advisable. Water should be included in your pack. Bug spray may be needed. Binoculars and the Merlin app are great tools. Birders of all skill levels are welcome. Bathrooms are available in Cannonsburg and in Townsend Park.

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. Watch for bicycles on both stretches of the Cannon Trail. Please have a passenger handle all radio or phone communications while in a car.

Led By: Becky Kuhn

Meet at the Dolan Sanctuary at 10350 Baker Ave SE, Alto. This is between 100th and 108th Streets. If parking is tight, we will carpool from Maher Sanctuary which is just around the corner. We will take a snack break at the bakery across the road and then bird Maher Sanctuary. Mature woods, a great fishing stream, and wet areas support a good variety of song birds. Typically are home to Acadian and Least flycatchers and both Cuckoos. A rarity usually shows up here among the many warblers and vireos during migration and sometimes hangs around.

Essentials: This morning will involve a lot of walking, possibly on muddy trails, so feel free to join or exit as you wish. Water should be included in your pack, bug spray may be needed, binoculars and the Merlin app are great tools and comfortable hiking shoes are a must. Birders of all skill levels are welcome. There are no bathrooms

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: Becky Kuhn

Meet at the parking lot at 6440 West River Dr NE. This is great woodpecker habitat and the mature woods, beside the Grand River, and many inland ponds are popular with a number of small and large birds of prey.

Essentials: This evening will involve walking on trails that are often muddy, bug spray may be needed, binoculars and the Merlin app are great tools. Birders of all skill levels are welcome. There are port-a-johns.

Safety Hazards: Drive safely to meet the group.

Led By: Steve Minard

This is planned as a summer trip to the marsh at Lane’s Landing in the Muskegon State Game Area. Nesting birds have settled in and many of them should be attending to their young. It is one of the better times of year to see Least Bitterns in flight. They are present in this marsh and if you are watching carefully, and you are lucky, you may see one make a brief flight from on spot to another in the marsh. Rails, ducks and cranes are also possible. Depending on time, we may visit other nearby birding areas.

Essentials: Meet at the Boy Scout Headquarters west off Walker Road just north of I-96 at 8:00AM. 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 is one of the newer Kent County Parks. It has a parking lot and a trail that heads across the field and down to the Thornapple River. There are a couple of loops along the river. I was impressed with early warblers here in 2023 and thought it would make a good trip. We’ll see if the warblers and other birds cooperate this year.

Essentials: Meet at the park at 7081 Alaska Ave at 8:00 am. This is on the east side of the Thornapple River just south of 68 th St near the village of Alaska.. We should be on the trail for about 2 hours. You may want to bring a drink and a snack to keep you going.

Safety Hazards: Driving to the location should be the main hazard. Avoid the Poison Ivy and don’t fall in the river.

Led By: Steve Minard

Join Steve for an August shorebird trip. The Wastewater is one of the better spots in the area for finding shorebirds. Shorebirds such as Semipalmated Plover, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Lesser Yellowlegs are likely. Black-bellied Plover, American Golden-Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Baird’s Sandpiper, and Buff-breasted Sandpiper are possible. Ducks and field birds are also likely to be seen. This year the plan is to meat at the Muskegon Wastewater and spend the morning looking for shorebirds.

Essentials: Meet at the main entrance to the Muskegon Wastewater, now signed as the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center on the east side of Maple Island Rd. at 9:00 AM. This is where we meet for bluebird box cleaning in March. Bring your binoculars. A spotting scope, a drink and snacks will be helpful. This trip is planned for the morning.

Safety Hazards: Driving in a caravan can be hazardous. Get directions from the leaders 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.