UPCOMING EVENTS
Bluebird Box Cleaning At The Muskegon Wastewater
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.
Winter Climate Watch Survey
Become a Citizen Scientist and take part in National Audubon’s Climate Watch Survey
Understanding how birds are responding to climate change is essential to protecting them.
We need your help to do just that by counting and documenting how their ranges are shifting. Audubon’s Climate Watch program contributes to scientific analysis by providing vital data on how birds are faring with climate change. The more information we have on birds across the country, the better prepared we will be to advocate for necessary responses to the risks birds are facing.
Save the dates of the winter survey period taking place between January 15 – February 15, 2024 and help us count bluebirds, nuthatches or goldfinches.
Your participation helps to provide experts with important information about species numbers, distribution and habits. It is a fun way to become involved in protecting the environment and helping bird populations.
To learn more about how you can participate locally, please visit the Climate Watch page on our website.
2024 Chirstmas Bird Count
Help the Grand Rapids Audubon Club Survey Early-Winter Birds in West Michigan!
This is our club’s 64th 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!
Bird Trivia at Speciation Cellars
Led By: Spencer High and Alex Field
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - IT’S ROUND 2 OF BIRD TRIVIA!
Join us as we host another evening of Bird Trivia at Speciation Cellars. This time, we will be testing your knowledge on Bird Migration, Winter Bird Residents and a bunch of other topics ranging from Bird Song Identification to Celebrity Birds. More details to come as the event gets closer.
Birds & Brews
Hosted By: Audubon Great Lakes and Grand Rapids Audubon Club
In order to address an issue as big as climate change, we need to work together. Join Audubon Great Lakes and Grand Rapids Audubon Club for the 2024 Grand Rapids Birds and Brews, a free happy-hour style event where you’ll learn about opportunities to do just that — work together to address climate change and the biggest threats facing Michigan birds.
Join bird and nature lovers from across Grand Rapids for this birdy event, where you’ll hear from policy experts on the solutions to protect birds and our communities and how you can help advance them — all while enjoying a complimentary drink on us!
Space is limited. RSVP at mobilize.us/audubon-great-lakes/event/700530/ today to save your spot.
Celebrating the Christmas Bird Count
Audubon's 124th Christmas Bird Count is Dec. 14, 2023, through Jan. 5, 2024. The Kent County/Grand Rapids Audubon Club's Christmas Bird Count is Saturday, Dec. 30. Join us as we highlight how anyone can join in this tradition to support birds through citizen science and ways to get involved with the local birding community, year-round. There is no cost to attend the exhibition program and no pre-registration is required.
Explore Your Parks: Discover Birds in Grand Rapids
Join us as we discover the birds of Huff Park!
This event is in partnership with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks.