Spring is always an exciting time for birding. Migrating birds are returning, those that stay in Michigan year round are busy looking for a mate and building nests. And the symphony of bird songs is never-ending. So when I was asked to speak at a birding event in Eastpointe on May 18, no one had to ask me twice. Get out of the office – check. Spend a beautiful afternoon/evening outside searching for birds – double-check.
I had the pleasure of speaking in the Nourished By Nature series at Eastpointe Memorial Library. an experience-based outdoor series aimed at connecting people who have not had access to unique, place-based outdoor activities. Sponsored by the Clinton River Watershed Council, the event included speakers from the Detroit Zoo, the city of Eastpointe, the Eastpointe Memorial Library, the Macomb Audubon Society, Urban Seed and yours truly representing Macomb County Parks and Natural Resources.
Participants learned about the importance of bird surveys, birding and biodiversity, the connection to Eastpointe, local songbirds, tree canopy covers, and how to identify different bird species.
I told participants about the St. Clair/Macomb Birding Trail, a joint project with St. Clair County designed to make bird watchers aware of 38 premium locations to see birds that are sprinkled between the two counties.
The project, funded by a grant from the Michigan Coastal Management Program, helped develop a website as well as a paper map and field guide. Both resources alert users to the amenities found at each location, common and rare sightings bird watchers should expect to see at each location, and whether or not the sites require a fee for entrance.
For the second half of the event, participants were provided binoculars, if they needed them, and a survey sheet to record birds that they saw in our hike around the library.
Most of the birds that we saw were those typically found in an urban setting, such as grackles, starlings, robins and pigeons. But we also saw a female Baltimore Oriole, a Red-tailed hawk and a blue heron flying off in the distance, perhaps on its way to Lake St. Clair. It is always amazing what you can see and hear if you just take the time to do it.
After the monitoring, the group reconvened at the Eastpointe Community Garden to discuss the wildlife that it saw and collect the data.
It was a great event for all of the first-time birders, as well as those more experienced, to learn about all of the resources available to birders to learn how to better identify the feathered friends around us and perhaps leave with an interest in developing a new hobby.
The next Nourished By Nature event will be a kayaking excursion in June along the Salt River that will help paddlers learn how to identify aquatic invasive species before stopping at a locally owned custard shop.
To learn more about the Nourished By Nature series, go to crwc.org/.
Don Gardner is a communications specialist for the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development.
