Saturday - Sunday, September 16th - 17th – Hawkfest
HawkFest is a two-day celebration for the whole family, focusing on birds of prey (eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls) and the annual fall hawk migration over Lake Erie Metropark. HawkFest includes vendors such as Vortex Optics, the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge, Wild Birds Unlimited, Rusty Feathers Design, Detroit Audubon, and Oakland Audubon. The Michigan Hawking Club will be on hand with live birds of prey. Joe Rogers, from the Wildlife Recovery Association, will be conducting programming throughout the day, both Saturday and Sunday, and Reg Pettibone, of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin will be performing the “Dance of the Eagle” Sunday afternoon.
Ages: Fun for all ages! Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Cost: FREE Location: Lake Erie Metropark, Marshlands Museum Pre-registration is NOT required
Sunday, September 17th - Birds, Bikes & Wines Bike Tour
On this tour you will casually roll down the Leelanau Trail making detours to hand selected birding hot spots hosted by Grand Traverse Audubon Club. After a morning of birding we roll to Shady Lane Winery for lunch and wine tasting overlooking the vineyards. Then you continue down the trail to another boutique winery to finish out the day. The tour starts in Traverse City and finishes at our shop in Suttons Bay. The tour is led by our knowledgeable local guides we ride as a group down the paved scenic trail passing farms, orchards and vineyards along the way.
*Note– Hotel fees are not included in the price. (Because we are starting early, we do recommend booking a hotel room the night before or even making it a weekend trip to Traverse City.)
We ride about 3-4 miles in between each stop. The support van is always near by to pick up wine purchases or for rain rescue and just about anything else that may come up. The total tour is about 15 miles of casual riding.
Ages: 21 and older Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Cost: $79 general admission Location: tour starts in Traverse City and finishes at Suttons Bay Pre-registration is required
Sunday, September 24th – Raptors on the River Fundraiser
Join us on the Diamond Belle for an evening river birding cruise as we search for local bird species, educate about raptor migration and sip on drinks from a cash bar. There will be six bird guides touring with us to help spot birds and educate about those seen. There will also be a ‘crash course’ on raptors and other birds.
Ages: 21 and older Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Cost: $50 general admission Location: Diamond Jack's River Tours Pre-registration is required
Sunday, October 1st – Welcome to Birding Field Trip
Join us for a guided bird walk of Crosswinds Marsh in partnership with Wayne County Parks. This walk will highlight the avian biodiversity for forest and marsh species such as waterfowl, upland birds and raptors, including resident nesting Bald Eagles. Birders of all experience levels are welcome!
Ages: Fun for all ages! Time: 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm Cost: FREE Location: Crosswinds Marsh Pre-registration is required
Saturday, October 7th - Lake Erie Metropark Field Trip
Lake Erie Metropark is one of the best places for hawk migration in North America if the winds are right. We will be looking for fall migrants including warblers, hawks, ducks, herons, and other marsh birds, and often hundreds of both kinds of kinglets. And its just a great time to get out to enjoy the fall colors. We will traverse woodlands, boardwalks, and observation platforms looking for warblers, other songbirds and migrating water birds. We will also go down to the boat launch to observe the hawk migration for a while. Some years the number of hawks can be spectacular!
Ages: Fun for all ages! Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Cost: $12.00 General Admission, $8.00 for Detroit Audubon Chapter members Location: Lake Erie Metropark Pre-registration is required
Saturday, October 7th - Fall Open Water Birding Paddle Trip
Join us as we paddle along Newburgh Lake this Fall season while combining two favorite activities, birding and boating. For this event, attendees will enjoy paddling along the water with picturesque colors painting the landscape and the echoes of birds singing. Sign up for the Friends of the Rouge Fall Open Water Birding Paddle Trip on the Rouge. Meet at the Newburgh Lake Boat Launch in Livonia, MI and explore the native birds of the Rouge Watershed with the Detroit Audubon Society. Livery and shuttle services will be provided. If you are bringing your own boat, there is a $10 shuttle fee. It is $40 to rent a kayak or canoe.
Ages: Fun for all ages! Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Cost: $10 to $40 Location: Newburgh Lake Pre-registration is required
Saturday, October 14th - Elmwood Cemetery Bird and History Walk
This is one in a series of walks to explore the birds, unique landmarks, and history of this beautiful 86-acre cemetery which is among the top “must-see” historic sites in Detroit. Designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and dedicated in 1846, the cemetery provides a unique opportunity to experience the nature, culture, and history of Detroit. This event is great for beginning birders, young birders, or anyone just trying to get outside and explore a new part of the city!
Ages: Fun for all ages! Time: 8:30 am - 10:30 am Cost: $6 General Admission, $4 for Detroit Audubon Chapter members Location: Elmwood Cemetery Pre-registration is required
Humbug Marsh is a 410 acre hotspot of biodiversity in an urban landscape designated as a Wetland of International Importance. Located along the Detroit River, straddling both Trenton and Gibraltar Michigan, this site is the last undeveloped mile of the Detroit River on the U.S. side of the border. Detroit Audubon was a leader in the fight to preserve this area! We will traverse native prairies, native shrublands, forests with a unique mosaic of 300-400 year old oaks mixed with hickory and ash, diverse wetlands, and beautiful Humbug Island. We will look for warblers, other songbirds, as well as migrating and resident water birds.
Ages: Fun for all ages! Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Cost: $12 General Admission, $8 for Detroit Audubon Chapter members Location: Humbug Marsh Pre-registration is required
