Jackson Audubon Society upcoming events

Kate Palmer Fall Workbee (Saturday, September 26, 2026)

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Spring Workbee at the Kate Palmer Sanctuary

9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

We will be doing trail maintenance, invasives management, and general cleanup of grounds and trails.

O'Brien Rd. Near McCain Rd., Jackson
Meet at Parking lot
GPS Coordinates: 42.234557, -84.490496

Wear sturdy shoes or boots. Bring gloves, water, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

For more information, contact Allen King at allenjking211@gmail.com.

Portage Lake State Park (Tuesday, October 06, 2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Join us for a walk through Portage Lake State Park. We'll check the lake and the forest for fall migrants.

Hermit Thrush (Don Henise)
Past the entrance turn left toward the boat launch area. We will meet at the picnic tables under the pavilion near the boat launch. There is plenty of cover and restrooms. Meet around 9 AM and go to about 12.

email jacksonaudubon@gmail.com for more information

PROGRAM: Michigan Reptiles and Amphibians Up Close & JAS Member Meeting (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Michigan Reptiles and Amphibians Up Close

Jim and Carol McGrath of Nature Discovery present, ”Michigan Reptiles and Amphibians Up Close.” They will feature live frogs, salamanders, turtles and snakes, their behaviors and needs. We will learn how to help them survive.

Blanding's turtle

Meetings will begin with a social time at 6:30 PM then the member meeting followed by the program starting at 7:00 PM.

Bring recyclables (magazines, feeders, etc.) to the program.

Weather cancellation Policy: JAS programs and activities will be cancelled if Jackson Schools close.

Haehnle Sanctuary Thursday Workday-Seed Gathering (Thursday, October 15, 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary

Annual Seed Gathering

1 to 4 PM

Join us for our annual fall seed gathering. Volunteers will work with Chad Machinski from Michigan Audubon to harvest seeds from our grasslands to use in the future at Haehnle and other Michigan Audubon properties.

Volunteers can assist from 1 to 4 PM. Tools and materials are provided. Wear sturdy work boots.

Registration is required.
To register, email jacksonaudubon@gmail.com.

Seed Gathering (Chad Machinski)

Haehnle is located at the intersection of Seymour Rd & Fairlane Dr, Grass Lake.
The sanctuary is across the street.

Goggle Map
Meet at the Wing Overlook kiosk on Seymour Road.

Watkins Lake Park & Preserve Autumn Tour (Tuesday, October 27, 2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Watkins Lake Park & Preserve Autumn Tour

Join us for a visit to Watkins lake State Park and Washtenaw County Preserve for fall tour. We will walk the Washtenaw Preserve east and check out the view from the top of the park. Then cross over to the State Park and lake and check out the waterfowl activity on the lake.

View from the top (Steve Jerant)

Meet at the parking lot which is on the north side of the park on Arnold Rd.A Michigan Recreational Pass is required for the parking lot.
Vault toilet facilities are available in the parking lot area.

Google Map

For information email jacksonaudubon@gmail.com

Weather cancellation Policy: JAS programs and activities will be cancelled if Jackson Schools close.

PROGRAM: Wren Talk & JAS Annual Membership Meeting (Tuesday, November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Wren Talk

Dale Kennedy, Professor Emerita, Biology Department at Albion College, presents, “Wren Talk.” Dale and Doug have done research on the house wren for 32 years. Dale will discuss various aspects of the wren vocalizations, including male songs, feeding calls from the young wrens in the nest even scolding sounds and responses.

Jackson Audubon Society will have its annual membership meeting preceding the program.

Meetings will begin with a social time at 6:30 PM then the member meeting followed by the program starting at 7:00 PM.

Bring recyclables (magazines, feeders, etc.) to the program.

Weather cancellation Policy: JAS programs and activities will be cancelled if Jackson Schools close.

Haehnle Sanctuary Thursday Workday (Thursday, November 19, 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary Thursday Workday

1:00 to 4 PM

Monthly workdays continue in support of habitat restoration and general maintenance. These are scheduled for the 3rd Thursday of each month. Chad Machinski from Michigan Audubon and Steve Jerant from Jackson Audubon will lead the work. Volunteers can assist from 1:00 to 4 PM. Tools and materials are provided. Wear sturdy work boots.

Registration is required so we are able to plan work type and location in the sanctuary.

To register, email jacksonaudubon@gmail.com.

Seed Gathering (Chad Machinski)

Haehnle is located at the intersection of Seymour Rd & Fairlane Dr, Grass Lake.
The sanctuary is across the street.

Goggle Map
Meet at the Wing Overlook kiosk on Seymour Road.

Wingspan IV (Tuesday, December 08, 2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Wingspan IV

Join us for the FOURTH Annual JAS Wingspan Winter Games!

Come out of the snow and cold and join JAS members for a few rounds of the wonderful birding game Wingspan. This award-winning game from creator Elizabeth Hargrave is a great way to spend a winter morning with fellow birders. Wingspan is a medium-weight, card-driven, engine-building board game. I'm not a gamer but I think that means it's complicated-- but it is quite fun and very interesting. It really challenges you to think in several dimensions at once while playing.

(Wingspan)

This event will be at The Dahlem Center at 9 AM. 7117 South Jackson Rd. We will be using the meeting room. Bring some snacks and warm drinks. For more information, reply to the announcement email or email jacksonaudubon@gmail.com

Google Map

Weather cancellation Policy: JAS programs and activities will be cancelled if Jackson Schools close.

Haehnle Sanctuary Thursday Workday (Thursday, December 17, 2026)

Thu, 17 Dec 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary Thursday Workday

1:00 to 4 PM

Registration is required so we are able to plan work type and location in the sanctuary.

To register, email jacksonaudubon@gmail.com.

Seed Gathering (Chad Machinski)

Haehnle is located at the intersection of Seymour Rd & Fairlane Dr, Grass Lake.
The sanctuary is across the street.

Goggle Map
Meet at the Wing Overlook kiosk on Seymour Road.

PROGRAM: Peaks of Europe: The Alps to the Dolomites & JAS Member Meeting (Tuesday, January 12, 2027)

Tue, 12 Jan 2027 23:30:00 GMT

Peaks of Europe: The Alps to the Dolomites

Gary Siegrist presents, “Peaks of Europe: The Alps to the Dolomites.” Join Gary and Nancy as they travel through six countries in Europe to experience the Alps and the Dolomites. Highlights include Mont Blanc, Alpine Valley Walks, and an extended stay in Venice.

Meetings will begin with a social time at 6:30 PM then the member meeting followed by the program starting at 7:00 PM.

Bring recyclables (magazines, feeders, etc.) to the program.

Weather cancellation Policy: JAS programs and activities will be cancelled if Jackson Schools close.

PROGRAM: Designing with Native Plants & JAS Member Meeting (Tuesday, February 09, 2027)

Tue, 09 Feb 2027 23:30:00 GMT

Designing with Native Plants

Shannon Gibb-Randall, landscape architect and owner of InSite Design Studio presents, “Designing with Native Plants.” Her work involves the use of native plants to absorb water and provide habitat. We will learn how to improve our gardens in both urban and rural areas.

Meetings will begin with a social time at 6:30 PM then the member meeting followed by the program starting at 7:00 PM.

Bring recyclables (magazines, feeders, etc.) to the program.

Weather cancellation Policy: JAS programs and activities will be cancelled if Jackson Schools close.

PROGRAM: Wild Birds of Prey & JAS Member Meeting (Tuesday, March 09, 2027)

Tue, 09 Mar 2027 23:30:00 GMT

Wild Birds of Prey

Joe and Barb Rogers of Wildlife and Recovery Association, present, “Wild Birds of Prey.” They will have owls, falcons and doves on display to teach us about their communication and the problems they face daily.

Meetings will begin with a social time at 6:30 PM then the member meeting followed by the program starting at 7:00 PM.

Bring recyclables (magazines, feeders, etc.) to the program.

Weather cancellation Policy: JAS programs and activities will be cancelled if Jackson Schools close.

PROGRAM: Bird Nerd Trivia & JAS Member Meeting (Tuesday, April 13, 2027)

Tue, 13 Apr 2027 22:30:00 GMT

Bird Nerd Trivia

“Bird Nerd Trivia”—Host and trivia creator, John Scaramucci, will guide members through a quizzical journey involving several stages of bird-centric trivia. This will feature individual game play, an honor system of score keeping (Just like birding). Players will follow along with the PowerPoint presentation, recording answers on a checklist provided by the host and earn points for correct answers. Birders of all skill levels are encouraged to come and have a lot of fun.

Meetings will begin with a social time at 6:30 PM then the member meeting followed by the program starting at 7:00 PM.

Bring recyclables (magazines, feeders, etc.) to the program.

Weather cancellation Policy: JAS programs and activities will be cancelled if Jackson Schools close.