JAS Oak Openings Trip

Five members of JAS traveled over the border to the Oak Openings Metropark in Ohio. The weather was in the 60’s to 70’s, mostly sunny, and a light wind--our best weather for a tour this year, I think.

The carpool group stopped at the Toledo Airport area for a look at the grassland across the street. We didn’t get any great grassland birds but a decent start to our list on the 10-minute stop.

We met up with the rest of the group at the Metropark Lodge and birded that area for about half an hour. We saw the first of many Red-headed Woodpeckers for the day. This is just a great looking bird and a good indicator of savanna habitat.

(Red-headed Woodpecker, Brenda Wineman)

From the lodge area we went south on the Evergreen Lake trail. We met a local birder who had a lead on a Yellow-breasted Chat he reported was very active the day before. We followed him west on the Silver Trail then the Horse trail until we tracked down the now more reclusive chat. We all got to hear him, but alas not all of us had a good look. The walk continued south then back east toward the Evergreen trail after fighting the mosquitoes. In addition to the chat, we also got Red-eyed, White-eyed, and Yellow-throated Vireos as well as a juvenile Summer Tanager.

(Baltimore Oriole, Brenda Wineman)

(Native bee, Brenda Wineman)

(Indigo Bunting, Brenda Wineman)

We returned to the lodge and drove over to the intersection of Girdham & Reed Rds. This area has Vesper and Lark Sparrow, neither of which, unfortunately, we got. Walking the roadside we were able to get Orchard Oriole, and three more swallow species, including a lone Purple Martin.

(Eastern Towhee & Brown-headed Cowbird, Brenda Wineman)

After birding the morning, we were off to Whitehouse for a lunch at the Whitehouse Inn. Since we were outside and I wanted to augment our bird list in any way possible, another list was opened while we ate. The birds were, shall we say, metropolitan types, but I love to hear Chimney Swifts on a summer day. There is so much noise in towns, it’s wonderful to hear a native species in the mix.

(On the Horse trail looking for the elusive chat, Brenda Wineman)

Our eBird trip report including 5 lists of 44 species is available at: https://ebird.org/tripreport/383803

Free Methodist Church Presentation 

On May 6th, Joanna Sblendorio and Penny Rund gave a presentation to a class of fifth graders at the Free Methodist Church. The group had been studying birds during the school year. The interactive presentation began with some fun facts about a few species of birds. A brief overview of the Jackson Audubon Society was given along with some local spots for birding in Jackson County.

Joanna and Penny brought binoculars, a spotting scope, field guides, 3D printed bird skulls and photos of various birds and nests. Different types of nests were discussed as well as the difference between precocial and altricial birds. A topic of discussion during the presentation was what type of bird each student would choose to be (precocial or altricial) and why. The students were very active and interested participants.

Dahlem Big Sit 

On May 27th, the Jackson Audubon Society conducted its annual Big Sit day at Dahlem Environmental Education Center. A total of 29 species were observed and/or heard. While we didn’t see or hear many warblers (only an American Restart, a Common Yellowthroat and a Yellow Warbler), there were some good views of raptors soaring overhead - Broad winged Hawk, Red tailed Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk. Seven people participated in the Big Sit. This event is always a nice alternative to the regular field trips when we are “on the move.” The group enjoyed sharing snacks and conversation.

This year’s trip down to visit Magee Marsh looked like our very wet tour from a few years back, but the weather held. We even had a spot of blue sky on the way down and about 90 seconds of sunshine while on the boardwalk.

Seven birders joined for this annual tour of Magee Marsh west to the Howard Marsh Metropark. After meeting at the east end of the Magee Marsh property we walked the boardwalk east to west for about 3 hours. As expected, all 18 warblers seen on the trip were observed here. There were sightings of Mourning and Canada, but we did not get either.

Notable for us was a Hooded Warbler, several (and one very friendly) Prothonotary Warbler and an Olive-sided Flycatcher.

After the board walk and lunch, we took the cars and drove over to the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. We checked the entrance Pool and then did the Wildlife Drive. During this 2-hour drive, parts of the group peeled off. We saw about a dozen Bald Eagles during the drive.

The three of us remaining finished birding with a drive through the Howard Marsh Metropark. Then we had ice cream!

The day’s total was 71 species. The eBird Trip Report is available at:

2025-05-13 JAS Magee Marsh & Surrounds Trip - eBird Trip Report

On Tuesday, April 29, Penny Rund made a presentation to residents of Faith Haven Senior Care Centre in Jackson. The program focused on the increase in the number of individuals who consider themselves to be birders in post-Covid times as well as the economics of birding.

In 2022, it was estimated to be a $108 billion industry in the United States generating approximately 1.4 million jobs. She also discussed the diversity of bird species focusing on Common Loons, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Arctic terns, Laysan Albatross and, of course, Kirtland’s Warbler.

Fourteen adults and one fledgling came out on Tuesday for our annual wildflower walk through the Nan Weston Nature Preserve.

Group & fledgling (Brenda Wineman)

The spring ephemerals tour was led by Joann Ballbach.  She kicked it off with Spring Beauties, a delightful little flower that is very well named.

We crossed the recently cleared powerline right of way.  The area was significantly disturbed due to line upgrades but a few patches of Mayapple were holding strong in the clearing. We continued with Yellow, then later White and, yes Violet Violets.  Once in the wetter area of the walk Skunk Cabbage and Marsh Marigold were prolific.

Our list of plants included Wild Strawberries, Dwarf Ginseng, Miterwort, White Trillium, Rue Anemone, Cutleaf Toothwort, Bellwort, Bloodroot, Dutchman’s Briefs, Squirrel Corn, Phlox, Hepatica, and Golden Ragwort.

Throughout our walk, Joann shared Greek (not Roman) mythological and American folklore stories and uses for the plants we saw.

Unfortunately, about 0.1 mile from the river, I had to call the tour off due to high winds. 

(Steve Jerant)

In addition to the plants, our bird list tallied 19 species, which is pretty good considering we were ‘heads down' as it were, looking for the first blooms of spring.

eBird Checklist:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S230858994

Our group of nine birders had a great trip at the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center, aka wastewater ponds.  This huge facility just east of the city of Muskegon is a wonderful place for waterfowl during migration as well as other times of the year.  The facility is very birder friendly and visitors are allowed open access to drive the dikes.  A permit is required. Information, including permit application,  is available on their website. 

The predicted weather was a concern, but as you can see from the photo below, we had both blue skies and a rainbow.  The low temperature, high winds, rain, snow, and sleet were a mild inconvenience.

(Steve Jerant)

After a walk around the visitor’s center area where we got Ring-neck Pheasant, Eastern Meadowlark, and Eastern Bluebird, Ross lead us on our dike tour.  There are two main storage lagoons divided by a dike which is closed to visitors.  This road is popular with the gulls (we estimated nearly 5,000) who settle here when they’re not feeding next door at the landfill. Once on the dike we headed west between the west pond and the aeration facility. Several were active and working to add oxygen to the wastewater to aid bacteria in processing the water.  We drove a complete loop around the lagoons.

(Steve Jerant)

The ponds were filled with ducks and coots and some gulls.  We tallied 20 of these wet species including 4 gull and 16 geese, swan, ducks, and other water birds.  The most abundant were Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Shoveler, and Ruddy.  And there was one lonely Horned Grebe.

Of the 4 gull species we saw a few Bonapart’s and several Lesser Black-backed.  Below is a shot looking down the dike between the two main ponds showing the wall of gulls that congregate there.

(Penny Rund)

After looping the main lagoons, were drove a bit around the “rapid infiltration ponds” to the north on our way out. These were slightly productive, getting us more Meadowlark and a American Kestrel.

Lunch was enjoyed at Turk’s Tavern in Nunica before we migrated back south to Jackson.

The complete eBird checklist is available at:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S226034267

We had eleven volunteers come out to the Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary for our bi-annual workbee today.   It was a beautiful day!

Our main project was to install new interpretive signs that Michigan Audubon had made for the property.  MA worked with an artist to put a custom look on some of the signs including one honoring the work of Larry Waklinshaw and one showing the crane's-eye view of the overlook area.  We completed the installation of 4 signs but have more that will be staged in the coming weeks.  These signs were made possible through the Barton J. Ingraham and Gail G. Ingraham Foundation.  

In addition to the new signage, we also cleared two trail sections blocked by fallen trees, picked up trash on the roads, continued the removal of Asian Bittersweet in the new savanna area, and picked a wonderfully SMALL amount of garlic mustard in the fenced area near the parking lot.

Gary & Chad installing the savanna restoration sign. 

Lathe & Chad after a job well done.

Our monthly workdays continue the third Thursday of the month and the next one is 04/17. Contact Steve at jacksonaudubon@gmail.com to register.

(all photos-Steve Jerant)

We had a very successful PRESCRIBED BURN at the Sanctuary this afternoon.

(Steve Jerant)

22 acres of the grassland in Unit #3 on Wooster Rd. was burned. A short video is available on the JAS YouTube page at
https://youtu.be/BevgE6EI0q4

 Before it gets too much colder I'd like to get our own Alex Johnson's 2024 nest box report out.  The 2024 Nesting Season Summary is her report for the entire state of Michigan nest box data as collected from the Michigan Bluebird Society nest box monitors.  Alex provides monitoring for the nest boxes at the Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary. 

This year's American woodcock walk was scheduled about 15 days later than in previous years.  It wasn't 15 degrees warmer than past years, but we still had a great time.  Ten birders came out on this cold & overcast evening to witness the annual courtship display of the American woodcock.  

About 1oo years ago, here is how Arthur Cleveland Bent described this woodcock:

This mysterious hermit of the alders, this recluse of the boggy thickets, this wood nymph of crepuscular habits is a common bird,… widely known, but not intimately known.

Well, last night we got to know them a bit better.  And two of our group had their first exposure to this wonderful bird.

The walk started at 7:30 and we heard the first 'peents' at about 8:15.  Within about 10 minutes the flights started.  We had broken into three groups by this time and each group had nearby flights going.  We counted 12 individuals in the grassland.

One of the flyers was landing on the mown path, as they reliably do here.  Don Henise was able to get the bird in his scope so all of us could see it up close.  There was enough light to get a really good look.   Unfortunately we did not get any good pics this year, so I'm calling up one of last year's taken by Nolan.

(Nolan Williams, 2024)

We called it good and started our walk back but we had to wait for the little trail boss to launch one more time.  It was another great Woodcock tour of the Riethmiller grasslands in the Waterloo Recreation Area.  This grassland is a great spot in for Henslow, Savannah, & Grasshopper sparrows but you'll need to come back in about 40 degrees.

eBird checklist available at:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S222382165