2025
JANUARY
11 (Saturday) Polar Plumage
- Saturday, January 11, 2025
- 9:00 AM 10:30 AM
- Governmental Center (map)
Description: GTCD naturalists and Grand Traverse Audubon Board member Kirk Waterstripe invite you to a community bird watching hike along the Boardman-Ottaway River and Boardman Lake.
Where: Meet at the Governmental Center, County of Grand Traverse, 400 Boardman Ave, Traverse City, MI 49684.
Registration: Free. Registration is required. Please click here to register.
APRIL
26 (Saturday) MakerFest: Recycle Smart & TADL program
Grand Traverse Audubon Club will have a booth at this event to be held inside the Howe Arena at the G.T. Civic Center from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. We’ll demonstrate how to report and identify birds in our area. We’ll let you know the birding hotspots we’ve found. We will be raffling off Bluebird Nest Boxes. In addition, we’ll have a binocular workshop regarding best binocular magnification for birding; focusing; and maintaining & cleaning them. There is a long list of interesting vendors and activities.
MAY
16-17 (Friday – Saturday) – Tawas Point Migration Days
http://ausablevalleyaudubon.org
Spend an amazing weekend witnessing a spectacular spring migration in northeastern Michigan along Lake Huron. View a wide variety of migratory birds as they rest and feed at Tawas Point State Park. From waterfowl to songbirds, you’ll see it all! The Tawas Point Migration celebration offers nonstop birding activities and interesting information sure to entertain everyone.
Birding and photography volunteers will be available at Tawas Point (Free to all) 8 a.m. to dusk on Friday & Saturday. Information will be available for birding spots, including Hale, Oscoda, Tawas City, and East Tawas, such as Tuttle Marsh, Largo Springs, Lumberman’s Monument, and the Scenic River Road Byway. A bird sighting list will be on display near the lighthouse trailhead on Friday & Saturday. Contact: Amy Kohlhepp (517) 489-7879
June
8 (Sunday) GT Audubon hosting Detroit Bird Alliance Birds and Bikes – (Details to Follow)
*COMPLETED COMMUNITY EVENTS 2024*
APRIL
24 (Wednesday) – BLUEBIRDS: Thinking Inside the Box (Video Presentation) (Completed)
Public Welcome / Bring a Friend. 7:00 pm at UUCTC / 6726 Center Road / TC, MI 49686.
Wildlife photographer, Charles St. Charles takes you on an adventure INSIDE the box of nesting bluebirds. Filmed in Tustin, MI, it highlights the life cycle of the Eastern Bluebird and explores how they find mates; build nests; lay & hatch eggs; and raise their young. Sponsored by the Universal Unitarians Green Sanctuary Committee. *This video will be shown after the regular Wed. Night Potluck at 5:30pm. If you wish to attend the Potluck also, please contact Chris Lautz to let her know you are coming: chrislautz7777@gmail.com
13 (Saturday) – Bluebird Nest Box Workshop (Free) (Completed)
Michigan Bluebird Society will be holding a Nest Box Workshop on Saturday, April 13th from 10:00 until noon. It will be held at the Boardman River Nature Center at 1450 Cass Rd, TC. The event is FREE and pre-registration is not required. The program will cover subjects like how to select the right nest box, locate a box properly, mount a nest box and monitor it to ensure optimal results. Nest boxes, poles, and some accessories will be available for sale, so attendees can leave with everything they need to successfully attract nesting bluebirds. There will be bluebird experts on hand to answer questions. (Note: all sales proceeds after costs go to help bluebird education and conservation.) Event contact: Greg Miller at ridgeview1111@gmail.com
13 & 14: Mackinaw Straits Raptor Watch – Red-tailed Hawk weekend (come master the ID of this very common but very variable raptor. (Completed)
27 & 28: Mackinaw Straits Raptor Watch – Broad-Winged Bonanza weekend (Completed)
https://www.mackinacraptorwatch.org/events/
20 (Saturday) – MakerFest: Green Edition / Recycle Smart & TADL program (Completed)
Grand Traverse Audubon Club will have a booth at this event to be held inside the Howe Arena at the G.T. Civic Center from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. We’ll demonstrate how to report and identify birds in our area. We’ll let you know the birding hotspots we’ve found. We will be raffling off Bluebird Nest Boxes. In addition, at 1:00, we’ll have a binocular workshop regarding best binocular magnification for birding; focusing; and maintaining & cleaning them. There is a long list of interesting vendors and activities: MakerFest 2024 – Special Earth Day Edition!
MAY
17-18 (Friday – Saturday) – Tawas Point Migration Days (Completed)
http://ausablevalleyaudubon.org
Spend an amazing weekend witnessing a spectacular spring migration in northeastern Michigan along Lake Huron. View a wide variety of migratory birds as they rest and feed at Tawas Point State Park. From waterfowl to songbirds, you’ll see it all! The Tawas Point Migration celebration offers nonstop birding activities and interesting information sure to entertain everyone.
Birding and photography volunteers will be available at Tawas Point (Free to all) 8 a.m. to dusk on Friday & Saturday. Information will be available for birding spots, including Hale, Oscoda, Tawas City, and East Tawas, such as Tuttle Marsh, Largo Springs, Lumberman’s Monument, and the Scenic River Road Byway. A bird sighting list will be on display near the lighthouse trailhead on Friday & Saturday.
MAY-JUNE
29 – 2 (Friday through Tuesday) – Aldo Leopold Festival (Completed)
Beginning in the early 1890s, the Leopold family made annual treks from their Burlington, Iowa, home to their cottage, first by steam ferry from Chicago to Mackinac Island and later by rail. There, young Leopold spent his days in the woods and on the water. He would map trails and make lists of flora and fauna. His efforts & influence on modern land ethics, land and wildlife conservation, and the American love of the land are celebrated annually during this festival at the Les Cheneaux Islands, Michigan in the U.P. near Hessel Michigan. Registration opens April 1, 2024.
For more information: https://www.aldoleopoldfestival.org
31-1st (Friday-Saturday) – Kirtland’s Warbler Festival (Local Event of Interest – A Kirtland Community College sponsored event) (Completed)
https://www.facebook.com/kirtlandwarblerfestival /
June
8 (Saturday) – Nature Fest – Green ER (Completed)
Come check out our G.T. Audubon booth at the Nature Fest in Elk Rapids Veterans Park. This event will be held from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. We’ll have a fun challenge for the little kiddos, a raffle for a couple of bird nesting boxes, and lots of local birding information.
https://www.greenelkrapids.org/nature-fest-event-info—24.html
23-28 (Sunday thru Friday) – Michigan Young Birders Camp (sponsored by Michigan Audubon Society) (Completed)
The 2024 Michigan Young Birders Camp (MYBC) will be held June 23–28 at Alma College. Participants will travel around the state, visiting different habitats and important bird areas. Throughout camp, we’ll discuss bird conservation topics, identification tips and techniques, and hear from guest speakers on topics related to birds. Click here: Michigan Audubon Young Birders Camp Information
OCTOBER
12th (Saturday) – October Big Day – (Completed)
Come to Medalie Park in Logan’s Landing in Traverse City at 9:00 am to participate in a joint October Big Day venture between Grand Traverse Audubon Club and the Grand Traverse Conservation District. You’ll be greeted by GT Audubon member Kathie Wiley and a facilitator with the GT Conservation District. The October Big Day is an annual bird census conducted throughout the world by volunteers like you. We’ll start at Medalie Park and work our way around the Boardman Lake. We’ll be submitting observations and supporting conservation worldwide. You’ll help count birds and learn how the data is entered online. 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. We’ll start at Medalie Park and work our way around the Boardman Lake. (Approximately 4 miles) Come for all or part of the walk. Contact leader and coordinator Kathie Wiley (231-409-8913)