GRAND TRAVERSE AUDUBON CLUB
2024 Program & Field Trip Schedule
Our regular meetings are usually the fourth Thursday of the month at the Boardman River Nature Center on Cass Road at 7:00 PM. (Except May/June/July) Everyone (including non-members) is welcome to attend!
NOVEMBER
21 (Thursday) – Regular Meeting: GTAC Trivia Night
Are you a birder? Student of birds? Bird nerd? Come to Bird Trivia Night! You and your team will answer questions on bird identification, biology, distribution, birds in culture, and trivia about our local birds.
Trivia Master Kirk Waterstripe says you’ll learn something and have a great time. And you might take home a “fabulous” prize!
23 (Saturday) – Practice Christmas Bird Count
Would you like to participate in a Christmas Bird Count but you’re not sure if your skills are up to the challenge? Want to know more about what happens out there in the cold? Join Kirk Waterstripe, compiler of the Lake Leelanau Count, for an orientation and practice session. We’ll learn how to gather good data, and travel around a count area as a group, honing our skills. We’ll also talk about how to participate as a feeder counter. Meet at Medalie Park (Logan’s Landing) at 9:00 AM.
We’ll be out for the whole morning. We’ll be walking on boardwalks and paved driveways
DECEMBER
19 (Thursday) – Regular Meeting: Member Photos and Videos
Annual Club Holiday Gathering with a showing of member photos and videos. Always a fun time!
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS: Everyone is welcome to help count birds for the 125th annual National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. Contact the CBC compilers listed below for details on how to participate and become a part of history! For more information about how the Christmas Bird Count works go to:
https://www.audubon.org/answers-your-top-questions-about-christmas-bird-count
20th December (Friday) – Antrim County
Contact: Curt Hofer
curthofer1@gmail.com
21st December (Saturday) – Benzie County
Contact: Doug Cook
nedthebirder@gmail.com
14th December (Saturday) – Grand Traverse County
Contact: Nate Crane
231-499-5460
18th December (Wednesday) – Leelanau County
Contact: Kirk Waterstripe
4walkinglightly@gmail.com
*COMPLETED EVENTS- 2024*
JANUARY
25 (Thursday) – Regular Meeting: Birding Adventures in Texas and SE Arizona (Completed)
Club members Nate Crane and Matt Winkler will tell us all about their tremendous birding trip to Texas and SE Arizona. They will have plenty of stories and pictures to share.
MPORTANT! The Board will present the budget for 2024 and you,
the members, will vote on it. Please attend and make your voice
heard!
FEBRUARY
22 (Thursday) – Regular Meeting: Wind Hill Farm and Bird Sanctuary (Completed)
Dale Giddings of Wind Hill Farm and Bird Sanctuary in Wolverine, Michigan will explain about how his organic garden avoids using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Furthermore, he’ll talk about the several Upland Sandpipers on his farm, three of whom nested, and his 30 nest boxes for Bluebirds & Tree Swallows. In addition, he has Kestrels nesting in a natural tree. Jim Bricker, Straits Area Audubon Society, Vice-President, will be accompanying Dale. Dale is coming to us at Jim’s suggestion after Dale’s stellar presentation to their Audubon chapter.
MARCH
21 (Thursday) – Regular Meeting: Scott Sneed (Waterfowl) (Completed)
Scott Sneed will be discussing waterfowl identification and showing some of his amazing photographs. A great opportunity for anyone wanting to learn more about ducks, geese, swans, loons, and grebes.
23 (Saturday) – Spring Waterfowl (Completed)
Shortly after Scott Sneed’s program on March 21st, we’re offering a chance to practice your waterfowl ID and build your skills. Meet Kirk Waterstripe at Medalie Park (Logan’s Landing) at 8:30 am. Contact leader and coordinator Kirk Waterstripe (4walkinglightly@gmail.com) with any questions.
APRIL
12 (Friday) – American Woodcock Dance (CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER)
Join us to see (or listen to) the mating flight display of the American Woodcock, a spring ritual celebrated by nature enthusiasts for decades. Meet at the YMCA on Silver Lake Rd., at the east end of the parking lot, at 7:00 PM. We will caravan to the birding site as a group. *Note that there are no public restroom facilities in the area where we will be birding. Wear footwear suitable for damp meadows. A small flashlight might be useful. Contact leader Kirk Waterstripe (4walkinglightly@gmail.com) with any questions.
18 (Thursday) – Regular Meeting: Nature Observation & Sketching (Completed)
Penny Krebiehl, local artist and founder of Little Artshram, has agreed to do a program on Nature Observation and Sketching on April 18th. She’ll talk about drawing techniques for 15-20 minutes, then we’ll all take our sketchbooks outside and sketch stuff. Penny will offer helpful suggestions as we work. If it rains we can draw the taxidermy mounts in the nature center. Bring a notebook or sketchbook, a pencil, and an eraser to the meeting.
The sun sets about 8:30 pm so we should have good light till the end.
27 (Saturday) Arcadia Marsh (Completed)
The Grand Traverse Audubon Club annual field trip to Arcadia Marsh (on Route 22, Manistee County) is scheduled for Saturday April 27. We’ll look for Sandhill Cranes, waterfowl, blackbirds, early warblers, and much more. *Parts of this trip will be accessible to those with mobility issues. Meet up at the car wash by Meijer on US 31 South at 7:00 AM and then carpool/caravan to the marsh. If if it more convenient for folks, we’ll also stop at Wendy’s parking lot at Interlochen Corners at 7:20 am to carpool/caravan to the marsh. If you would like to meet the group at the marsh parking lot off of M-22 (44.489058, -86.231795) please advise the leaders in advance. Contact leader and coordinator, Pat O’Connor with questions: 231-342-7322 / poconn271@aol.com. (Pat will be driving a Blue Subaru Outback)
MAY
11th through 25th – Bird-a-thon 2024! (Completed)
Let’s combine two things that are a lot of fun and important to us: birding and raising funds for a good cause!
Who? – You, alone or with a few friends
When? – one 24-hour period between May 11th and May 25th, 2024
Where? – somewhere in our region (pick 1-2 counties)
How? – collect pledges from individuals and local businesses, go birding, collect the funds based on how many species you saw, pass them on to the Audubon Club treasurer, who will make the donations.
Why? – to raise money for a donation to:
– Michigan DNR Nongame Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund
– MI Audubon Young Birders Camp
– Our own Walter Hastings Fund for Conservation
For a registration form and pledge sheet, contact Kirk at 4walkinglightly@gmail.com
One team is forming already! There might be a quirky prize for the winning team!
June
15 (Saturday) – Kirtland Warbler Tour – 11:00 am (Completed)
Michigan Audubon, in collaboration with Hartwick Pines State Park, will offer Kirtland’s Warbler Tours in 2024. Tours will be held daily at 7 a.m. with an additional 11 a.m. tour on Saturdays and Sundays from May 25 through June 30. The tours are based at Hartwick Pines State Park just north of downtown Grayling. Tours cost $15 per person, and you must have a Recreation Pass to enter the State Park. Grand Traverse Audubon member Kathie Wiley will be going on this day, (June 15th) to the 11:00 am tour {Carpooling at Tom’s East Bay at 9:45 am}, and is hopeful others will register for this date and timeframe as well. Kathie has gone on this tour before and found it thrilling to not only hear, but see this amazing bird that was once on the brink of extinction.
Registration for the tours opens online on February 2, 2024 and they are limited to 25 people.
https://www.michiganaudubon.org/kirtlands-warbler-tours/
Contact leader and coordinator: Kathie Wiley: treasurer@grandtraverseaudubon.org
August
10 (Saturday) – Houghton Lake Sewage Ponds – 8:30 am – Completed
Directions to Houghton Lake Sewage Ponds
Before birding, we’ll be greeted by one of the staff of the HL Sewer Authority who will sign us in and give us a brief overview of how the ponds help ecology, hence birds. It’s a big thing that they are offering this special access on a Saturday to Grand Traverse Audubon. They typically limit birding to these ponds to Monday through Friday during business hours. Caravan/Carpool option: Meet up in the MDOT Park-n-Ride lot at the Acme Meijer at 7:00am for anyone that is interested in carpooling. Curt will be there to greet all and encourages car-pooling. Directions to MDOT Park n’ Ride Acme Meijer’s
We’re looking forward to seeing lots of ducks and shorebirds. Contact leader Curt Hofer (curthofer1@gmail.com) with any questions.
SEPTEMBER
26 (Thursday) – Regular Meeting: Duke Elsner – ‘The Bug Man’ (Completed)
Erwin “Duke” Elsner is a retired small fruit and consumer horticulture Extension Educator at Michigan State University. He is a local renowned entomologist and bee and butterfly expert. He’ll be bringing some of his vast insect and butterfly collections with him and speaking to us about the importance of the insect population to the birds.
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). Registration is encouraged: October Big Day Registration
24 (Thursday) – Annual Meeting / “Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog” (Completed)
This is the meeting when we elect officers for 2025. After this very important business meeting, we’ll be treated to a program about Frog and Toads and Witches, just in time for Halloween! Sydney Giddings from the Recreation Department of the Huron-Manistee National Forest will share a very entertaining talk about how amphibians became associated with witchcraft. * New for this year, we are holding our Annual Meeting at our regular meeting place of Boardman River Nature Center.
*COMPLETED BIRD WALKS – 2024
April 7 @ 7:30 am – meet at Medalie Park, Traverse City (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/srn3G28fe7sQ5SkT7
Walking surfaces are paved and mostly level.
April 14 @ 7:30 am – Boardman River Nature Center Pavilion, Cass Rd., Traverse City (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fqhDuYJKQAZv3mKW9
Walking surfaces are natural trail and boardwalk.
April 21 @ 7:30 am – meet at the Leelanau Trail at Fouch Road (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PdVBjKpoPLpSM1kg8
Walking surfaces are paved and level.
*April 28 @ 7:00 PM – Veronica Valley Park, on S. Maple Valley Road (Canceled due to rain)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wKAFnxLfr9JuqNmn6
Walking surfaces are grassy and mostly level. *Substitute facilitator, Kathie Wiley for this event only (dujour1@gmail.com) with any questions.
May 5 @ 7:30 am – YMCA Pond, Racquet Club Drive, off South Airport Rd. (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bnM9AZSWwhmqW91s7
Walking surfaces are paved and level.
May 12 @ 7:00 am – Mayfield Pond Park (Big Sit; bring a lawn chair) (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hQLGcBmRg3dNzGtc8
Walking surfaces are grassy and level.
May 19 @ 7:00 am – meet at Ingraham Preserve (north of Cedar, Leelanau County) (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KY3mwSMfX96E2mdV6
Walking surfaces are natural trails.
*May 26 @ 7:30 PM – meet at Pyatt Lake Preserve (Held in the evening, last Sunday of the month)(Cancelled due to Weather)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6khKb7uUxzHBqR4P6
Walking surfaces are crushed stone and boardwalks.
June 2 @ 7:00 am – meet on Bodus Road, Leelanau County (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Xp5TZhuCcLPLLC2UA (Check back for more details)
Walking surfaces are grassy roadsides.
June 9 @ 7:00 am – meet at TART East end, parking area on the south side of M-72 (Complete)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/25vFiy4pec5ikisp9
Walking surfaces are paved and level.
June 16 – @ 9:00 am – Grass River Natural Area – Bellaire (Completed)
Special time of 9:00 am. For those that wish to carpool, meet at Tom’s East Bay parking lot by Tom’s at 8:00. We’ll meet up in the main parking lot and go birding on the various boardwalk trails. Facilitator: Kathie Wiley 231-409-8913
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wHE8TfhxkVXTNSnU9
June 23 @ 7:00 am – Mitchell Creek Preserve on Three Mile Road (Completed)
This Sunday, let’s meet at the Mitchell Creek Preserve on Three Mile Road, east of TC, at 7:00 AM. Our mission will be to see how many species are breeding, and we can send the data to the GTRLC, owners of the property.
Map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rNLBLtMAowVm9GdU9
*June 30 @ 8:30 PM – Brown Bridge Road, Grand Traverse County (Completed)https://maps.app.goo.gl/mSf55XFJsPLAW5ZTAWalking surface is a dirt road
Aug 4 @ 7:30 am – Suttons Bay sewage ponds – (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kqw5TehEjBGJMhQ46
Walking surfaces are paved and level
Aug 11 @ 7:30 am – Logan’s Landing/ Medalie Park – (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GofJG8yfWZ1FNGen9
Walking surfaces are paved and mostly level
Aug 18 @ 7:30 am – Leelanau Trail at Fouch Road – Completed
https://maps.app.goo.gl/inqCCLvJ1aurkC556
Walking surfaces are paved and level
*Aug 25 @ 6:30 pm – Logan’s Landing/ Medalie Park – Canceled
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GofJG8yfWZ1FNGen9
Walking surfaces are paved and mostly level
Sept. 1 @ 7:30 am – YMCA Pond – Completed
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HKPCZWMRMcvkLqXn8
Waking surface is paved and level
Sept. 8 @ 7:30 am – DeYoung Preserve, East Strang Road Completed
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gLX3biuL7pDnPPUd7
Walking surfaces are natural trails
Sept. 15 @ 7:30 am – Bridge Lake, Interlochen Completed
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TiaPRnB2cU7en4Bp8
Walking surfaces are mulched.
Sept. 22 @ 8:00 am – Lake watch at Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Canceled
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wwCGsadtorYoaTJT6
Walking surface is sandy and tilted (a beach)
*Sept 29 @ 6:00 pm – Veronica Valley Park (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NaPojijM32onvDRf8
Walking surfaces are grassy trails
*This is an evening Bird Walk in lieu of our end-of-month scheduling.
Oct. 6 @ 8:00 am – Mitchell Creek Preserve Completed
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pGJdKt5FwELooPrZ9
Walking surface is gravel, grassy, and boardwalks
Oct. 13 @ 8:30 am – GT Commons (Canceled due to Weather)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/16XTT8MPqdJ1vNQu5
Walking surfaces are gravel and packed earth trails
Oct. 20 @ 8:30 am – Hull Park (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uJNujnTq4VvJJYkB8
Walking surface is paved and level
Oct. 27 @ 5:00 pm – Oakwood Cemetery (Completed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Nw54H4mQXjAL4jPk7
Walking surface is paved and level