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 is welcome to attend!
MAY
11th through 25th – Bird-a-thon 2024!
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!
5,12,19,*26(Sundays) – Sunday Morning Bird Walks
Join us at various locations around the area for a birding experience designed for those just getting started or wanting to polish their skills. We’ll focus on identification skills, not just a big list. Outings will start at 7:30 AM and last about 2 hours. Note that the walks may start earlier as the days get longer! *On the last Sunday of each month, the walk will take place in the evening. Therefore, the May 26th bird walk will be in the evening. Contact leader and coordinator Kirk Waterstripe (4walkinglightly@gmail.com) with any questions.
May 5 @ 7:00 am – YMCA Pond, Racquet Club Drive, off South Airport Rd.
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)
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)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KY3mwSMfX96E2mdV6
Walking surfaces are natural trails.
*May 26 @ 7:30 PM – meet at Pyatt Lake Preserve
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6khKb7uUxzHBqR4P6
Walking surfaces are crushed stone and boardwalks.
JUNE
15 (Saturday) – Kirtland Warbler Tour – 11:00 am
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
2,9,16,23,*30 (Sundays) – Sunday Morning Bird Walks
Join us at various locations around the area for a birding experience designed for those just getting started or wanting to polish their skills. We’ll focus on identification skills, not just a big list. Outings will start at 7:30 AM and last about 2 hours. Note that the walks may start earlier as the days get longer! *On the last Sunday of each month, the walk will take place in the evening. Therefore, the June 30th bird walk will be in the evening. Contact leader and coordinator Kirk Waterstripe (4walkinglightly@gmail.com) with any questions.
June 2 @ 7:00 am – meet on Bodus Road, Leelanau County
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
https://maps.app.goo.gl/25vFiy4pec5ikisp9
Walking surfaces are paved and level.
June 16 @ 7:00 am – TBD
June 23 @ 7:00 am – TBD
*June 30 @ 8:30 PM – Brown Bridge Road, Grand Traverse County
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mSf55XFJsPLAW5ZTA
Walking surface is a dirt road
JULY
No events scheduled
AUGUST
4,11,18,*25 (Sundays) – Sunday Bird Walks
Join us weekly at various locations around the area for a birding experience designed for those just getting started or wanting to polish their skills. We’ll focus on identification skills, not just a big list. Outings typically last about 2 hours. The weekly location and starting time will be announced early in the week via Bird Alert. *On the last Sunday of each month, the walk will take place in the evening. Therefore, the August 25th bird walk will be in the evening. Contact leader and coordinator Kirk Waterstripe (4walkinglightly@gmail.com) with any questions.
10 (Saturday) – Houghton Lake Sewage Ponds
We’ll be greeted by one of the staff 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. More information to be provided as the date gets closer. Contact leader Curt Hofer (curthofer1@gmail.com) with any questions.
SEPTEMBER
1,8,15,22,*29 (Sundays) – Sunday Bird Walks
Join us weekly at various locations around the area for a birding experience designed for those just getting started or wanting to polish their skills. We’ll focus on identification skills, not just a big list. Outings typically last about 2 hours. The weekly location and starting time will be announced early in the week via Bird Alert. *On the last Sunday of each month, the walk will take place in the evening. Therefore, the September 29th bird walk will be in the evening. Contact leader and coordinator Kirk Waterstripe (4walkinglightly@gmail.com) with any questions.
26 (Thursday) – Regular Meeting: TBD
OCTOBER
6,13,20,*27 (Sundays) – Sunday Bird Walks
Join us weekly at various locations around the area for a birding experience designed for those just getting started or wanting to polish their skills. We’ll focus on identification skills, not just a big list. Outings typically last about 2 hours. The weekly location and starting time will be announced early in the week via Bird Alert. *On the last Sunday of each month, the walk will take place in the evening. Therefore, the October 27th bird walk will be in the evening. Contact leader and coordinator Kirk Waterstripe (4walkinglightly@gmail.com) with any questions.
12 (Saturday) – October Big Day
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 (treasurer@grandtraverseaudubon.org)
19 (Saturday) – Annual Dinner Meeting
Our potluck dinner is Saturday October 19 at 6:00 PM at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1050 Peninsula Drive. We will elect new board members for 2025.
NOVEMBER
21 (Thursday) – Regular Meeting: TBD
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
TBD (Friday) – Benzie County
Contact: Doug Cook
nedthebirder@gmail.com
TBD (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)
*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.