Experience the Joys of Birding in the Great Lakes Bay
Experience the splendor of Mother Nature’s beauty and soar to new destinations by making birding your new go-to activity when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan.
With a little bit of teaching, a solid pair of binoculars and some good walking shoes, you can be on your way to adventure. Whether you are at a state park, a local nature preserve or your own back yard, the birds are singing everywhere.
Pack a lunch, pick a destination, and with little investment, you can be on your way to seeing stunning varieties of birds and listening to their unique melodies.
Shiawassee NWR | @panakk
As luck would have it, the shoreline along the Saginaw Bay is a gold coast for bird watchers. The Saginaw Bay Birding Trail covers 142 miles — from Port Crescent State Park on the eastern end to Tawas Point State Park on the western end — and it is a treasure-trove offering sightings for many varieties of bird species.
Spring is the best time for bird viewing because their colors are at their brightest, they are bursting into song searching for a mate and the bird density is at its highest for the region, said Zachary Branigan, Executive Director of the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy.
One highlight for birding enthusiasts that is unique to the northern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan is the Kirtland’s warbler, a lovely, yellow-breasted bird that was once near extinction. This small bird, one of the rarest songbirds in North America, likes to breed in the young jack pine forests of Michigan and winter in the Bahamas.
But there are hundreds of varieties of birds to see in this area.
Bay City State Park | @erickschmidtphotography
“It’s the presence of Lake Huron that makes our area special because birds primarily migrate at night and when the sun comes up in the morning and they're flying over water, they have to go to the first landfall so they can continue to fuel up and rest for a couple days,” Branigan said. “That’s why our coastline, during migration, is so good at places like Tawas Point. (It’s) in our watershed and that is one of the preeminent places in the United States to see spring warbler migration, so that’s really our claim to fame. We’re right on the eastern edge of what’s called the Mississippi flyway and the flyways are basically like highways of birds during migration.”
Spring may be the best time to visit birds in the area, but the rest of the year also offers opportunity.
“There are a lot of places to see birds all year in this area,” Branigan said.
Bird-seeking enthusiasts can find real value in the free nature preserves, complimentary parking and affordable amenities offered in Mid-Michigan.
“The Great Lakes Bay is a hidden gem in Michigan, offering an enjoyable and affordable experience for visitors,” according to Magen M. Samyn, President and CEO of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
And the peace you can absorb while watching the birds take flight? That’s free of charge.
Shiawassee NWR | @stevesergent
Diana Dalton, a local birding enthusiast, explains birding as a way to immerse yourself in nature and replenish your innermost being. “That’s the place of calm in the craziness of the world,” she said. “It just feels balancing.”
Dalton, who has been birding since she was a child, and her husband, Michael, have 110 acres near the Saginaw Bay in Pinconning where they love to watch the birds. Even at home in Midland, the couple start and end their days — weather permitting — watching the multiple varieties of birds visit the many feeders they have on their property.
“How do you enjoy nature without enjoying birds,” she asked. “Isn’t it kind of hand-in-hand? Birds are one of the most fundamental parts of that cycle of life out there. I call it soul building. That feeling of connection to nature is so lovely.”
Shiawassee NWR | @yoga.mary
Dalton said the development of apps, like Merlin Bird ID, can be a huge help in identifying what bird species are in the area.
“That (app) is the most delightful thing,” she said. “We had that on, on a ride through the property one day up in Pinconning and 22 different birds came up on that app of birdsongs… it is hard describe how much delight we have gotten from that app.”
Dalton said she and her husband love to watch North America’s largest woodpecker, the pileated woodpecker, visit their property in northern Bay County.
For folks just getting started, Branigan said the Saginaw Bay area offers a lot of opportunity for birders.
“There are literally 400 different species that come through our area,” he said.
Chippewa Nature Center | @midlandcenter
He suggests investing in good binoculars and a spotting scope if you are really interested in taking up birding. Branigan says taking the time to learn from other birders can also be most helpful.
Last, but not least, don’t take it too seriously.
“When you’re a beginning birder, every bird is new to you. It’s very exciting because everything is a new discovery,” Branigan said.
Keep that excitement as you search for new varieties of birds and take in the natural beauty when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan.
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Located just south of Saginaw is a 10,000-acre respite where you can walk for miles without seeing another human being. The only chatter to be heard is that exchanged between the birds and the squirrels. And the scenery in every direction looks like something from a Monet painting. Welcome to the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.
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"Take a hike!" was once a phrase used to send someone on their way. Today, when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Pure Michigan, it's a friendly invitation.
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Author
Amy Belleman
A Bay City native, Amy Belleman is a journalist and former reporter for The Bay City Times. She is a wife, mother and cancer survivor who loves Saginaw Spirit hockey and adventure.
