Bird-Friendly Gardening and the Bird City Program
2026-05-20 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown, 343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Kelsey Dehring, Parks Naturalist with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission and Linda Smith of Michigan Audubon will join us for a joint discussion of gardening techniques for the home gardener to make their gardens more bird and pollinator friendly, and to explain about the International Bird City Network and how and why Bird City Michigan was launched.
Ann Arbor became an official Bird City in 2025.
Linda Smith is the Director of Partnerships for Michigan Audubon and leads Michigan Audubon’s Bird City Michigan initiative, helping communities across the state build grassroots networks that take meaningful action for birds and nature.
Kelsey Dehring is a Parks Naturalist with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. She runs the county’s Nest Box Monitoring and Archery Programs.
This program will be live streamed on our YouTube channel (click on the “LIVE” link appearing on our channel when the program is in session).

Annual Picnic and Wingnut Award Presentation
2026-09-12 09:30 - 15:00 | Dexter-Huron Metropark, 6535 Huron River Dr, Dexter, MI, 48130, United States
New this year: Migration bird walk before the picnic! Come for the walk or the picnic or both!
Join us for the Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance Annual Picnic! In addition to connecting with fellow bird and nature enthusiasts, we will present the 2024 Wingnut Award to the individual who identified the most bird species in Washtenaw County last year.
Bring a dish to share and drinks for yourself, and feel free to use the onsite grill. Although there is no electricity, we have our own picnic shelter for the entire group! Nearby, you’ll find restrooms and the Huron River to cool off. We’ll also discuss our community efforts over the past year. Everyone is welcome, so please join us!
There is a $10 per vehicle daily fee to enter. An annual pass is $40 for residents of Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties ($29 for seniors). Free passes can be checked out via the Ann Arbor District Library through the Michigan Activity Pass Program.
9:30-11:30 AM: Migration bird walk
12:00 PM: Picnic and Wingnut Award ceremony
Directions: Meet at Dexter-Huron Metropark, Shelter B (map here).
