Ecological Restoration at Searles Nature Preserve
2026-06-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-07-26 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-08-30 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-09-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-10-25 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-11-29 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-12-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2027-01-31 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Detroit) | Searles Nature Preserve, 585V+4J Ypsilanti, Michigan, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, United States
Did you know Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance owns a nature preserve? We do! Searles Nature Preserve is a 50-acre natural area that protects the headwaters of Stony Creek.
Did you also know that 97% of North American land birds rely on animal, mostly insect, protein to raise their young? Most insects depend on specific native host plants for reproduction — which means a healthy, diverse plant community is essential for sustaining bird populations. Learn more here.
Join us as we remove invasive species and improve habitat diversity to support the birds we love. Tools and guidance are provided. Please bring leather work gloves if you have them — we’ll also have some available to borrow. Wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes or boots.
Directions: Meet at the entrance to the preserve on Bolla Road between Crane and Stony Creek Roads. Map here

BIPOC Walk at Staebler Farm County Park
2026-07-11 09:30 - 11:00 | MI
We invite all people from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community and our white allies to join us on this walk to look for grassland birds. All ages and skill levels are invited. We will have extra binoculars if you do not have any.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot of the park, 7734 Plymouth Rd. Even though it is a county park, there is no fee for entry.
Leader: Victor Chen

Bug Walk with Entomologist David Cappeart at Fellowfield Discovery Park
2026-07-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Fellowfield Discovery Park, 6480 S. State Road, Saline, MI, 48176, United States
Join entomologist David Cappeart for a walk through Fellowfield Discovery Park to look for spiders, bees, caterpillars, and other critters at a new nonprofit park and education center in Saline. This event is free of charge, but parking is limited and registration is required.
The walk will be on occasionally-uneven dirt and woodchip trails for less than one mile, and we will stop frequently to search for, handle, and discuss what we see. David will employ a few scientist tricks to reveal what isn’t evident in casual observation: a sweep net will pick up tiny insects and spiders hidden in dense vegetation; a beat sheet will shake loose the insects—especially caterpillars—that cling to tree branches.
There are occasional benches along the trail but the majority of the event will be standing or slowly walking. A portable toilet and handwashing station are available at the education center onsite. Water refills and other chilled beverages (iced tea, lemonade) will be available at the start and end of the hike.
David Cappaert is an entomologist working with local organizations on pollinator conservation and insect diversity. His primary area of research is the taxonomy of bees. He writes general interest articles on pollinators, does public events, and creates resources that facilitate ID by non-specialists. One aspect of this is work with USGS/USFW and their DiscoverLife guides.
Leaders: David Cappeart and James Weir
This event is open to members and non-members but parking is limited and registration is required. We encourage attendees to carpool.

Brews and Birds
2026-07-31 08:00 - 09:00 | MI
Join us for a time of coffee, followed by a little birding around Botsford Preserve. We will meet at the BrightWorks office space for some coffee and introductions, and then head to the nearby Botsford Recreational Preserve. Bring binoculars if you have them, or we will have some extras if you need some.
Address: BrightWorks Office, 3027 Miller Rd, Ann Arbor

Shorebirds & Waders at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (Members Only)
2026-08-08 08:00 - 13:00 | Point Mouillee State Game Area, Sigler Road, South Rockwood, 48179, United States
Pointe Mouillee, on Lake Erie near the mouth of the Huron River is one of the premier destinations in the Midwest for viewing shorebirds and waders, but access is limited. Usually, vehicles are restricted from entering, but for this event, we will be allowed to bring in four vehicles. As a result, this trip will be limited to 20-25 attendees depending on the size of the vehicles driven. Preference will be given to current WBNA members. Membership information can be found here.
Past checklists: 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Directions: Registered participants will meet at the Pointe Mouillee SGA parking lot on Sigler Road (map) at 8AM and from there will consolidate into 4 larger vehicles. Bring insect repellent, wear a hat and dress for warm weather—there is no shade or shelter at Pointe Mouillee. Bring all of the food and fluids you think you will need to sustain you for approximately five hours of birding.
We will need four larger vehicles to accommodate the group. If you have a larger vehicle and are willing to drive, please contact James Weir at fieldtrips@washtenawbna.org.
Leaders: Matt Spoor & Juliet Berger
To receive the checklist: tinyurl.com/ebirdlist

Bikes and Shorebirds at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area
2026-08-15 08:30 - 12:30 | Point Mouillée SGA – US Turnpike Rd Parking Lot Access, South Rockwood, MI, 48179, United States
Pointe Mouillee, on Lake Erie near the mouth of the Huron River, is one of the premier destinations in the Midwest for viewing shorebirds and waders. Access for cars is limited—but not for bikes! Join Andy Dettling for a pedal around the Pointe looking for shorebirds, waders, and other waterfowl.
The biking will be at a slow pace on gravel and dirt roads with frequent stops. Bikes with gravel tires or larger are recommended, though a road bike may be suitable for more experienced/careful riders.
Bring insect repellent, wear a hat/helmet, and dress for warm weather—there is no shade or shelter at Pointe Mouillee. Bring all of the food and fluids you think you will need to sustain you for approximately four hours of birding.
We will access Pte. Mouillee via the parking lot off of Turnpike Rd. For those who have attended past WBNA trips to Pte. Mouillee, please note that this is not the vehicle access gate on Sigler Rd.
Looking for a ride with a bike rack? Have a bike rack and are willing to drive others? Please fill out this survey and we will do our best to pair willing drivers with those looking for a ride. (We cannot guarantee rides for everyone who requests one, and carpools will be arranged on a first-come first-served basis.)
Fill Out the Carpool Survey
Leader: Andy Dettling
To receive the checklist: tinyurl.com/ebirdlist

BIPOC Walk at Rolling Hills
2026-08-15 09:30 - 11:00 | MI
We invite all people from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community and our white allies to join us on this walk to look for birds. All ages and skill levels are invited. We will have extra binoculars if you do not have any.
We will start at the Wiard’s Orchards parking lot and then walk around the park loop. There is little to no shade along the trail so be prepared for the sun.
Directions: Meet at the Wiard’s Orchards parking lot, 5565 Merritt Rd.
Leader: Victor Chen

Butterfly Walk at Matthaei Botanical Gardens
2026-08-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, United States
Please join us for a return to Matthaei Botanical Gardens as Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance and resident butterfly experts help to observe, appreciate, and learn about another one of our winged beauties.

We will catch (with permission) observe, photograph, document, and release many species to provide attendees with an up close study of organisms.
Portions of the walk will be in the prairie so prepare to be in the sun. Walking will be a long trails on flat terrain. We will have extra binoculars for those that need them. Bring your curiosity and questions for this wonderful walk.
Photographers are highly encouraged to attend as we attempt to document all of the species we find. Data gathered will be shared with Matthaei staff and to iNaturalist. You can view our past butterfly observations and photos here.
Leader: Jerry Paulissen
Directions: Meet at the conservatory steps of Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Parking is $2 per hour, but bikes are free! Unfortunately, AAATA does not provide reasonable transit to this location.

Thursday Fall Migration Walks at Nichols Arboretum
2026-08-27 08:00 - 11:00, 2026-09-03 08:00 - 11:00, 2026-09-10 08:00 - 11:00, 2026-09-17 08:00 - 11:00, 2026-09-24 08:00 - 11:00, 2026-10-01 08:00 - 11:00, 2026-10-08 08:00 - 11:00, 2026-10-15 08:00 - 11:00 and 2 more dates | Nichols Arboretum – Dow Prairie, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103, United States
Join us Thursday mornings at Nichols Arboretum as we search for fall migrants. These walks are a great opportunity to join with other birders of all skill levels. In addition to the birds, the Arb’s trees and other flora offer delights of their own.
Curious about what birds you may see? Visit the eBird Macaulay Library to view photos taken in the Arb in September and October here, or view the eBird hotspot species list to see what birds have been reported recently.
All are welcome and encouraged to join us. New to birding? Bird curious? No binoculars? No problem! There is no better way to learn than to get out in the field with experienced birders that love to help. Plus, you get to meet awesome people. Absolutely everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out. We will have many pairs of quality binoculars on hand for anyone to use.
Directions: Meet at the east end of the Arboretum at the Dow Prairie entrance on Riverview Dr. From Geddes Ave., turn north onto Riverview and stay right until it terminates at the cul-de-sac. (Map)
eBird Checklist Signup: If you are attending the walk and would like the eBird checklist shared with you, please give us your email or eBird username here (you can sign up to receive the eBird checklist during the walk as well).
Leader: Juliet Berger

Save the Date: Swift Nights Out
2026-09-11 20:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-12 20:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-13 20:00 - 21:00 | MI
Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance and the City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation invite you to join us for our Annual Ann Arbor-Washtenaw County Chimney Swift count. Watching Chimney Swifts enter their roosts at dusk is a spectacular sight (video and more information here). Volunteers will choose a known Chimney Swift roosting location and stake it out before dusk, counting the Swifts as they enter the chimney, as darkness falls. You can sign up for one night/one location at a time, or count each night of the weekend.
Chimney Swifts are in steep decline across North America and this volunteer effort is an important part of understanding how the species is faring in Washtenaw County. Habitat loss is one reason, as well as decline of the insects they eat, and other unknown factors. We are helping bird science by conducting this count! This is a great experience for non-birders—bring your friends and family to show them how these very cool aerial insectivores share our cities and towns with us.
NOTE: Occasionally the Swifts will not use a particular location on a given night due to a predator such as a Cooper’s Hawk, or another issue. In that case, “No Swifts” will still be good information for us!
More information about how to participate, including a sign-up form, will be posted here soon, so please check back as the weekend gets closer.

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).

The Pantanal and Atlantic Lowland Forest of Brazil with Mike Kielb
2026-09-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown, 343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Please join us for a photographic review of a twelve day adventure that started in the Pantanal wetlands of southwestern Brazil at the end of the dry season, when seeing large mammals is optimal. Then heading to the Atlantic coast for coastal birds; enjoy this trip report and photos with Mike Kielb, past president of Washtenaw Bird and Nature Alliance, Board Member of Michigan Audubon, tour guide, and an author of Birds of Washtenaw County. Retired from Biology Faculty at Eastern Michigan University.
