Washtenaw Bird and Nature Alliance

Ecological Restoration at Searles Nature Preserve
2027-12-26 13:00 - 15:00, 2027-11-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2027-10-31 13:00 - 15:00, 2027-09-26 13:00 - 15:00, 2027-08-29 13:00 - 15:00, 2027-07-25 13:00 - 15:00, 2027-06-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2027-05-30 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Detroit) and 12 more dates | 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

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).

Matt Hack: “Tracking Songbird Migration Using Geolocators”
2026-06-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown, 343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
We are currently living in a golden age of rapid discovery explaining the mysteries of bird migration. A variety of new technologies are currently being developed to better understand how, where, and why birds migrate. A key tool in studying the biology of migratory birds is the geolocator — a small tracking device attached to a migrating bird that can reveal the journeys and destinations the bird experiences throughout the year. As part of his University of Michigan dissertation research, Matt Hack has spent the past three summers stationed at the UMich Biological Station in the northern Lower Peninsula, attaching geolocators to several species of songbirds that share their breeding grounds in the boreal forest but migrate to a wide range of destinations and climates to spend their winters. He has two primary goals behind tracking these birds — to uncover the timelines and destinations of their migration journeys, and to use that information to better understand how different migration strategies can affect the ecology of these travelers. He is excited to share what he has learned in the process!

Prothonotary Paddle
2026-06-13 08:30 - 14:00 | Skip’s Huron River Canoe Livery, 3902 E Delhi Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103, United States
It has not been long since the beautiful Prothonotary Warbler began breeding along this stretch of the Huron River from Hudson Mills through Delhi Metropark and beyond. They sing their cheery song from close to their cavity nests along the river and are best viewed from the water. There are always a large variety of other birds to see on this great float.
The trip is eight miles long, and usually takes about 3 ½ hours to complete, but we’ll stop for good birds, a picnic, etc., and your car will be waiting for you at the other end. We will have a picnic spot picked out that is approximately halfway, for those who wish to stay with the group. Bring your own picnic and beverages.
Book your own boat(s) for the “Hudson Mills to Delhi Metropark Long Trip” directly from Skip’s Canoe Livery at paddlethehuron.com and review the details on their site. Make sure to select the 9am option on June 13th. On the day of the event, if you are renting a canoe/kayak, we recommend arriving at Skip’s by 8:30 to check-in, park, and pick up the required, provided personal flotation device.

Paddlers with their own boats, meet at Hudson Mills, Rapids View area (map here) to launch by 9:00 a.m.. The crew from Skips depart at 9 a.m. and arrive at the Hudson Mills launch at 9:30 a.m.. The two groups will connect on the water with the Skips crew waiting for the boat owners that should see us as they float downriver at 9:30 a.m.

Leaders: Juliet Berger
eBird Checklist Signup: If you are attending this event and would like the eBird checklist from this walk shared with you, please fill out this form (you may do this onsite well): tinyurl.com/eBirdList
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.

Monday Evening Migration at Matthaei
2026-06-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, United States
Join us for a walk through the trails at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens to look and listen for birds during their northern migration. This leisurely stroll will wind through the woods on the Botanical Gardens’ well-maintained dirt paths and will involve ~2 miles of walking or less.
The pond often hosts waterfowl and shorebirds, and the trails will take us through excellent habitat to look for warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, the occasional cuckoo, and other birds that briefly pass through Washtenaw County as they head north to their breeding grounds (and we’ll be sure to take notice of our local birds, too!).
All are welcome to attend, and please note that it is perfectly appropriate to attend for only a portion of the walk and depart as needed. New birders are especially encouraged to come along—the very best way to learn more about birds and birding is to spend time in the field. Please join us!
Visit Matthaei’s eBird hotspot page to see what species have been recently seen at the Botanical Gardens.
Leader: James Weir
Directions: Meet in front of the main entrance to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens building at 1800 N. Dixboro Rd.
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 may do this onsite well): tinyurl.com/eBirdList
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.

Bike and Bird Event - with the Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw
2026-05-30 09:00 - 12:00 | MI
Do you like biking? Do you like birds? Join us for this collaborative event where we will go for a low-intensity bike ride down the Huron River, followed by a bird walk through Parker Mill Park. We will start at Mitchell Field with an ABC Bike check, leave Mitchell around 9:30 am and bike down the B2B trail to Parker Mill. There, we will leave our bikes with a volunteer from the Bike Alliance and take a walk through the nature area to look for birds. We plan to arrive at Parker Mill around 10 am.
Feel free to bike to Mitchell or drive to Mitchell with your bikes. Bring appropriate safety equipment, binoculars, and water.
Leaders: Victor Chen and Sarah Surato
Address: 1900 Fuller Road (Mitchell Field)

Spring Migration Thursdays at The Arb
2026-05-28 08:00 - 11:00 | Nichols Arboretum – Dow Prairie, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103, United States
Join us at Nichols Arboretum, affectionately known as “The Arb”, on Thursday mornings from March 26th through May 28th to observe migratory birds as they journey north. Participating in these walks offers a unique chance to observe species that are typically absent from our region during other times of the year. Many migratory birds, such as various warblers, thrushes, and flycatchers, pass through only during migration, making this period the prime opportunity to witness these species locally. For instance, birders have reported seeing more than 100 species during peak migration times, including numerous warbler species. For a comprehensive overview of recent bird sightings and to enhance your birding experience, you can refer to the Nichols Arboretum Hotspot Report from eBird.
Feel free to join our Thursday morning bird walks for as long as your time permits; many attend for a portion of the walk and depart as needed. Your presence, whether brief or extended, contributes to the collective birding experience.
We look forward to birding with you this spring!
Leader: Juliet Berger
Directions: Meet at the east end of the arboretum at the Dow Prairie entrance. From Geddes Ave., turn north onto Riverview Dr. and stay right until it terminates at Riverview Ct. 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 may do this onsite well): tinyurl.com/eBirdList
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.

Black Birders Week Extravaganza
2026-05-27 16:30 - 18:00 | Erickson Elementary School, 1427 Levona St., Ypsilanti, MI, United States
Come celebrate Black Birders Week as we join members of the Ypsilanti and the greater birding communities in this outdoor event. At this event, we will have activities set up by the following organizations:

Huron River Watershed Council
Leslie Science and Nature Center
Michigan Audubon Society
Ryan Henyard Creative Photography
Ypsilanti District Library
Washtenaw Bird and Nature Alliance

Whether you are a seasoned birder or new to birds, come on out and celebrate with us. We encourage you to bring neighbors and friends.
Location: Erickson Elementary School and Nancy Park
1427 Levona St, Ypsilanti
Parking: Since parking at the school might be limited, please park on surrounding streets and walk to the back area of the school connected to Nancy Park
Time: 4:30 – 6:00 pm (drop in for some or all of the event)

Tuesday Evening Birders
2026-05-26 18:00 - 22:00 | MI
Update 5/26: We will meet at the Miller Road Park & Ride at 6 p.m. for the May 26 Tuesday Evening Birders and head to Sharon Mills North. If you’re coming from west of Ann Arbor and want to meet us at Sharon Mills North, the group should arrive at the birding location around 6:40 p.m. or so. See you all tonight!
Each Tuesday Evening Birders will feature a new trip leader and location of their choice. These events have produced many memories and stories over the years and often yield interesting birds. Each Tuesday in May, we meet somewhere at 6pm, often at Miller Rd. Park & Ride, Plymouth Rd. Park & Ride, or Meijer on Zeeb Rd., depending upon which direction in the county we are headed, and leave from there.
Please register and we will email you the meeting location at least 24 hours before as details for these walks tend to come together closer to the event than our other walks.
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.
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 may do this onsite well): tinyurl.com/eBirdList

Monday Evening Migration at Matthaei
2026-05-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, United States
Join us for a walk through the trails at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens to look and listen for birds during their northern migration. This leisurely stroll will wind through the woods on the Botanical Gardens’ well-maintained dirt paths and will involve ~2 miles of walking or less.
The pond often hosts waterfowl and shorebirds, and the trails will take us through excellent habitat to look for warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, the occasional cuckoo, and other birds that briefly pass through Washtenaw County as they head north to their breeding grounds (and we’ll be sure to take notice of our local birds, too!).
All are welcome to attend, and please note that it is perfectly appropriate to attend for only a portion of the walk and depart as needed. New birders are especially encouraged to come along—the very best way to learn more about birds and birding is to spend time in the field. Please join us!
Visit Matthaei’s eBird hotspot page to see what species have been recently seen at the Botanical Gardens.
Leader: Isaiah Clark
Directions: Meet in front of the main entrance to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens building at 1800 N. Dixboro Rd.
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 may do this onsite well): tinyurl.com/eBirdList
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.

Black Birders Week Kickoff Walk
2026-05-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Wheeler Park, Depot Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48104, United States
Join us for an afternoon walk as we kickoff Black Birders Week 2025! We will start at the playground in Wheeler Park, located in a historically Black neighborhood and named after Ann Arbor’s first Black mayor, Albert Wheeler.
We will walk around the park to learn some of the history of the park and then head to the underground walkway to Argo Park. Everyone and all ages are welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them. We will have extra pairs if you need some.
Directions: Meet at Wheeler Park playground, 200 Depot Street, Ann Arbor
Leader: Victor Chen

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.
