Birding Parker Mill County Park
2025-03-08 09:30 - 12:00 (America/Detroit) | Parker Mill Park, 4650 Geddes Rd, Ann Arbor, 48105, United States
Join us at the Parker Mill County Park for a walk through a wooded environment along the Fleming Creek and Huron River. We’ll be looking for common woodland species and some waterfowl using river overlooks. All ages and abilities are welcome, and we will have binoculars available for those without them.
Accessibility: Paved trail and boardwalk surfaces, total distance less than two miles. Small paved incline from parking lot to trail, otherwise mostly flat. Parking lot is gravel. No restroom facilities onsite.
Directions: 4650 Geddes Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48107, or you can reach the parking lot at https://maps.app.goo.gl/Sn4m5AudRK9goSYV6.
Leader: Chris Tebbens

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

Patch Birding
2025-03-16 08:00 - 22:00
Let’s celebrate the joys of patch birding! Patch birding is when you pick a nearby park or birding location and return to it regularly. It is a great way to get to know the birds who frequent or pass through that spot. Since a “patch” is often close-by, it is a carbon-conscious approach to birding. Not only that, regularly reporting what you see helps scientists understand trends as you report your sightings to eBird.
Part 1: Birding in Your Own Patch
Spend some time birding in your chosen patch – whether it’s a local park, your backyard, or any nearby green space. Observe and record all the bird species you can identify. Bird for a few minutes or a few hours – whatever works for you! If you don’t have a patch yet, now’s the perfect time to choose one!
Part 2: Evening Zoom Sharing Session
Join us on Zoom that evening at 8:00 PM to share your patch birding experience! We’ll learn about each other’s patches, discuss the birds we observed, and celebrate the joys of local birding. All experience levels are welcome!
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 895 2444 4803
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Leader: Gaia Stanley

WBNA Goes to Costa Rica: With Ben Lucking
2025-03-19 18:00 - 19:30
Join super guide and WBNA member Ben Lucking on a trip to Costa Rica, one of Central America’s most biologically diverse and bird rich countries. During a 10 day trip sponsored by WBNA, participants saw 430+ bird species, in addition to several mammals.
Ben Lucking leads tours for the Wings birding tour company, and has birded and photographed birds in many countries. This program is on Zoom only, there is no in-person meeting.
Zoom link:
https://umich.zoom.us/j/93815178050?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 938 1517 8050
Passcode: [REDACTED]

March BIPOC Bird Walk
2025-03-22 09:30 - 11:30 | North Hydro Park Winter Entrance, 6C6W+WH5, Ypsilanti Charter Twp
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 at North Hydro Park and along the river. All ages and skill levels are invited. We will have extra binoculars if you do not have any.
Directions: Meet at the entrance at the intersection of Ambassador and Woodale Drives. https://maps.app.goo.gl/x1khJjhKE6opW8oD6

Ecological Restoration Workday at Searles Nature Preserve
2025-03-23 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-26 14:00 - 16:00 | 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 hosts the headwaters of Stony Creek. Did you also know that Ninety-seven percent of North American land birds require animal, primarily insect, protein to raise their young? Most insects require specific, native, host plants for successful reproduction and this is why supporting a biodiverse ecosystem of native plants is so important. More on this here: https://tinyl.io/93Ka
Join us as we work to remove invasive species and improve biodiversity to support the birds we love. Tools and know how will be provided. Please bring leather work gloves, 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)

Spring Migration Thursdays at The Arb
2025-03-27 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-03 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-10 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-17 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-24 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-01 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-08 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 27th through May 29th 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.

Beginning Birders Series
2025-04-04 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-11 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-18 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-04-25 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-02 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-09 09:00 - 11:00 | Nichols Arboretum – Riverview Court, 174-196 Riverview Ct., Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Each Friday during April and May, we will take our time to observe and discuss identification of some of the more common birds of Ann Arbor. This is a great series of walks for folks that would like to learn more about bird identification. Of course, all are welcome to attend any of our bird walks, but this one will be geared toward those with little or no experience. We will have extra binoculars on hand for anyone that needs them.
Directions: Meet at the east end of the arboretum near the Dow Prairie entrance on Riverview Court (map)
Leader: Gaia Stanley

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.

BIPOC Bird Walk at Furstenberg Nature Area
2025-04-05 09:30 - 11:30 | Furstenberg Nature Area, 2626 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, United States
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 early spring migrants. All ages and skill levels are invited. We will have extra binoculars if you do not have any.
Directions: Meet in the main Furstenberg parking lot by the bathrooms.
Leader: Victor Chen

Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) Feathered Friends Walk
2025-04-12 09:30 - 11:30 | Gallup Park Playground, 3175 Gallup Park Rd, Ann Arbor, 48104, United States
This event at Gallup Park is meant specifically for students participating in the WESO event “Feathered Friends.” We will take a walk through and around the park to look and listen for the birds in the area. All ages and skill levels are welcome. We will have extra binoculars if you do not have any.
Directions: Meet at the Black Lives Matter sidewalk area near the large playground at Gallup Park.
Leader: Victor Chen

Birding Peru With Ben Lucking
2025-04-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown, 343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join WBNA member Ben Lucking on a trip to Peru, one of Latin America’s most biologically diverse and bird rich countries. Ben has birded and photographed the birds of Peru a number of times. Peru has over 1880 bird species, in addition to a large number of mammals.
Ben Lucking leads tours for the Wings birding tour company, as well as private tours, and has birded and photographed birds in many countries.
This program is in person at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library, and will be live streamed on YouTube Live.
Click here to find the YouTube Live link!

Woodcock Walk with Natural Area Preservation
2025-04-18 19:45 - 21:00 | Furstenberg Nature Area, 2626 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, United States
The American Woodcock, a chunky inland-loving shorebird, performs a courting display in the evenings in habitats with woods, shrubs and open prairie, and is found in several of our parks. Watching and hearing their display is an amazing experience for the observer! After sunset, males will display by flying high into the air then engage in a circling dive that initiates their display call by moving air fast over three specially evolved feathers. Make sure to dress for the weather (walks happen rain or shine). You will be walking in the dark so bring a flashlight. Registration is required and space is limited to provide a quality experience for all. All minors should be accompanied by a guardian.
Registration is required and space is limited to provide a quality experience for all.
Register: ttps://nap.a2gov.org/WoodcockWalk2025
Directions: Meet at the Furstenberg parking lot off Fuller Rd.
Leader: Matt Spoor & Juliet Berger

Weekend Walk for Wildflowers & Birds at Nan Weston Preserve
2025-04-26 08:00 - 10:30 | Nan Weston Preserve, Easudes Rd, Manchester, 48158
Join us to explore Nan Weston Preserve for spring ephemeral wildflowers and migrating birds. This 248 acre preserve is owned and protected by the Nature Conservancy and features more than 260 species of wildflowers and other native plants. It should be a beautiful, educational and enjoyable walk.
Directions: Meet in the parking lot off of Easudes Rd.
Leaders: Matt Spoor & Juliet Berger
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 Migration Evenings at Matthaei
2025-04-28 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-05 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-12 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.

Spring Migrants and Summer Residents at Hudson Mills Metropark
2025-05-03 08:00 - 11:00 | Hudson Mills Activity Center Parking Lot, 93GV+C6V, Hudson Mills, MI, United States
This annual walk at Hudson Mills with Karen Markey is always tons of fun and super interesting. Join us as we search for spring migrants and recently returned summer residents. Target birds include beautiful spring wood warblers, woodpeckers, tanagers, towhees, thrushes, and any of the other 146 species seen here in May. The field trip is free, but a Metroparks Pass is required for admission. Free passes can be checked out using your library account via Michigan Activity Pass.
Leader: Karen Markey
Directions: Meet at the flagpole in front of the Activity Center. (map here)
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

Tuesday Evening Birders
2025-05-06 18:00 - 22:00 | Meijer East Lot off Zeeb behind Starbucks, 75P5+6W8 Haisley, Ann Arbor, United States
Update: This weeks TEB will be led by Nathan Shay. Meet at the Meijer’s parking lot off Zeeb Rd between Starbuck and Meijer (see map) It’s looking like rain in the morning Nathan recommends good boots for some mud.
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

Washtenaw May Count and World Migratory Bird Day
2025-05-10
Please join dozens of enthusiastic volunteers for the Washtenaw County May Count, on World Migratory Bird Day and eBird’s Global Big Day. This event is a day to be out there counting all the birds we can find, and it’s a super fun Big Day!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
Juliet Berger is the organizer for this countywide count, which uses eBird to benefit bird science with its comprehensive results. The organizer divides the county into townships, each of which has an Area Leader. Leaders recruit additional volunteers to count birds throughout their area.
We could always use more volunteers across the county, as well as a couple of township leaders. Come join in the fun and go birding!
Washtenaw County May Count Organizers and Compilers: Juliet Berger
Please see these documents describing the count procedures:

Procedure flowchart – a brief visual representation of the procedures and process (PDF)
Detailed written description of the procedures (PDF)
Washtenaw County May Count eBird Usernames (PDF) – also shown below
Township species checklist, sorted taxonomically (PDF)
Township species checklist, sorted alphabetically (PDF)
Unusual/rare species list and documentation requirements (PDF)
Washtenaw County Map of Townships (PDF)

Washtenaw County Coordinator/Compiler: Juliet Berger Contact Juliet!
Area Leaders:

TownshipArea LeaderTownship eBird Username

Ann ArborJuliet BergerWasMayCount-Ann

AugustaJim LawWasMayCount-Aug

BridgewaterVictor ChenWasMayCount-Bri

DexterTBD/Juliet BergerWasMayCount-Dex

FreedomBob MaddoxWasMayCount-Fre

LimaBob MaddoxWasMayCount-Lim

LodiJuliet BergerWasMayCount-Lod

LyndonCathy TheisenWasMayCount-Lyn

ManchesterSilas BialeckiWasMayCount-Man

NorthfieldGreg JacksWasMayCount-Nor

PittsfieldJacco GelderloosWasMayCount-Pit

SalemJoe KennedyWasMayCount-Sal

SalineVictor ChenWasMayCount-Sln

ScioDiana KernWasMayCount-Sci

SharonFrancie KrawkeWasMayCount-Sha

SuperiorKarl BrennerWasMayCount-Sup

SylvanAndy DettlingWasMayCount-Syl

WebsterFaye StonerWasMayCount-Web

YorkJim LawWasMayCount-Yor

YpsilantiBill Nolting
Donna ParmeleeWasMayCount-Yps

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
