Early 5:30 p.m. Start: Monday Evening Migration at Matthaei
2025-10-13 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-10-20 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-10-27 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Detroit) | Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, United States
Please note that the Monday evening walks at Matthaei will start at 5:30 p.m. in October.
Join us for a walk through the trails at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens to look and listen for birds during their 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 (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 and guest
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.

A Lens on Panamanian Wildlife with Keith Dickey
2025-10-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown, 343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join WBNA member Keith Dickey as he shares images and observations from a recent trip to Panama. Keith and his wife Alison spent 6 days at Canopy Tower and Canopy Lodge birding and hiking, followed by 3 days exploring the coral reefs of Bocas del Toro on Panama’s Gulf coast in early March. Among the 200 bird species and 120 other non-avian critters they saw and photographed, highlights included a very cooperative White-tipped Sicklebill, a skulky but curious Black-capped Antpitta, Motmots aplenty, Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths, Panamanian Night Monkeys, Confusa Tigerwing Butterflies, Spinybacked Orbweavers, Mangrove Upsidedown Jellyfish, a school of Atlantic Spadefish and several Caribbean Whiptail Stingrays.

Location: Ann Arbor District Library – Downtown Branch
This program will be live streamed on YouTube at this link (click on the “LIVE” link appearing on our channel when the program is in session)
https://www.youtube.com/@washtenawbirdandnaturealliance

Thursday Fall Migration Walks at Nichols Arboretum
2025-10-16 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-23 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-30 08:00 - 11:00 | 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.
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).

Trail Maintenance Workday at Searles Nature Preserve
2025-10-25 10:00 - 12:00 | 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 48 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
During the heat of summer things are growing fast and end up covering up our trails and make it tricky to stroll through the paths at our beautiful 48-acre Searles nature area. Please join our Stewardship Chair, Dana, and other Searles Preserve enthusuiasts to trim back the trails. We will provide hand tools and gloves but feel free to bring your own hand saws, loppers, or battery operated hedge trimmers. Bring a water bottle and wear long pants and closed toe shoes.
Directions: Meet at the entrance to the preserve on Bolla Road between Crane and Stony Creek Roads. (map here)

Waterfowl at Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve
2025-10-26 09:00 - 11:30 | Watkins Lake State Park, 4VH6+WR, Brooklyn, MI, United States
This gem features beautiful rolling land covered in a mixture of open meadow, mixed hardwoods, low wetland areas, open water, and the property’s most popular feature, Watkins Lake. Watkins Lake has been designated a Waterfowl Refuge by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources due to the significant habitat provided for migrating and breeding birds; many species of ducks, geese, grebes, and more may be seen, especially in spring and fall. The park also has historical significance as being part of the Underground Railroad and being awarded membership to the Network to Freedom program through the National Park Service (read more here).
Directions: A Recreation Passport is required for each vehicle entering the park. Meet at the main parking lot on Arnold Rd (map).
Carpooling: For those interested in carpooling, we will depart from the Miller Road Park and Ride (map) at 8:15 am.
Leaders: Juliet Berger and Isaiah Clark
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.

Nature Walk with Mike Kost: Beavers and Biodiversity
2025-11-02 10:00 - 12:00 | Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, United States
Join the Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance for a special nature walk led by Mike Kost, Associate Curator at Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. We are fortunate to have Mike guide us through this landscape rich in natural communities and ecological stories.
Mike focuses on ecological restoration, rare species conservation, and native plant landscaping. Formerly the Lead Ecologist and Senior Conservation Scientist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory at Michigan State University, he has dedicated his career to advancing biodiversity and fire ecology, oak regeneration, and rare species management.
Mike is also coauthor of A Field Guide to the Natural Communities of Michigan — a reference cherished by ecologists, naturalists, and students across the state. View the book from MSU Press
During this walk, we’ll explore how native plants, natural communities, and ecological management support biodiversity, with a special focus on beaver activity along Fleming Creek. Learn how beavers act as ecosystem engineers—creating wetlands, altering hydrology, and shaping habitats that sustain diverse wildlife.
Read more about the beavers at Matthaei: Beavers Settle Fleming Creek (UM Matthaei Botanical Gardensns Blog)

BIPOC Bird Walk at Kensington Metropark
2025-11-08 10:30 - 12:30 | Kensington Metropark Natue Center, 4570 Huron River Parkway, Milford, MI, 48381, 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 feed the birds! This metropark is unique in that the local birds have learned to feed from the hands of visitors. We will be walking with folks from the Shades of the Outdoors Facebook group led by Brandan Freeman. All ages and skill levels are invited. We will have extra binoculars if you do not have any. We will provide birdseed for participants.
Directions: Meet outside the Nature Center at Kensington Metropark. You need a Metropark Pass to enter the park.
Leader: Victor Chen

Winter Tree Identification Walk
2025-11-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Bird Hills Nature Area – Newport Entrance, 862M+4M, Ann Arbor, United States
Want to learn the difference between a hickory and a hackberry? How about a beech from a basswood? Did you know oak species can be relatively easy to distinguish from their bark? Join us for an interactive winter hike to learn to ID common Michigan trees. As always, we will share interesting ecological information and paint a holistic picture of this ecosystem.
Directions: Meet at the Newport Rd parking lot entrance at 1850 Newport Rd, Ann Arbor.
Leader: Ed Trager & Matthew Spoor

All are welcome and encouraged to join us. Nearly all of our events are open to members and non-members alike.

Keith Taylor: "Bird Poems: Brightness, Fear, and Hope"
2025-11-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown, 343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Please join us for an evening of beautiful nature and bird poetry as we welcome acclaimed poet, University of Michigan creative writing professor, bookseller, and avid birder Keith Taylor. Keith will read from his poetry collections, including The Bird-While and his latest volume of poetry, What Can the Matter Be. Books will be available for purchase after the program.

This program will be live streamed on YouTube at this link (click on the “LIVE” link appearing on our channel when the program is in session)
https://www.youtube.com/@washtenawbirdandnaturealliance

*** Canceled*** Ecological Restoration at Searles Nature Preserve
2025-11-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Searles Nature Preserve, 585V+4J Ypsilanti, Michigan, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, United States
**** Canceled due to weather. See you in December! ****

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

Belle Isle State Park with Oakland Bird Alliance
2025-12-06 08:00 - 12:00 | Belle Isle Nature Center, 176 Lakeside Drive, Detroit, MI, 48207, United States
Join WBNA friends and Oakland Bird Alliance for a tour of the Belle Isle State Park, a gem on the Detroit River. We’ll search for waterfowl, gulls, waders, raptors and other winter birds on the river and in the woods. We’ll tour mostly by car, but will stop and get out with scopes and binoculars. A mile long walk in the interior is planned for songbirds and other feathered friends.
Directions: Meet at the Nature Center parking lot (map) at 8 am sharp. For those interested in carpooling, we will meet at the Plymouth Road Park and Ride (map) for a 7:00 am departure. A State Park Recreation Passport is required to drive on the island.
Leaders : Kayla Niner & Jeff Stacy

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.

**LOCATION CHANGED!! BIPOC Bird Walk at Furstenberg Park (New Location)
2025-12-13 09:30 - 11:30 | Furstenberg Nature Area, 2626 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, United States
Due to Ford Lake being frozen already, we are moving this walk to Furstenberg Park.
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 waterfowl by the river and winter birds in the park. All ages and skill levels are invited. We will have extra binoculars if you do not have any.
Directions: Parking will be at the Furstenberg Nature Area parking Lot, 2626 Fuller Rd., 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.

80th Ann Arbor Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-20
The Christmas Bird Count is coming up soon. Please see the Christmas Bird Count web page for all the details.

Ecological Restoration at Searles Nature Preserve
2025-12-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-25 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-22 13:00 - 15:00 | 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 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

New Year’s Bird Walk at Gallup Park
2026-01-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Gallup Park Bridge Parking Lot South, 77GX+373, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
What will be the first bird you see in 2025? Get a boost to next year’s list by joining the crazy birders of Washtenaw County for a refreshing New Year’s morning bird walk. Meet at the Gallup Park playground parking lot at the east end of Gallup Park Rd.
Leaders: Juliet Berger & Matthew Spoor
Directions: Meet in the parking lot on the south side of the bridge over the Huron.
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 during the walk as well): tinyurl.com/eBirdList

BIPOC Walk along Arb/Gallup Pathway
2026-01-10 09:30 - 11:30 | Gallup Park Bridge Parking Lot South, 77GX+373, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, 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 birds along the Huron River. All ages and skill levels are invited. We will have extra binoculars if you do not have any.
Directions: We will meet by the small playground at the one-way car bridge at Gallup Park. If you arrive late, we will start walking west along the B2B trail towards Mitchell fields.

Winter Tree Identification Walk
2026-01-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Oakwoods Nature Area – Dunwoodie Trailhead, 88C2+5X3, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
Want to learn the difference between a hickory and a hackberry? How about a beech from a basswood? Did you know oak species can be relatively easy to distinguish from their bark? Join us for an interactive winter hike to learn to ID common Michigan trees. As always, we will share interesting ecological information and paint a holistic picture of this ecosystem.
Directions: Meet at the Dunwoodie Rd entrance at 3185 Dunwoodie Rd.
Leader: Ed Trager & Matthew Spoor

All are welcome and encouraged to join us. Nearly all of our events are open to members and non-members alike.

Jonathan Parker with Seeds to Community
2026-01-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown, 343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join naturalist and Ann Arbor Parks Steward Jonathan Parker to learn about his project Seeds to Community.
Seeds to Community is a volunteer-driven event series rooted in habitat restoration and ecological connection. They bring people together across Washtenaw County to collect, clean, and sow native plant seeds – rebuilding the kinds of wild places that support thriving bird populations. Their work focuses on forests, meadows, and transitional edges where native species once flourished. By grounding their events in seasonal cycles and local stewardship, they give volunteers a hands-on way to participate in long-term habitat healing – often right in their own neighborhoods.
For the birding community, this means more than just pretty flowers. Native plants provide the food, cover, and nesting habitat that sustain birds year-round – from May warblers in migration to overwintering sparrows and resident chickadees. Every goldenrod they restore, every patch of sedge they replant, and every invasive shrub they remove makes a real difference in the complex web of life that birds rely on. They welcome birders not just as observers, but as land stewards – people who know the land through sound, movement, and attention. Your insight is exactly what we need to make restoration more responsive, connected, and enduring.
This program will be live streamed on YouTube at this link (click on the “LIVE” link appearing on our channel when the program is in session)
https://www.youtube.com/@washtenawbirdandnaturealliance

Birding the Upper Peninsula *Members Only*
2026-02-13 - 2026-02-15 | Saulte Ste. Marie, Saulte Ste. Marie, 49783
We will travel to Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, February 13th, and bird all day Saturday and Sunday morning with a goal of departing Sault Ste. Marie around noon on Sunday. Target birds include: Snowy Owl, Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Evening Grosbeak, Ruffed and Sharp-tailed Grouse, Purple Finch, Snow Bunting, and more! Maybe the heavens will align for a Spruce Grouse lifer for your trip leader this year finally? Space is limited to 20 and membership is required. You may join or renew your membership here. While the trip is free for members, a $30 dollar donation per person to defray the leaders’ costs is suggested but not required. Venmo link here.
Basic Itinerary – Detailed itinerary will be sent at least a week out
Friday, February 13th
Arrive Sault Ste. Marie. Some may bird on the way up and we will provide some suggestions in a later email for doing so.
Saturday, February 14th
7:30 am – Meet at hotel for departure.
6:30 pm – Dinner at a local restaurant.
Sunday, February 15th
7:30 am – Meet at hotel for departure.
Noon – Conclude birding and arrive at hotel for folks to get their cars and head home.
** Please note: We will be caravanning together in as few vehicles as possible while birding. Those not driving in the caravan will leave their cars at the hotel. So, it is important everyone can bird the entire morning on Sunday. If you have to leave before noon on Sunday, this may present logistical challenges for the group. Please respond to the questions on the registration form to facilitate smooth transportation for this event. **
Members, please register below. Lodging information and other logistical details will be shared after registration.
View the trip report from 2025 here.
Trip Leaders: Matthew Spoor & Juliet Berger
This is one of our very few MEMBERS ONLY events. If you are not a member or need to renew, you can do so here.

BIPOC Walk of African American Historical Sites
2026-02-14 09:30 - 11:00 | Wheeler Park, Depot Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48104, United States
We invite all people from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community and our white allies to celebrate Black History Month by joining us on this walk to explore some historical sites around downtown Ann Arbor. Whatever birds we see along our walk will be a bonus!
Directions: We will meet at Wheeler Park in Ann Arbor, 200 Depot St., and make our way through downtown Ann Arbor and Kerrytown.

Conservation Stories: BirdSong Nature Preserve and Sibley Prairie
2026-02-18 18:00 - 19:30 | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown, 343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The BirdSong Nature Preserve will soon become the newest addition to the protected lands in Superior Township. Stretching over one mile, the preserve will protect a variety of habitats and consolidate a two-mile corridor of protected land. Sibley Prairie, in Brownstown Township, is the largest and highest-quality lakeplain prairie remaining in the entire state. A coalition of groups is working to save it from development. Learn about Sibley Prairie’s significance and how you can help.
Presenter: Jack Smiley, President, Michigan Land Conservancy
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).

BIPOC Bird Walk at North Hydro Park
2026-03-14 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 waterfowl and winter birds. All ages and skill levels are invited. We will have extra binoculars if you do not have any.
Directions: Meet at the entrance by Ambassador Drive and Woodale Ave. If there is snow on the ground, be sure to wear boots.
Leader: Victor Chen

Celebrating 20 Years of Peregrine Falcons in Ann Arbor
2026-03-18 18:00 - 19:30 | Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown, 343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join former WBNA President and current Michigan Audubon and Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance board member Ray Stocking as he looks back on 20 years since the first post-delisting Peregrine Falcon sighting in Ann Arbor—one of Washtenaw County’s most uplifting wildlife comeback stories.
Ray will take us through the Peregrine’s dramatic journey in Michigan—from near extinction in the mid‑1900s due to DDT, to its inspiring rebound after the pesticide ban in the 1970s. He’ll share memories from that exciting March 2006 sighting that had local birders buzzing (and maybe a little overexcitement from the University of Michigan!), plus stories about the early struggles of these falcons trying to nest atop the Burton Memorial Tower on U‑M’s campus.
Thanks to the teamwork of WBNA, the Michigan DNR, the University of Michigan, and others, nest boxes placed across key campus buildings helped Peregrines reclaim the city skyline. It’s a true celebration of resilience, collaboration, and the enduring spirit of conservation.
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).
Photo credit Barb Baldinger

Bird and Nature Walk with Ypsilanti Library - Hewen's Creek Park
2026-03-22 14:00 - 15:30
Join us as we partner with the Ypsilanti District Library in a nature walk through Hewen’s Creek Park. We will meet at the park entrance located at 6547 Bemis Road. Bring sturdy, water-resistant shoes as the park is likely to be wet and muddy from all the rain.
If you have binoculars, bring them. Otherwise, we will have some extra pairs available for you.
