Whitefish Point Bird Observatory

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory For more than 40 years, Whitefish Point Bird Observatory has been monitoring and documenting the migration of birds through the Great Lakes.
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Whitefish Point provides valuable, concentrated habitat for migrating birds in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The shape of the point intersects with Lake Superior to create a natural migration corridor, funneling thousand of birds to the Point. This unique location provides spectacular birding and invaluable opportunities for Michigan Audubon to conduct important research, education, and conservation

programs. Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (WPBO) was established in 1979 to document and study migratory bird populations and their habitats in the Great Lakes Region and is a program of Michigan Audubon, Michigan's oldest conservation organization.

Raptor Count Blog - The End of the Season"And just like that, it’s the end of another spring season on the eastern end o...
06/02/2026

Raptor Count Blog - The End of the Season

"And just like that, it’s the end of another spring season on the eastern end of Lake Superior. The raptor count this year has been a smashing success, with a total of 19,594 raptors counted. An additional 34,297 migrants were counted across 175 species!"

Read Sean's full season recap here: https://wpbo.org/2026/06/02/spring-raptor-count-blog-5-26-5-31-the-end-of-the-season/

Photos by Sean McLaughlin
📸1 - American Kestrel
📸2 - Black Vulture
📸3 - Sean's Last Day at the Count

As we enter late May, one of the main spectacles at the Spring Waterbird Count are the Whimbrel flights. The best number...
05/31/2026

As we enter late May, one of the main spectacles at the Spring Waterbird Count are the Whimbrel flights. The best numbers are often seen right around sunrise but flocks are often seen throughout the morning. While they are often uniform in species composition, this flock had a surprise Dunlin mixed in. And don't worry, I've been checking any available flock for an individual with a white rump!

Photos by Aaron Graham
📸1 - Whimbrel on the beach
📸2 - Flock of Whimbrel and a Dunlin

Last chance to enter the 2026 Michigan Audubon Photography Awards!Enter your Michigan bird photography or video by tonig...
05/31/2026

Last chance to enter the 2026 Michigan Audubon Photography Awards!

Enter your Michigan bird photography or video by tonight for a chance to win a $250 Visa gift card, features on Michigan Audubon’s platforms, and publication in the Jack Pine Warbler.

Thank you to our sponsor, MSU Federal Credit Union and for supporting this year’s awards.

We can’t wait to see what you’ve captured. Submit here: https://ow.ly/ZAmu50YrLNo

Late May is when many young birds arrive to the north country. Most raptors don't breed in their first full summer, so t...
05/30/2026

Late May is when many young birds arrive to the north country. Most raptors don't breed in their first full summer, so there is less urgency to return, and hence, a later arrival. Young Broad-winged Hawks are the most numerous raptor being recorded these days, forming small kettles on pleasant late May days.

📸Broad-winged Hawk | Sean McLaughlin

Piping Plover Week 2 Updates"May 21-27th at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory brought excitement, territorial drama, stro...
05/28/2026

Piping Plover Week 2 Updates

"May 21-27th at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory brought excitement, territorial drama, strong lake winds, and the discovery of the season’s first eggs!"

Read Morgan's full blog here: https://ow.ly/amnh50Z59S5

📸 Piping Plover "V" | Morgan Ness

Only five days left to enter the 2026 Michigan Audubon Photography Awards!We're excited to celebrate the birds, moments,...
05/27/2026

Only five days left to enter the 2026 Michigan Audubon Photography Awards!

We're excited to celebrate the birds, moments, and stories you've captured across Michigan. Submit your entries by May 31: https://ow.ly/1YAT50Z4OfZ

Thank you to our 2026 MAPA sponsor, MSU Federal Credit Union and Meijer for supporting this year’s awards.

Spring Waterbird Count 5/20-5/26"The end of the count may be right around the corner, yet some of the best action was on...
05/27/2026

Spring Waterbird Count 5/20-5/26

"The end of the count may be right around the corner, yet some of the best action was only beginning during this observation period...The highlight of the day, May 20, certainly were the large shorebirds observed, including two Western Willets sitting on the beach upon my arrival. About an hour later, I heard the distinct calls of a Marbled Godwit, which flew in and spent the morning on the beach with the two Willets."

Read Aaron's full blog here: https://wpbo.org/2026/05/27/spring-waterbird-count-5-20-5-26/

Photos by Aaron Graham
📸1 - Marbled Godwit resting on the beach
📸2 - Whimbrel

To celebrate the end of Birdathon week, here are some of our favorite birds our teams spotted.Spring migration brings an...
05/26/2026

To celebrate the end of Birdathon week, here are some of our favorite birds our teams spotted.

Spring migration brings an incredible variety of species through Michigan each year, and while these birds aren’t necessarily rare, they’re exciting examples of the diversity you can experience during migration season.

Birdathon week may be over, but donations are still open! Your support directly funds conservation work that benefits birds like the ones featured here and the habitats they depend on. Donate here: https://ow.ly/VsBu50Z4hHC

Spring Raptor Count - Nearing the Finish Line"The end of May can be one of the best times to birdwatch at Whitefish Poin...
05/26/2026

Spring Raptor Count - Nearing the Finish Line

"The end of May can be one of the best times to birdwatch at Whitefish Point. Diversity reaches it’s zenith, warblers abound, and raptors chug onward... The week started off with a bang with another sighting of the Crested Caracara, confirming TWO(!) individuals."

Read Sean's full blog here: https://ow.ly/Qj4A50Z4civ

📸Crested Caracara by Sean McLaughlin

There has been so many exciting happenings as of late at Whitefish Point, but I wanted to give some attention to Upland ...
05/24/2026

There has been so many exciting happenings as of late at Whitefish Point, but I wanted to give some attention to Upland Sandpipers. While shorebirds would certainly fall under the criteria of "waterbird", not all shorebirds are as fond of the water, with Upland Sandpipers being a great example of this. While they might visit the wet edge while foraging, this species prefers a variety of grassland and field type habitats as the "upland" part of its name would suggest. In some areas, they even take advantage of open habitats for breeding, such as open blueberry barrens found in the northeastern part of their range. This Upland Sandpiper was spotted flying in off Whitefish Bay during the count on 5/19 and was one of the many highlights of the day.

📸Upland Sandpiper | Aaron Graham

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Paradise, MI
49768

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+15175807364

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