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.

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.

Happy World Shorebirds Day!This August at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory’s Fall Waterbird Count, we’ve recorded 18 spe...
09/06/2026

Happy World Shorebirds Day!

This August at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory’s Fall Waterbird Count, we’ve recorded 18 species of shorebirds, including Semipalmated Sandpipers, Baird’s Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Western Willets, Piping Plovers, both Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, and more!

Shorebirds are true migration champions, traveling up to 15,000 miles one way between the Arctic and South America. They’re also important indicators for our planet, especially that of climate change and habitat loss along coastal and prairie flyways. By monitoring populations of shorebirds over time, we're able to observe trend lines and take actions for conservation. Lake Superior and the entirety of the Great Lakes Region is an invaluable place for these migratory champions.

📸 Black-bellied Plover | Jack McDonough

LeConte’s Sparrows are notorious for skulking low in dense cover. This prairie species thrives in wet grassy meadows. Th...
09/05/2026

LeConte’s Sparrows are notorious for skulking low in dense cover. This prairie species thrives in wet grassy meadows. The conversion of open wetlands to agriculture has caused sharp declines. On 09/02, an early arrival was inadvertently bumped near the point before quickly vanishing back into the grasses.

📸 LeConte’s Sparrows | Oliver Kew

Fall Waterbird Count Week 3"August has come to an end! So far, we have recorded a little over 12,000 birds of 140 specie...
09/02/2026

Fall Waterbird Count Week 3

"August has come to an end! So far, we have recorded a little over 12,000 birds of 140 species, 1 species of bat, 6 species of dragonfly, and 7 species of butterflies!"

Read Jack's full blog: https://ow.ly/1SkX50ZIgjU

📸Ruddy Turnstone | Jack McDonough

Fall Field Ornithologist Week 3 Update"By August, warblers lose their vibrant spring colors. Fall plumages are dull, hel...
09/01/2026

Fall Field Ornithologist Week 3 Update

"By August, warblers lose their vibrant spring colors. Fall plumages are dull, helping blend into the environment, and songbirds are no longer required to attract a mate so they do not sing. Migrants stop at Whitefish Point to refuel, building vital fat reserves along a long journey south. Flocks move at lightning speed in constant search of insects, seeds, and berries."

Read Oliver’s latest blog to see what birds and other wildlife made an appearance at the Point during the final week of August: https://ow.ly/tiaH50ZHFFY

Photos by Oliver Kew
📸1 - Immature Chipping Sparrow
📸2 - Chestnut-sided Warbler

Migratory birds need three vital things when resting during migration: food, water, and shelter. At Whitefish Point Bird...
08/30/2026

Migratory birds need three vital things when resting during migration: food, water, and shelter. At Whitefish Point Bird Observatory’s Research Building, you can find all three, including our new water features!

Lately, White-crowned Sparrows, American Redstarts, Northern Parulas, and Nashville, Tennessee and Bay-breasted Warblers have been seen at the water feature. Stop by the feeders and water features behind the building, grab a seat, and see who stops in! Good luck!

Photos by Jack McDonough
📸1 - Bay-breasted and Tennessee Warblers
📸2 - White-crowned Sparrow
📸3 - Nashville Warbler

For the past two weeks, Whitefish Point has been experiencing an invasion of Type 2 Red Crossbills, with a small number...
08/29/2026

For the past two weeks, Whitefish Point has been experiencing an invasion of Type 2 Red Crossbills, with a small number of Type 4s mixed in! Across North America, Red Crossbills are divided into 12 distinct “call types,” each with subtle differences in range, appearance, and conifer preferences.

Their movements are unpredictable, often following the availability of cone crops. Plan a trip this fall to Whitefish Point to enjoy some exciting Red Crossbill action!

📸 Red Crossbill | Oliver Kew

A special thank you to Cedar Post Thrift Shop and Emergency Food Pantry for donating this beautiful Piping Plover wood c...
08/27/2026

A special thank you to Cedar Post Thrift Shop and Emergency Food Pantry for donating this beautiful Piping Plover wood carving. Located in Cedarville, Michigan, their nonprofit supports the local community through thrift sales and emergency food assistance. To help support their work feeding the community, they welcome donations and volunteers. We’re so grateful for their generosity and support of Michigan’s birds!

Fall Field Ornithologist Week 2 Update"Warbler activity is a highlight this time of year. This week, Yellow-rumped Warbl...
08/25/2026

Fall Field Ornithologist Week 2 Update

"Warbler activity is a highlight this time of year. This week, Yellow-rumped Warbler numbers increased dramatically. A handful of Magnolia and Bay-breasted put on a nice showing in the woods. An early Blackpoll Warbler was recorded on 08/20."

Read Oliver's full blog: https://ow.ly/LPFB50ZFeNB

📸Yellow-rumped Warbler | Oliver Kew

Blackbirds are often under appreciated for their lack of bright colors, but the Yellow-headed Blackbird is far from bori...
08/23/2026

Blackbirds are often under appreciated for their lack of bright colors, but the Yellow-headed Blackbird is far from boring. Breeding males sport a brilliant golden head and chest year-round. Young birds have white streaked bellies, and the yellow is muted. This species is particularly uncommon in the east, so an immature Yellow-headed Blackbird was a fun surprise during our first week of counts.This represents the first fall record for Whitefish Point since 2022!

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Paradise, MI
49768

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+15175807364

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