Macomb Audubon Society

09/08/2026

Great job, Beth Noren!

A cormorant colony nesting on Dog Island in Harrison Township is at the center of a growing dispute between conservationists, residents, and a state lawmaker.

09/07/2026

Next Meeting:
Annual Bonfire
Monday, September 14, 2026, 6:30 p.m.

Join us for our annual bonfire at Lake St. Clair Metropark the Monday after Labor Day, starting around 6:30 p.m. Park in the employee lot behind the nature center building. The firepit is just adjacent to that. We hope for good weather, as Henry Messing plans to set up an outdoor screen to add a tech element to the evening. Metroparks sticker or daily pass is required for entry.

After this meeting, we’ll resume our regular schedule of meetings the first Monday of the month at the Sterling Heights Nature Center.

09/04/2026

Some good news for Lake St. Clair Metropark trail lovers: all of the Nature Trails are open! 🌿🥾

The new bridge is officially complete, connecting the front and back portions of the Main Nature Trail loop and reopening more of the trail for visitors to explore. There’s even more good news: the Meadow Loop Nature Trail reopened following its seasonal closure during Bald Eagle breeding season. Together, these reopenings mean all of the Nature Trails at Lake St. Clair Metropark are open for exploration, observation, and learning.

As you get back out on the trails, keep an eye on the wetlands along the way. These important habitats act as natural buffers, helping filter pollutants from runoff before they reach lakes, rivers, and streams. This time of year, you may also spot Green Herons, turtles, and dragonflies utilizing the wetlands as habitat.

Photo Credit: Andrew Severson

09/02/2026

Double-crested Cormorants have been nesting at Lake St. Clair Metropark every year since 2020, with numbers reaching around 2,000 of these birds in the colony on Dog Island each year. In 2021 a pair of Neotropic Cormorants began nesting on the island as well and have returned to the park to nest each year since. The Neotropic Cormorants that have made their home at Lake St Clair Metropark are the only known birds of this species that regularly nest in Michigan.

This year, certain members of the Michigan government have threatened to destroy the cormorants' nesting trees at the park. Cormorants are native North American species and are protected by law under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Cutting down the trees on Dog Island would displace this colony and would likely create conflict with humans in the area.

Please join us for peaceful demonstrations this Labor Day weekend to help protect the cormorant colony at Lake St. Clair Metropark. The protests will take place September 5, 6 and 7 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. We will meet at the North Marina boat launch on the northeast side of the park.

09/01/2026

Bird of the Month:
BALD EAGLE
The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782 and a spiritual symbol for native people for far longer than that. These regal birds aren’t really bald, but their white-feathered heads gleam in contrast to their chocolate-brown body and wings. Look for them soaring in solitude, chasing other birds for their food, or gathering by the hundreds in winter. Once endangered by hunting and pesticides, Bald Eagles have flourished under protection.
The Bald Eagle dwarfs most other raptors, including the Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk. It has a heavy body, large head, and long, hooked bill. In flight, a Bald Eagle holds its broad wings flat like a board. Adult Bald Eagles have white heads and tails with dark brown bodies and wings. Their legs and bills are bright yellow. Immature birds have mostly dark heads and tails; their brown wings and bodies are mottled with white in varying amounts. Young birds attain adult plumage in about five years.
You'll find Bald Eagles soaring high in the sky, flapping low over treetops with slow wingbeats, or perched in trees or on the ground. Bald Eagles scavenge many meals by harassing other birds or by eating carrion or garbage. They eat mainly fish, but also hunt mammals, gulls, and waterfowl.
Had Benjamin Franklin prevailed, the U.S. emblem might have been the Wild Turkey. In 1784, Franklin disparaged the national bird’s thieving tendencies and its vulnerability to harassment by small birds.
For more information, see: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/
(Text and photo by Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782 and a spiritual symbol for native people for far longer than that. These regal birds aren’t really bald, but their white-feathered heads gleam in contrast to their chocolate-brown body and wings. Look for them soaring in s...

08/29/2026

Today was our annual field trip to Pointe Mouillee led by Jim Fowler. The weather was perfect and birding with friends we have not seen in a while was fun! One of the highlights was seeing a buff-breasted sandpiper!

08/16/2026

Safe Light Detroit starts tomorrw, August 15!

This fall, millions of birds will migrate through Detroit. Reduce non-essential light to reduce deadly bird window collisions. Learn more at Safe Light for Safe Flight link in bio or https://www.detroitbirdalliance.org/safe-light-for-safe-flight

08/15/2026

Paul Messing sent the following report on today's field trip:

"Six people turned out for a field trip to Columbus County Park, a new location for the group. This already feels like a wonderful partnership between regions as people turned out from near and far to attend. Highlights include the grassland restoration work, which although it's ongoing, already is support Field Sparrow and many others. Along the Belle River, Solitary Sandpiper, Green Heron, and others could be seen as the low water limited where these birds could search for food. It was an enjoyable stroll through the east-central part of the park, leaving many areas to explore on future trips."

08/14/2026

Field Trip tomorrow;
Columbus County Park
Saturday, August 15, 2026, 11:00 a.m.
Leader: Paul Messing

Located smack dab between Richmond, Memphis, and Columbus, just outside the northeast corner of Macomb County sits Columbus Park, which has been touted for its large, old trees and excellent nature viewing opportunities. As an eBird hotspot, it has a hefty 168 species recorded, with at least five varieties of flycatcher and six of vireo. Other frequently seen species include Scarlet Tanager, Bald Eagle, both oriole species, and Pileated Woodpecker.

Meet at the main parking lot at 1670 Bauman Road. This field trip should last about two hours. Come prepared with insect repellant, hiking shoes or boots, and binoculars and/or camera. You’re invited to pack a lunch for a picnic after our hike. If you feel like venturing further at that point, we may add on a quick stop or two on the way out, such as Michigan Nature Association sites Bertha Daubendiek Memorial Plant Preserve and/or Trillium Trail Nature Sanctuary. RSVP to Paul at [email protected].

(Photo of a Pileated Woodpecker from Cornell Lab of Ornithology.)