Washtenaw Safe Passage

09/04/2026

Please join if you're able!

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.

08/12/2026

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An Important Update on the MSBO Fall Field Season

After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to operate the MSBO 2026 Fall Field Season.

We recognize this is disappointing news, especially as the season would normally begin in just a few days. This was not a decision we made lightly.

Over the past several months, many of you generously donated to support the program, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to MSBO. Despite that generosity, we were not able to secure the funding necessary to responsibly operate the field season.

A successful migration monitoring season requires much more than the weeks birds are in the nets. It depends on a couple months of planning and preparation, including permits, equipment, hiring staff, volunteer coordination, fund-raising, and staff time to prepare for a safe and successful season. Without the necessary financial resources in place, we felt it was important to make this difficult decision rather than begin a season we could not fully support.

Our commitment to MSBO and its long history of migration monitoring remains as strong as ever. We will spend the coming year working to secure the resources needed to bring the 2027 fall field season back on a sustainable foundation. Donations already made to support the 2027 fall field season will help us work toward that goal.

Thank you to everyone who has supported MSBO through donations, volunteering, and encouragement over the years. Your support has helped make this program what it is, and we hope you'll continue to be part of its future.

If you have questions about this announcement or about a donation you have made, please contact us at [email protected].

07/21/2026

Please keep an eye out for downed birds, and donate to the Bird Center of Michigan to help!

Wildfire smoke blanketing parts of the region is raising concerns beyond human health — wildlife specialists say birds face serious risks from the lingering haze, and some are already showing troubling symptoms.

Story at the link in the comments.

07/12/2026

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Tribal officials say the new center fills a regional need for specialized raptor care.

07/09/2026

Please chip in to help feed all these mouths!

07/07/2026

Please support Sibley Prairie conservation efforts!

We have a rare opportunity to save one of Michigan's most ecologically important landscapes, and the next five months will determine whether we succeed.

Sibley Prairie in Wayne County is the largest remaining high quality lakeplain prairie in Michigan. Once widespread across southeast Michigan, less than 0.5% of this globally rare ecosystem remains. It provides irreplaceable habitat for native plants, pollinators, birds, amphibians, and countless other species.

A coalition of conservation organizations is working to permanently save all 440 acres of Sibley Prairie. The finish line is in sight, but time is short. If the remaining funds aren't raised over the next five months, this extraordinary opportunity could be lost and the property could once again be at risk of development.

Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance is proud to support the Save Sibley Prairie Coalition. If protecting Michigan's natural heritage is important to you, please consider making a donation, sharing this campaign, or helping spread the word. Together, we can ensure this remarkable landscape is protected for generations to come.

If you, or others you know, might be interested in exploring the opportunity to make a loan to protect Sibley Prairie, please contact me directly at [email protected] for details.

Sibley Prairie Nature Preserve - West Prairie
Michigan Audubon
Sierra Club Huron Valley Group
Washtenaw Restoration Ecology

05/08/2026

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Join in the Great Detroit Bird Off and discover which Detroit park has the largest number of bird species!

05/01/2026

Swift Night Out returns to Lansing!

Join Michigan Audubon for a free, family-friendly series of evenings May 4-9 to watch hundreds of Chimney Swifts swirl overhead before dropping into their nightly roost at sunset. Arrive early, bring a chair, and connect with fellow bird lovers and Michigan Audubon staff.

When: May 4–9 from 8:00–9:30 PM
Where: Smith Floral & Greenhouses, 1124 E. Mt. Hope Ave., Lansing

🚧Note: Mt. Hope Ave. is closed near the site due to construction. Use posted detours and access parking via Alpha St. (south/west) or Shubel Rd. (north/east).

Learn more about Swift Night Out here: https://ow.ly/mZCU50YTwkm