The organization MI Birds has partners that are dedicated to bird conservation in Michigan, and many need volunteer help. Several organizations are seeking community science volunteers for different projects across the state.
They include:
Safe Passage Great Lakes (Now through May 31)
Adopt-A-Nest Osprey Monitoring Program (March 23 – July 17)
Secretive marsh bird surveys at St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area (May 1 – June 15)
Black tern monitoring at Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area and St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area (May – July)
Ives Road Fen Preserve workday and bird walk with The Nature Conservancy (May 16)
Safe Passage Great Lakes
Each year nearly 1 billion birds die from bird-building collisions in the U.S. alone. Volunteers are needed to monitor buildings in urban areas in Michigan that may pose a danger to migrating birds twice weekly now through May 31. The data collected is then used to start conversations with building owners and city officials about making the city a more bird-friendly community.
Interested in becoming part of this community science project? Submit bird collision observations anywhere using the Global Bird Collision Mapper app at birdmapper.org/app.
Adopt-A-Nest Osprey Monitoring Program
Volunteer community scientists can adopt an osprey nest and help monitor these predatory birds for the summer. Participation in this program requires little effort – all ages and experience levels are welcome.
A minimum commitment of three 15-minute nest visits between the end of March and early July is all it takes to determine if there is a nesting attempt, if birds are actively nesting and if there are any chicks in the nest. You can visit more often if you’d like. Binoculars are adequate for most observations, but a spotting scope is useful to determine the number of chicks. Most nests are located on cell towers and are easily viewable from public roads.
Volunteers are needed only in the following counties: Alpena, Benzie, Calhoun, Cass, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalkaska, Lenawee, Manistee, Missaukee, Montmorency, Muskegon, Osceola, Oscoda, Presque Isle, St Clair, St Joseph, Wexford.
Sign up to adopt an osprey nest at act.audubon.org.
Secretive marsh bird surveys at St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area
Audubon Great Lakes recently was awarded a Michigan DNR Wildlife Habitat Grant to improve the wetlands at St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area on Harsens Island, which doubles as an Audubon Important Bird Area. This habitat work aims to benefit breeding and migratory waterfowl, but also secretive marsh birds.
They are seeking four to six marsh bird survey volunteers to search for these secretive birds during three morning surveys between May 1 and June 15. Volunteer training, including bird identification by sight and sound, and supplies will be provided. Volunteers should have their own binoculars.
Volunteer training will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 4 at St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area. This is the same day as the DNR’s spring birding tour – explore the wildlife area in the morning and then join the volunteer training session.
Register to volunteer for the secretive marsh bird survey at gl.audubon.org.
Black tern monitoring
Black terns, a common colonial waterbird species in steep decline, are a Michigan species of special concern. The Michigan DNR, Audubon Great Lakes, Detroit Audubon, Common Coast Research, the University of Michigan and several other partners are working together to monitor these birds at Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area and St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area.
Volunteers are needed to assist staff in the field on various dates, as they search for black tern nests and record data. In June, black tern capture and banding begins. No previous experience is necessary, but participants must be comfortable working in a boat (kayak or canoe), be able to lift 40 pounds and be able to commit to a full, eight-hour day in the field.
Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area: Volunteers needed Wednesday, May 20 or Thursday, May 21 and Monday, June 15 or Tuesday, June 16 (weather permitting). Contact Erin Rowan at [email protected] if interested.
St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area: Monitoring occurs most Fridays between May 20 and July 31. Contact Ava Landgraf at [email protected] if interested.
Ives Road Fen Preserve workday
Explore and improve the Ives Road Fen Preserve in Britton Saturday, May 16. After a bird walk, volunteers will remove invasive plant species and enjoy some snacks.
The day will start at 8:45 a.m. with a bird walk through the fen and floodplain along the River Raisin, searching for migratory songbirds and waterfowl. Then cut shrubs in the fen and pull knapweed from the planted prairie.
Cutting and digging tools and work gloves will be provided. Bring binoculars; a few extra pairs will be available if needed.
Sign up for the Ives Road Fen Preserve workday and bird walk at gl.audubon.org. Space is limited.
MI Birds is a public outreach and engagement program created by Audubon Great Lakes and Michigan Department of Natural Resources that aims to increase all Michiganders’ engagement in the understanding, care and stewardship of public lands that are important for birds and local communities.
