Visitors to Tawas Point SP this spring should be aware that conditions, due to high water, have continued to change over the winter. No more sandbars for shorebirds and the trail out to the point is quite wet!
Private lands biologist Michelle Vanderhaar from Shiawassee NWR is looking to begin annual bird monitoring at restoration sites on private lands in the greater Saginaw Bay region. She will be giving first opportunity to the landowners themselves to perform surveys, however most landowners are not always confident in their identification skills and would like someone else to assist. This would be a completely voluntary project on behalf of the observers and we need to keep the privacy of the landowners in mind with all of this. In addition, the information would need to be shared with me and others on our staff and would be used to show improvements on the land in which we are working and would contribute to our national data sets as our migratory bird staff deem appropriate. All sightings would be logged into eBird. Contact Michelle Vanderhaar for more information: michelle_vanderhaar@fws.gov
From Kyle Bagnell, Advanced Learning Program Manager of Whiting Forest
Dow Gardens has partnered with The Nature Conservancy in Michigan to host Patrick Doran and Mary Fales at Whiting Forest this March and April. The Science Talks Lecture Series will present information on TNC’s “Two Paths to 2050” initiative on March 19th and “Soil Health Heroes in the Saginaw Valley” on April 16th. During the second presentation, I know that Mary plans on including some of the work that TNC has done with the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Each talk will take place in the Forest Classroom at Whiting Forest and both are free to attend. We’re asking that folks pre-register to save a seat and so we have enough cookies and coffee ready. For more details, you can find events on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/2516042835381465/ and website https://www.dowgardens.org/sciencetalks, including registration information. Two Paths to 2050: March 19, 2020 | 6:30 - 7:30 PM Forest Classroom at Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens The Nature Conservancy asks the tough question: Is it too late or is a sustainable world possible? Hear from Dr. Patrick Doran, The Nature Conservancy’s Associate State Director in Michigan, about a recent study that set out to answer a model of two paths to 2050: ‘business as usual’ or sustainability. The difference is stark, but if we make the right choices on food and energy production, a brighter future is possible. Soil Health Heroes in the Saginaw Valley: April 16, 2020 | 6:30 - 7:30 PM Forest Classroom at Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens Join Mary Fales, of the Nature Conservancy, to learn more about local Saginaw Valley farmers who work hard to protect water quality and soil health. With nearly half of Michigan's largest watershed in agricultural production, keeping soil and nutrients on the land and out of area waterways is not only vital to the people and species that live here, but to our boating, fishing, and tourism industries.  Please note that the Wildlife Drive is closed to ALL access until June 1, 2020. It is not permissible to walk or bike the dikes. Hiking trails are, however, open outside of hunting-related closures. Please check for updates on the refuge's website for current conditions.
Shiawassee NWR website Would you be interested in an unforgettable birding experience on Lake Huron at the end of September (boat reserved for September 28th)? Migrating gulls, jaegers, loons, shorebirds and other surprises await!
Contact Phil Odum if you are interested -- philsfotos1@gmail.com Here is the bird-banding schedule for summer 2019 at the Chippewa Nature Center:
May 2019 THU – 5/30 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM June 2019 THU – 6/6 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM THU – 6/20 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM July 2019 THU – 7/4 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM THU – 7/18 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM THU – 7/25 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM August 2019 THU – 8/1 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM THU – 8/8 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Contact Denny Brooks (denbroo48@gmail.com) for more information! From Phil Odum:
...due to the high water levels on the Great Lakes, Tawas has suffered severely. Sandy Hook trail starting from the lighthouse approximately halfway down is impassable. Also other parts of Sandy Hook south have been entirely reclaimed by the lake. The good news is that the main middle path is still in very good shape. Please join us in honoring Joseph M. Soehnel for all of his contributions to Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. During 2013-2018, Joe conducted a total of 171 surveys for the refuge’s Integrated Management and Monitoring Program. This totaled over 1,700 hours of volunteer time! These surveys are essential to assessing and adaptively managing our wetlands for waterbirds. His passion and dedication were inspiring and his efforts will continue to guide our management of the refuge. We will be hosting a dedication ceremony for the Joseph M. Soehnel Memorial Overlook on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 10:00 am. The ceremony will take place at the Ferguson Bayou Trail parking lot, 4000 Bishop Road, Saginaw, MI 48601. Please RSVP by June 1st to shiawassee@fws.gov or call (989) 607-6056. Please help us in celebrating Joe’s contributions to bird conservation!
See what's happening in the greater Pinconning area this spring! 
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