OFF-CAMPUS FIELD TRIPS
FRIDAY, May 20
NEW!
7 a.m. Wakeley Lake Wildlife Walk
Meet in the parking area and walk with U.S. Forest Service
personnel on a network of trails leading to and around scenic
Wakeley Lake. You’ll experience a variety of habitats, and the
wildlife and plants that inhabit them. Look for loons and
eagles at Wakeley Lake. Allow 2 to 3 hours. Trails are
generally hard-packed dirt and fairly level but could be wet
this time of year. (This field trip replaces the former “Owl
Prowl” held Friday evening.) Get
Google Maps directions.
Location: Meet at parking lot on M-72, about 10 miles east of Grayling or 5 miles west of the intersection of M-18 and M-72. Area is well marked by directional signs along M-72. Hiking will be mostly on dry, sandy foot trails.
5 p.m. – Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve.
Habitats include old-growth pine, lowland hardwood swamp,
cedar swamp, streamside/riparian, upland oak and pine.
Forest birds will be the main feature here with many
warblers, thrushes, sparrows and raptors found in these
habitats.
Guide: Tom Dale, Education Director for this 60-acre wooded preserve. Tom is a recently retired biology professor from Kirtland Community College.
Location: The Gahagan Preserve is located on the south edge of the village of Roscommon. Meet at the Preserve parking lot which is located on Southline Road, 1/4 mile west of M-18, south side of Roscommon. Southline Road is located just south of the Ford dealership on M-18. Hiking on handicapped-accessible trail and boardwalk.
SATURDAY, May 21
6 p.m. - Houghton Lake Marsh Wetland Bird Tour
This MDNR waterfowl management area is open marsh and
wooded/shrub wetland.
Nesting ospreys, black terns and a great blue heron rookery
are special attractions. Waterfowl species and many wetland
songbirds and wading birds are also common. Tour will end at
the nearby Michelson's Landing on the Muskegon River
Deadstream Flooding. An active eagle nest will be the
attraction of this final stop.
Guide: Mike Petrucha, wildlife specialist, DNRE Wildlife Division, Lapeer Field Office.
Location: Meet on the marsh at the wildlife observation platform and parking lot on west side of Old-27, 1 1/2 miles north of the M-55 and Old-27 intersection on the southwest side of Houghton Lake.
SUNDAY, May 22
8 a.m. - Jeremy and Lois Jones' Wildlife Preserve, near Roscommon, Crawford County. "Fractured habitats – a little bit of everything," according to owner and wildlife photographer Jeremy Jones. This diverse habitat makes for a diverse nature watching experience. Constructed wetlands, old field/grasslands, shrub/forest habitat, and two beaver colonies, have created an unusual and rich mixture of habitats and bird life. Coyotes, bobcats, bear, deer, beaver and otter add to the intrigue. Jeremy has a photography studio that displays his many award-winning wildlife and nature photographs - and many are for sale.
Guide: Bob Hess, Michigan DNR
district wildlife biologist (retired) and Tom
Dale, naturalist and retired biology professor from Kirtland
will lead this nature tour.
Location: Meet at the farmhouse at 3121 East Seven Mile Road. Follow Chase Bridge Road north three miles from the M-18 intersection, or Chase Bridge Road south about six miles from the M-72 intersection, to Seven Mile Road. There is a large sign for Jeremy's studio at the intersection of Chase Bridge and Seven Mile roads. Grass will likely be damp, so best to wear water-resistant shoes or boots. Hiking will be on impoundment dikes and trail roads.
Wakeley Lake - Grayling
Meet at Wakeley Lake Forest Service parking lot on M-72
about 8 miles east of Grayling; or 5 to 6 miles west of M-72
and M-18 intersection. (Look for signs along M-72.)
Get Google Maps directions
Houghton Lake Marsh – Houghton Lake
From the Houghton Lake exit on US-127, take M-55 east
approximately 3/4 mile to Old 27. Turn north for about 1.5
to 2 miles. See the gazebo and parking lot on the left
(west) side of road.
Lois and Jeremy Jones Farm – Roscommon
From downtown Roscommon take M-18 north about 3 miles. Turn
left on Chase Bridge Road, go about 3 miles and look for
Nature Photography Gallery sign on right side of road.
Gahagan Nature Preserve – Roscommon
From downtown Roscommon, take M-18 south to the Industrial
Park (Ford dealer on this corner). Turn right on Southline
Road and go about a quarter mile west to Preserve parking
lot.
OTHER GUIDED TOURS
Download the guided tours brochure
U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kirtland's Warbler Tours – the guided birding tours listed below are conducted annually from mid-May through early July by biologists from these federal natural resource agencies, both key players in the recovery of the Kirtland's warbler. These tours are very popular, so it is recommended that you call ahead to check on reservations.
U.S. Forest Service Tours, Mio: U.S. Forest
Service tours are conducted at 7 a.m. daily, May 21 to July
2 (except Memorial Day). Tours last approximately three
hours and a $10 fee is charged. Visitors should meet at the
Mio District Ranger Station, located off M-33 north of Mio,
at 6:45 a.m. Tour participants drive their own vehicles to
the field site following a short presentation. For more
information on the Mio tour, contact the U.S. Forest
Service.
U.S. Forest Service, Mio Ranger District
107 McKinley Road
Mio, MI 48647-9314
Phone: 989-826-3252
Email: miokwtours@fs.fed.us
Web Site:
www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf/pages/kw_tours.htm
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tours, Grayling:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Michigan Audubon
Society conduct guided tours from May 21 through July 4,
departing from the Ramada Inn in Grayling, Michigan. The
tours are offered daily at 7:00 a.m. and at 11:00 a.m. and
are free of charge. For more information on the Grayling
tour, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
East Lansing Field Office
2651 Coolidge Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: 517-351-2555
Contact: Chris Mensing, phone extension 316
E-mail:
chris_mensing@fws.gov
Web Site:
www.fws.gov/midwest/EastLansing/tour.html
© 2010 Kirtland's Warbler Wildlife Festival