I’m going to be in Lansing, Michigan, for two days next week for work and will have a couple of hours open one evening for some birding. Can anyone recommend a good birding spot? Thanks in advance!
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
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Contact Laurent and check out Bowman’s Bird Stuff, link on my blog under “essential websites”.
Ann Arbor isn’t too far away in case you have a car and the city has some very nice and productive parks. I should know: I miss them and think of them practically every day.
gee, Jochen, too bad you never got to the arb while you were here!
Corey – want me to ask the local michigan birding list for suggestions, or is that already covered?
@Wren: Haven’t done it and think it is kind of overkill considering how little time I have, though if it were for more time I would. Thanks for the offer though…
@Jochen: Will be digging through your blog links posthaste!
@ Wren: it’s never enough, is it? I did feel sad though that so much brush and vegetation was removed to “open up” the Arb during the time I was there. The new board walk is really neat and that female Golden-winged Warbler I got to see there was a cracker!
@ Corey: Allen Chartier (Michigan Hummingbird Guy blog) is one of the authors of the “Where to watch” guide for Michigan, just in case. Bowman’s Bird Stuff is an amazing site (Bruce Bowman does an amazing job not only on this site!!) but needs some time and preferably a map next to the monitor.
Man, you know: went to Frankfurt without telling me, visits SE Michigan just a few years after I lived there … Look, Corey, if you have problems with my company, just say so, right? Be open about it.
@ Corey again: I really suggest you contact Laurent though. I mean, he works in Lansing, so he is kind of an obvious person to ask.
Corey:
Although central MI doesn’t provide the best places to bird in the State, we do have quite a few locations that you might want to check out. If you only have a couple hours, I’d suggest staying in the city. There are some great areas that are a short distance drive (20 miles or so)to get to. In town there is a walking trail along the Red Cedar River. There are also locations on the MSU campus along the river that provide looks at fall migrating warblers (next week they will just be getting their start on the trek south). The Fenner Nature Center is a good location to go, both for birds and butterflies. At the Potter Park Zoo there is a walking/biking trail that walks along the river; that would be a good place to go. If you’d like more detailed information on any of these locations and a bunch more that I can provide, call the Michigan Audubon office at 517-886-9144.
Hope this helps you and that you have a good stay in MI.
Wendy
Corey,
I just send you an email (@ 10000birds etc). Let me know if you received it. I work in downtown Lansing. By the way, there is a couple of Pelegrine Falcons in town, so keep an eye on the big buildings! We should definitly have lunch together or something.
@Laurent: I got the email (so much info, thanks!) and I will be responding a bit later today…once I get a spare moment…