Birdwatching
Birding is excellent throughout the county because it has a heavy forest growth. Enjoy some casual bird watching or work on your Life List! The sites below represent known locations where specific species have been spotted. The birds listed are just a sample of what can be seen; many more species live in those areas.
Click Here for a .pdf flyer outlining the birdwatching opportunities in the Grayling area.
- Kirtland’s Warbler Tours The panoramic forests that cover the hills and valleys of Northern Michigan are home to Michigan’s rarest bird, the Kirtland’s Warbler. Special areas are being managed through timber harvest, tree planting and controlled burning to maintain the world’s only nesting grounds for the elusive bird. Warbler nesting grounds are found primarily in the many acres of Jack Pine forests around the Grayling Area and are off limits during the nesting season, except in guided tours. The female Warbler builds her nest of leaves and grass below 5-20 foot tall Jack Pines in the midst of dense undergrowth. In the fall, Kirtland’s Warblers migrate to the Bahamas.The Warbler’s threatened extinction is being caused primarily by loss of its very selective habitat. Managed timber harvest, tree plants, and controlled burning have helped double the number of Kirtland’s Warblers from 1961 to now. For more information on the Kirtland’s Warbler visit these sites:
Guided tours are available in the spring from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They may be contacted at:
US Fish & Wildlife Service 2651 Coolidge Rd. Suite 101 East Lansing, MI 48823 517-351-2555 - AuSable and Manistee Rivers Numerous public access sites are available. Look for Mallards, Black Ducks, Mergansers, Great Blue Herons, Baltimore Orioles, Sand Pipers, Downy, Hairy,and Pileated Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Grackles, Red Winged Blackbirds, Chickadees, White and Red Breasted Nuthatches, Turkeys, Kingbirds. A canoe float trip is a quiet trip and one of the best methods of viewing the many species.
- Deward Wildlife Site A non-motorized area, look for Kingfishers, Downy, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Turkey Vultures, Red Tailed Hawks, Red Shoulder Hawks, Hermit Thrushes, Veeries, Phoebes, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks (fall, winter) Kingbirds, Grouse, Turkeys, Mourning Doves.
- Dyer Truck Trail A large marsh can be seen on either side of the trail shortly after entering the road. Hawks, American Bitterns, Yellow Warblers, Yellow Throats. Blue Jays, Grackles, Song Sparrows, Savanna Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Turkeys.
- Hanson Hills Recreation Area Miles of walking trails through rolling oak hills offer possible sightings of Woodpeckers, Red Shoulder and Red Tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Ovenbirds, Eastern Phoebes, White Breasted Nuthatches, Chickadees, Wood Thrushes, Veeries, Hermit Thrushes, Brown Thrashers, Song and Field Sparrows, Turkeys.
- Hartwick Pines State Park Enjoy birding at Michigan’s 5th largest State Park (9,672 acres). Rolling hills to flat landscapes with a wide variety of forest types offer excellent habitat for birds. A section of the East Branch of the AuSable River, three lakes and 49 acres of old growth conifer forest are just an example of the kinds of habitat that can be found at the park. Three hiking trails (7 miles) and three mountain biking trails (15 miles) run throughout the park for those interested in actively searching for birds. For those who prefer the comfort of indoors, the Michigan Forest Visitor Center has a bird feeding station and a bird monitor so that visitors can watch the birds as well as listen to them sing…… Downey, Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers, Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Red Tail and Red Shoulder Hawks, Ovenbirds, Hermit Thrushes, Veeries, Wood Thrushes, Brown Thrashers, Turkeys.
- Mason Tract Pathway –Look for Kingfishers, Kingbirds, Bald Eagles, Red Tailed and Red Shoulder Hawks, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Downy, Hairy and Pileated Woodpeckers, White Breasted and Red Breasted Nuthatches, Chicadees, Veeries, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, Turkeys in this non-motorized area with over 11 miles of hiking trails that run near the AuSable River.
- Rayburn Estate —Walk or bike this paved trail that leads to the AuSable River and look for Blue Jays, Vultures, Red Shoulder and Red Tailed Hawks, Field, Savannah, Chipping and Song Sparrows, Great Blue Herons, Rufous Sided Towhees, Brown Thrashers, Ovenbirds, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, Veeries, Turkeys.
- Wakeley Lake—–A loon nesting area, this is federally owned property with over 16 miles of trails and is non-motorized. There is a regulation to use artificial baits only for fishing. All fish caught must be returned to the water. Look for Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, Grouse, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellow Throats, Cedar Waxwings, Rufous-sided Towhees, Red Breasted and White Breasted Nuthatches, Chickadees, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, Veeries, Turkeys.
NOTE: Follow any public two-track road in the County (except where signed off-limits) for excellent bird watching. Most of these roads are on state or federal land and open to foot traffic. Many are also open to vehicular traffic.
