Migration Walks at Capital City Bird Sanctuary

Bird Walks in May at Capital City Bird Sanctuary at Hawk Valley Farm

Michigan Audubon’s newest sanctuary is located in Delta Township, just northwest of downtown Lansing. This suburban oasis provides a wide variety of habitats including open meadow, shrubland, and wooded river floodplain. The sanctuary’s riverfront location makes it a prime stopover location for migrating warblers in the spring and fall.

Black-throated Green Warbler. Credit: Daniel Behm

Please join Michigan Audubon volunteer, Marc North, for free bird walks every Sunday in May at Capital City Bird Sanctuary at Hawk Valley Farm in Lansing, Michigan. Marc North has recently completed an Eaton County Big Year and frequents Capital City Bird Sanctuary as it is his go-to birding spot for spring migrants. These walks are a great opportunity to tour the new sanctuary and to learn to identify migrating warblers by both sight and sound. Common species during migration include Yellow-throated Vireo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Parula, American Redstart, and Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Magnolia, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Bird walks will depart at 8 am from the Capital City Bird Sanctuary Kiosk across the street from Hawk Meadow Park. Parking is available at Hawk Meadow Park, 6160 Delta River Dr, Lansing, MI 48917 (see map below). The bird walk will last from 8 am–10 am. Trails at the sanctuary are mowed but uneven so please wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots. The grass is often dew-covered in the early mornings and the trail is muddy in spots. Ticks, mosquitoes and poison ivy are present so please dress appropriately. Please email Rachelle at RRoake@michiganaudubon.org to RSVP for the walk.