Common Redpoll. Photo by Helena Garcia | GBBC

Welcome to 2021! What will your new year of birding look like? You might consider a personal goal such as getting out birding at least once a month (which can be very doable for those with a busy schedule!) or something a little more intense like doing a big year of birding. You can even do a big year virtually these days — something most people never imagined! Michigan Audubon Education Coordinator Lindsay Cain is embarking on this adventure, which is called “Fantasy Birding.” Stay tuned for regular updates from her! This type of activity leads to some interesting conversations among Michigan Audubon staff, and we hope to share that spark of joy and interest this coming year. 

As we seek out birds in January, whether for a New Year’s Day of birding, diving into a big year, or observing the behavior of your favorite backyard bird visitors, we get to experience the extremes of what Michigan has to offer in mid-winter. Some winter birding can be primarily done roadside — driving low-traffic roads and seeking out flocking bird species such as Snow Bunting or Common Redpoll. 

Northern Shrike. Photo by Mick Thompson | APA

This past weekend, through participation in a Christmas Bird Count, I saw big flocks of Snow Bunting and smaller flocks of Horned Lark in Barry County. It’s also a great time of year to note where you see American Kestrel perched on power lines as you drive from one place to another in open country. I’ve also been seeing many Mourning Doves perched on power lines — it’s a fun time of year to see so many gathered together in one place. Northern Shrike have been showing up in mid to lower Michigan in the past month — these are a fun species to seek out in winter! Open water areas may still have good showings of waterfowl species, such as Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, large flocks of Canada Geese (and maybe a Cackling Goose if you’re lucky!), Mallard, and the occasional Black Duck. This time of year, open water is most often found where water is moving — rivers, dams, areas near power plants. Take a gander, if you’ll pardon the phrase, in your local area; seek out these open water areas and you may be rewarded with great birds to see!

American Tree Sparrow. Photo by Robert Barnes | APA

If you’re birding in northern Michigan, it’s a fun time of year to look for Sharp-tailed Grouse, perhaps perched at the tops of conifer trees. Winter rarities such as Great Gray Owl or Northern Hawk Owl are highlights for most birders but are usually only found by luck. Keep an eye out for a Boreal Chickadee as well! Perhaps less celebrated, I also thoroughly enjoy seeing American Tree Sparrows this time of year. They are another northern bird that winters in the northern half of the United States. Look for a streaky and colorful back on a sparrow, light gray underparts, and a central dark spot on the breast. American Tree Sparrows also have a neat bi-colored bill with a dark brownish color on the upper mandible and a yellow color on the lower mandible. In the summer, this species breeds on the northern edges of where boreal forest meets tundra. A fun fact is that American Tree Sparrows need to consume enough food daily to equal about 30% of their body weight — anything less can mean the end of their life in cold wintertime conditions! Learn more about this species here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Tree_Sparrow/overview.

Snowy Owl. Photo by Tracey Kidston | APA

As a responsible birding reminder, if you do find an owl, including a Snowy Owl, we strongly suggest that you do not share the exact location widely (e.g., on social media or birding listservs) but rather wait until the owl has departed the area or only share the general location so that we can minimize our collective negative impact on these birds. Snowy Owls are especially vulnerable because they may be at the edge of starvation, and any extra energy expended by flying away from people trying to get close may push them over that edge. Snowy Owls range into Michigan in the winter, and only when their annually fluctuating prey source in the arctic is at a low point in the natural cycle — meaning that when they are here, they’re here because they’re not finding enough food farther north. Aside from the stress that approaching an owl closely can cause, it’s also very important not to feed an owl. Some viewers may put out bait (for example, a live mouse) to encourage an owl to fly over, hoping to snap a great photo. Besides potentially bringing the owl to a greater risk of flying across a road (risk of being hit by a vehicle), this practice may habituate an owl to getting food from humans, which is not a normal process. Our cumulative impacts on these beautiful birds should be avoided. It’s best not to closely approach an owl (err on the side of caution with your distance) and not to put out bait for an owl. Read more about owl behavior and how a stressed owl might act here: https://www.internationalowlcenter.org/respectful_observation.html#stressed. 

Safe and respectful birding is good for us, as a community, as well! In this new year, let’s do our best to invite new and experienced birders alike to join us in birding responsibly. One of my goals in 2021 is to do intentional birding more regularly and focus on birding in my local counties. As an environmentalist, I do my best to reduce my impacts, including emissions from travel to far-flung locations, and birding more locally is also an excellent way to appreciate your local surroundings. When I was younger and learning more about birds, I was traveling abroad and was wowed by the diversity and beauty of birds in another country. When I returned home, I truly became a “birder” because I realized the wonder and joy I could find in knowing the local birds. Your journey may be similar or different from mine, but the point is that birds have a special place in many of our lives. Find what brings you joy this year, and good luck with your viewing of the birds! 

Let’s all be ambassadors to protect the birds we love and to promote respectful birding practices to other viewers! 

~ Linnea Rowse, Michigan Audubon conservation program coordinator

Additional Tips for Safe and Respectful Snowy Owl Viewing

Courtesy of Black Swamp Bird Observatory: https://www.bsbo.org/snow-viewing-tips.html

  • Keep quiet and maintain a respectful distance at all times. If the owl reacts to your presence, you’re too close!
  • Never approach or harass an owl with the intention of making it fly.
  • Do not attempt to call, lure, or bait an owl to get it to come closer.
  • Be respectful of private property boundaries and nearby residents.
  • Be respectful of fellow observers.
  • Do not create a hazard to yourself and others by stopping on or along roadways.
  • If you witness someone harassing an owl, contact local authorities. (MDNR Conservation Officer Contact Information: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79772_81097-24666–,00.html) 
  • Be an ambassador. Help educate beginners on how to enjoy these magnificent birds responsibly!
  • Remember: No picture or closer view is worth jeopardizing the welfare of the owl or your reputation in the birding community!

Upcoming Two-Part Webinar Series on Owls!

Great Gray Owl: A Visual Natural History
Jan. 7

Snowy Owls: A Visual Natural History
Jan. 19

Join award-winning author and photographer Paul Bannick for a two-part series on owls! Paul will combine his in-depth knowledge of owls and his images and videos to help inspire conservation and education and spread awareness of threats to Great Gray and Snowy Owls — and what we can do to protect them. 

For more information on this webinar, hosted by Skagit Audubon Society and North Cascades Institute, visit: https://fb.me/e/3jOBqw5lh.