Birding Trips

Michigan Audubon is excited to offer weekend birding tours around the state. These small group tours are led by experienced guides and curated to create a unique experience for participants. Tours are limited to 12 participants so registration fills up fast! Mark your calendars with registration opening dates so you don’t miss out on these fun and informative tours. 

Please note that the trip fee does not include meals or lodging. No membership or renewal fees are included with event tickets. If you would like to join Michigan Audubon and register for this event as a member, please click here. Once you’ve purchased your membership, you may register for this event as a member.

Winter Birding in the Eastern U.P. Tour

January 18-19 & February 8-9, 2025

Are you eager to catch sight of winter finches? Dreaming of spotting Snowy Owls in their element? This winter, immerse yourself in the magic of Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula with Michigan Audubon’s Winter Birding Tour.

This two-day birding adventure takes you on a scenic journey through Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, and Mackinac counties. Led by experienced guides, you’ll travel in a car caravan through diverse winter habitats, where the beauty of the season sets the stage for unforgettable birding moments.

The fees for the U.P. birding tour are $150 for Michigan Audubon members and $175 for non-members. Please note that the trip fee does not include meals or lodging. More trip details will be provided to participants upon registration, and spots are limited.

This tour is designed for birders of all levels and rated EASY. You’ll spend most of the time in a car caravan, with light walking on snow-covered, gravel, or paved roads. Be prepared to brave the cold with short stints of walking and wildlife viewing while experiencing wintry elements.

Registration opens on October 25, 2024 at 9 a.m. Links will go live at that time.

The January and February Winter Birding in the Eastern U.P. Tours are officially sold out! If you’d still like to experience this special birding event, please join our waiting list for a chance to secure a spot if one becomes available.

Tawas Beginning Birder Tour

May 17–18, 2025

New to birding? This is your chance to dive in! Join expert guide Sam Burckhardt for a weekend of discovery at Iosco County’s birding hotspots. Caravan through Tawas and surrounding areas to witness the vibrant migration of warblers, shorebirds, and waterfowl.

  • Cost: $175 for members | $200 for non-members (meals and lodging not included)
  • Group Size: Limited to 12 participants
  • Activity Level: Moderate (mix of car travel and walking on varied terrain)
  • Registration: Opens February 21 at 9 a.m.

Registration opens on February 21, 2025, at 9 a.m. Links will go live at that time.

Birding Photography Tour

June 7–8, 2025

Capture Michigan’s avian beauty with renowned photographer Jocelyn Anderson at Kensington Metropark in Milford. Learn photography tips and techniques while photographing Great Blue Herons, Sandhill Crane colts, and a variety of songbirds and woodpeckers. Prepare for an immersive experience filled with nature and creativity.

  • Cost: $175 for members | $200 for non-members (meals and lodging not included)
  • Group Size: Limited to 12 participants
  • Activity Level: Moderate (8–10 miles of walking over the weekend)
  • Registration: Opens March 14 at 9 a.m.

Registration opens on March 14, 2025 at 9 a.m. Links will go live at that time.

Fall WPBO Birding Tours

Two tours to choose from! September 20–21 & October 4–5, 2025

Join Michigan Audubon for a two-day birding adventure at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (WPBO) in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Led by an expert guide, this tour offers the chance to witness migrating waterbirds, fall warblers, and even rare vagrants. Immerse yourself in autumn’s beauty while sharpening your birding skills at one of the Midwest’s top migration hotspots. Don’t miss this unforgettable journey into fall birding!

  • Cost: $175 for members | $200 for non-members (meals and lodging not included)
  • Group Size: Limited to 12 participants
  • Activity Level: Moderate (8–10 miles of walking over the weekend)
  • Registration: Opens June 13 at 9 a.m.

Registration opens on June 13, 2025, at 9 a.m. Links will go live at that time.

Workshops

There are no workshops scheduled at this time.

Refund Policy: If you must cancel your participation in a Michigan Audubon event, fees are refundable (minus a $25 processing fee) up until one month prior to the tour. If the cancellation occurs less than a month before but more than two weeks before the tour, a 50% refund will apply. Cancellations occurring less than two weeks prior to the tour will forfeit the entire fee. Membership fees are not refundable. All refund requests must be made in writing and sent via email or mail to:

[email protected]
Events
Michigan Audubon
2310 Science Parkway, Suite 200
Okemos, MI 48864

For questions about travel and tour cancellation policies, email [email protected].