Winter Birding in the Eastern U.P.
January 22–23 & February 12–13

Are you anxious to see a Canada Jay? Hoping to check the Northern Hawk Owl off your list? Then join Michigan Audubon and our birding guide, Darrell Lawson, on a birding tour of the eastern Upper Peninsula. These caravan adventures will start in Sault Ste. Marie and progress through Chippewa and Mackinac counties.

BIPOC Community Birding in the Eastern U.P.***
January 29–30

Michigan Audubon’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council is excited to announce the first winter birding tour in the Eastern U.P. for the BIPOC community. This birding tour is for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) birdwatchers who want to learn more about the unique joys of birding and outdoor recreation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

“I think it’s important for BIPOC birders to be able to participate in birding trips where we can engage in the hobby of birdwatching joyfully and uninhibitedly without feeling somehow inadequate or intimidated due to a lack of experience,” said April Campbell, DEI Advisory Council member. “It’s also an opportunity to explore our shared cultural experiences without the need for explication and code-switching, both of which African Americans, in particular, must engage in on a regular basis in order to successfully navigate the America’s white power structure. In short, such trips would be a respite, of sorts, from a world where we remain the ‘other.'”

Michigan Audubon encourages its chapters, members, and friends to help us spread the word about this opportunity for our BIPOC communities! Questions about the tour? We encourage you to email your inquiries to events@michiganaudubon.org.

Similar to our standard U.P. birding trip, this weekend will be a caravan-guided birding adventure for a maximum of 12 participants. The group will begin in the Sault Ste. Marie area and will explore birding hotspots and habitats through Chippewa and Mackinac counties.

The fees for all U.P. birding tours are $100 for Michigan Audubon members and $125 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.

These trips are rated EASY. Most travel is by car caravan, and foot travel is generally on gravel or paved roadways. Roads may be snow-covered and/or slippery. Duration of foot travel is less than a mile at a time, and participants need to be able to withstand cold temperatures for periods of 30 minutes.

Special COVID-19 protocols will be followed for the safety and protection of all involved parties. Vaccination is required for participation in these tours. Masks will be required as necessary and appropriate. More details on COVID-19 protocols will be provided to participants as the tour date approaches.

***Please note that this event is intended for those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC).

This article appeared in the 2021 Fall Jack Pine Warbler.

You can learn more about birding tours and find links to registration at michiganaudubon.org/upcoming-tours-workshops/.