The Kirtland’s Warbler weekend comes to the Roscommon area June 1 and 2, 2018. The weekend begins with the Kirtland’s Warbler Home Opener Friday evening at the Kirtland Community College Health Sciences Center on Four Mile Road, Grayling.

The Home Opener is a social evening with a presentation and Michigan inspired craft beer and appetizers. The evening runs from 6:30 – 9 p.m.  For more information, or to reserve your $25 ticket, visit www.kirtlandswarblerfestival.org.

June 2 the Kirtland’s Warbler Festival takes place in Roscommon at the CRAF Center in town. Events begin at 7 a.m. with Kirtland’s Warbler tours. Through the day there will be various activities including kids’ tent, tours, nature presentations, arts and crafts and more.

Just before the music by Creepy Clyde (Keith Brown) begins at 11 a.m., be on hand for the exciting announcement about the newly formed AuSable Birding Trail, the first inland birding trail in Michigan! Be sure to pick up the trail map at the festival.

Other presentations will include Warbler World, Jim McGrath’s Wildlife Diversity, and Joe Rogers with Michigan raptors.

For more information on the festival, contact Huron Pines at 989-448-2293 x 21 or email info@huronpines.org. You can also visit the festival site at www.kirtlandswarblerfestival.org.

Kirtland’s Warbler Guided tours for the season include:

Michigan Audubon Society tours out of Hartwick Pines State Park Visitors Center, Grayling. 7 a.m. Monday – Friday and 7 a.m. & 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday from June 1 – 30. Visit www.michiganaudubon.org for more information.

US Forest Service tours available from the Mio Ranger Station. Contact MioKWTours.fs.fed.us for more information.

AuSable Valley Audubon Tours available from Camp Inn Lodge in Oscoda. Contact campinnlodge@gmail.com for more information.

#15 on the Houghton Lake map is The Gazebo at the Flats. This is a great platform to see marsh birds including Ospreys. One of the Osprey nests is active at this time with a pair of birds seen setting up the nest on April 10, 2018.
There is plenty of parking at the Gazebo, and it is ADA accesible! 

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton