Cerulean Warbler Weekend

Visit the Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary

michiganaudubon — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:07:00 +0000

The Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary is located at 3560 Havens Road in Hastings, Michigan*.

*Please note that GPS and online mapping tools may not give an accurate portrayal of this location.

We often joke that “there isn’t a straight road to anywhere in Barry County, Michigan.” This is somewhat true, and Barry County’s charming rural roads can wreak havoc on GPS devices and online mapping tools. THE BEST WAY to navigate to the Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary is as follows:

TRAVELING FROM THE SOUTH OR EAST:

From M-43, head west on Goodwill Road for 1.7 miles
From Goodwill Road, turn south on Havens Road; travel .5 miles and you’ve arrived at the sanctuary

TRAVELING FROM THE NORTH:

From M-37 (Middleville Road), head south on N Irving Road for 1.1 miles
From N Irving Road, turn southwest on Gun Lake Road for 1 mile
From Gun Lake Road, turn south on Irway Road for 1.5 miles
From Irway Road, turn east on Goodwill Road for .3 miles
From Goodwill Road, turn south on Havens road for .5 miles and you’ve arrived at the sanctuary

TRAVELING FROM THE WEST:

From US-131 take exit 61 (Bradley/Hopkins) and head east on M-179 for about 10 miles
- Note: M-179 may be called 129^th Avenue at first and then will change to Chief Noonday Road
From Chief Noonday Road/M-179 turn south on Whitmore Road and travel 2.6 miles
From Whitmore Road turn east onto Goodwill Rd and travel less than 1 mile to Havens Road
From Goodwill Road, turn south on Havens road for .5 miles and you’ve arrived at the sanctuary

Cerulean Warbler Weekend Google Map

Limited roadside directional signage is posted to assist with finding the sanctuary.

2014 CWW!

michiganaudubon — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:39:31 +0000

See Henslow’s and Grasshopper Sparrow, Red-headed and Pileated Woodpecker, Northern and Louisiana Waterthrush, Hooded and, of course, Cerulean Warbler.

Exciting Programs Mark 5th Anniversary

michiganaudubon — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:44:42 +0000

Cerulean Warbler Weekend turns 5 on Friday, June 1. We plan to celebrate all weekend long with activities focused on rare birds, summer insects, conservation, and more. Here is a sampling of some NEW programs that will be offered during the 5th Anniversary Weekend:

BEGINNING BIRDING WORKSHOP If you’re new to birding or consider yourself a novice birder and would like to improve your skills, join the Michigan Audubon staff for workshop that will cover use of binoculars and field guides, identification skills, habitat, and the when, where, and the how’s of finding our feathered friends.

“MAGIC OF MOTHS” Join nationally acclaimed naturalist, Ranger Steve Mueller, on the sanctuary grounds for a unique look at nighttime insects.

BIRDERS’ BARBEQUE Enjoy locally-prepared, locally sourced food while basking in the warmth of a 1940′s-era farmstead barn. To compliment the “good eats” and birder camaraderie, we’re hosting groovy scientist, Dr. Jeff Hoover, who will present What Birds Can Tell Us: Conservation Successes and New Insights Into Remarkable Bird Behavior.

Registration is now open

michiganaudubon — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:00:24 +0000

Thank you for your interest in Cerulean Warbler Weekend–a truly unique birding event. Join Michigan Audubon in southwest Michigan as we enjoy a number of rare and intriguing species during breeding season. For complete program details, please visit the program page.

To register right away, CLICK HERE.

A One-of-a-Kind Birding Event

michiganaudubon — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:30:33 +0000

Cerulean Warbler Weekend is a truly unique event that focuses exclusively on the breeding birds of southwest Michigan. Among the species that our experience local guides will target are several that are listed as State Threatened and Endangered.

Highlight Species: Cerulean and Hooded Warbler, Henslow’s and Grasshopper Sparrow, Arcadian, Willow and Alder Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, Red-headed and Pileated Woodpecker, Chimney Swift, and more.

Special Activities: birding tours on public and private land, professional photography instruction, butterfly and dragonfly identification workshops, paddle tours of a pristine wetland marsh and spring-fed stream, and a special presentation accompanied by a delicious home-cooked meal.

Birders’ paradise in Southwest Michigan

michiganaudubon — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:07:45 +0000

We invite you to join Michigan Audubon for Cerulean Warbler Weekend 2014 at the Otis Sanctuary. The weekend will feature guided specialty tours all three days, beginning Friday, May 30. These tours will highlight Cerulean Warblers, Henslow’s Sparrows, Flycatchers, and more. You can also test your bird watching skills from the water: canoe and kayak tours on Glass Creek (accessible from the Otis Farm boardwalk) will take place both Friday and Saturday.

Thank you!

michiganaudubon — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:56:01 +0000

Thank you to everyone who participated in Cerulean Warbler Weekend 2011. We hope you were able to fill your checklist with the more than 70 species recorded by birders over the course of the weekend.

Mark your calendars for Cerulean Warbler Weekend 2012, June 1-3. We hope you make Cerulean Warblers, Henslow’s Sparrows, and Flycatchers a regular stop on your annual birding circuit.