Washtenaw Bird and Nature Alliance

Annual Meeting and Celebration
2027-06-16 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Detroit)
Join us at the WBNA Annual Meeting to vote-in the new slate of board officers, and most importantly, to celebrate and thank Juliet Berger and Mike Sefton, our longstanding President and Vice President, at their last public program in these roles. We will not have a public speaker at this meeting. We will be providing cake, and encourage attendees to bring a dessert to share. Anyone is welcome to attend the Annual Meeting, but voting for officers is limited to current WBNA members. Voting instructions (in-person and absentee voting) will be emailed to current members in late May.

Meadow Music: Grassland Birds of Washtenaw
2027-06-20 07:00 - 11:00
Join WBNA for a special morning outing focused on the breeding birds of Washtenaw County’s grasslands. This trip will highlight species that depend on these precious habitats, including Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Henslow’s, Grasshopper, and Savannah Sparrow. We’ll also look and listen for the increasingly elusive Dickcissel—a sparrow-like species in noticeable decline in our region.
Meeting Location & Plans:
Final details will be announced on our website and emailed to all registrants the Wednesday before the event.
Please register below to receive this information.
We plan to carpool and likely stop at multiple locations throughout the morning, so carpooling is strongly encouraged.
Leaders: Matt Spoor & James Weir
Bring binoculars, water, and be prepared for walking in open terrain. All experience levels welcome. Those that have scopes are encouraged to bring them. For those that do not, we love to share.
eBird Checklist Signup: If you are attending the walk and would like the eBird checklist shared with you, please give us your email or eBird username here (you may do this onsite well): tinyurl.com/eBirdList
All are welcome and encouraged to join us. New to birding? Bird curious? No binoculars? No problem! There is no better way to learn than to get out in the field with experienced birders that love to help. Plus, you get to meet awesome people. Absolutely everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out. We will have many pairs of quality binoculars on hand for anyone to use.

Shorebirds & Waders at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (Members Only)
2027-08-14 04:00 - 09:00
Pointe Mouillee, on Lake Erie near the mouth of the Huron River is one of the premier destinations in the Midwest for viewing shorebirds and waders, but access is limited. Jim Fowler knows this territory as well as anyone and leads several field trips each year at this location. Usually, vehicles are restricted, but for this event, we will be allowed to bring in four vehicles. As a result, this trip will be limited to 20-25 attendees depending on the size of the vehicles driven. Preference will be given to current WBNA members. Membership information can be found here.
Past checklists: 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Directions: Registered participants will meet at the Pointe Mouillee SGA parking lot on Sigler Road (map) at 8AM and from there will consolidate into 4 larger vehicles. Bring insect repellent, wear a hat and dress for warm weather—there is no shade or shelter at Pointe Mouillee. Bring all of the food and fluids you think you will need to sustain you for approximately five hours of birding.
We will need four larger vehicles to accommodate the group. If you have one and can drive, please email Matt Spoor at fieldtrips@washtenawbna.org.
Leader: Jim Fowler
[rtec-registration-form]

Annual Picnic and the Coveted Wingnut Award Ceremony
2027-08-15 08:00 - 11:00 | Dexter-Huron Metropark, 6535 Huron River Drive, Dexter, MI, 48130, United States
Join us for the Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance Annual Picnic! In addition to connecting with fellow bird and nature enthusiasts, we will present the 2024 Wingnut Award to the individual who identified the most bird species in Washtenaw County last year.
Bring a dish to share and drinks for yourself, and feel free to use the onsite grill. Although there is no electricity, we have our own picnic shelter for the entire group! Nearby, you’ll find restrooms and the Huron River to cool off. We’ll also discuss our community efforts over the past year. Everyone is welcome, so please join us!
There is a $10 per vehicle daily fee to enter. An annual pass is $40 for residents of Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties ($29 for seniors). Free passes can be checked out via the Ann Arbor District Librarythrough the Michigan Activity Pass Program.
Directions: Meet at Dexter-Huron Metropark, Shelter B (map here).
