MA/JAS 2026 BIRDATHON

Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary

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The Jackson Audubon Society participated in the 2026 Michigan Audubon Birdathon on May 20th.  This was a friendly competition with two other chapters, Capital Area Audubon and Macomb Audubon Society.  The Whitefish Point Bird Observatory also took part in the event.

Our team counted 83 species from 5 AM to 10 PM on Wednesday.  As Pat and I walked into the overlook area at 0500 hours and I heard the distinctive 'peent' of the American Woodcock, I knew it would be a great day.  

Our birders worked five areas of the sanctuary during the Birdathon.  The Wooster Rd. Dike trail, Harold Wing overlook & grasslands trail, and the Woodland trail and grasslands on the trails to the north.  In addition, for the day's event, we opened access to the Wooster Rd. grasslands in the west and the Klee tract on the east. 

A list of the details are below, but highlights include a morning and evening American Woodcock, both Black- and Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, 15 warblers, six flycatchers, five thrushes, four wrens, three vireos, Baltimore & orchard Oriole,  and a Mourning Dove in an oak tree.

Ten percent of the Birdathon donations made to event for JAS will go to our chapter. If we have either the highest species count or the highest donation level, our share portion will be 25%.  So if you've not yet donated, please do so before the donation page closes on June 4th.

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Thanks to our counters:
Brenda Wineman
Pat Muldoon
Penny Rund
Sydney Fitzpatrick
Steve Jerant

Photo credits: Sydney Fitzpatrick 

The complete bird and checklists are available on the Trip list at:
https://ebird.org/tripreport/525649