WKJC FM 104.7 Your Hometown Radio Station is Giving Away

two passes to this years Tawas Point Birding Festival May18-20.  Full Schedule for the birding Festival is below as well as our registration form.  Our winner will be announced on the air

March 31st during the Kevin Allen Morning Show. 6am-10am!

2017 Tawas Point Birding Festival Complete Schedule of Activities
Festival Headquarters – Tawas Bay Beach Resort (300 E. Bay St. East Tawas)

Thursday, May 18
3-9 p.m. | Welcome and registration tables open at Festival Headquarters
6:30 p.m. | Birds and Brews
Join Michigan Audubon and your fellow birders for dinner and a brew at Northwoods Steakhouse,
1222 East US-23, in East Tawas (just north of the US-23/Tawas Beach Road intersection). The
anticipation of the Festival will fill the air with bird stories galore! Participants are responsible for
paying for their own meal.

7 p.m. | Evening Birding – Twilight at Tuttle Marsh
Board the bus at Festival Headquarters for an evening guided birding experience at Tuttle Marsh
National Wildlife Area. Waterfowl, shorebirds, marsh birds, and forest species will be the source of
the night's entertainment. Arrive back at Festival Headquarters at approximately 10:00 p.m.
FEE: $15 Tour Rating : Moderate

8:30 p.m. | Evening Birding - Whip-poor-wills in the Moonlight
Join a local guide to visit the nesting habitat of the Whip-poor-will. Participants will get to the site by
passenger van that leaves from Festival Headquarters. Return at approximately 10:00 p.m.
FEE: $25 Tour Rating : Easy

Friday, May 19
6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. | Welcome and registration tables open at Festival Headquarters
Morning activities at Tawas Point State Park

7–10 a.m. | Coffee and Doughnuts in the tent – donations support the Friends of Tawas Point
7–10 a.m. | Bird Banding Demonstration
7-11 a.m. | Tawas Point State Park: Campground Trail and Lighthouse Trail – Venture on your
own through a series of stations. Guides will be on hand to help identify birds. Maps with stations
will be included in your packet. Areas around the lighthouse, pavilion, bird feeding station, and the
campground are covered. Expect migrating songbirds, hummingbirds, gulls, and shorebird species.
Tour rating : Easy

7 a.m. | Guided tours
Tawas Point State Park I: Sandy Hook Trail
Guided walk of the trail that goes to "the point.” Migrating warblers and songbirds will be seen.
Possible migrating shorebirds and gull species too. Meet at the tent in the State Park next to the
lighthouse gift shop. Tour ends at 9:30 a.m. FEE: $10 Tour rating : Moderate

Pine River Kirtland’s Warbler Management Area
Board the bus at Festival Headquarters with the US Forest Service and a special guest birder to
head to the Pine River Kirtland's Warbler Management Area. Besides the Kirtland's Warbler, you
may see Clay-colored Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown Thrasher,
and other species of the jack pine habitat. On the return trip, the bus will stop at a known Trumpeter
Swan nesting site. Bus returns at approximately 11:30 a.m. FEE: $10 Tour Rating : Moderate
Eagle Run Trail

Board the bus at Festival Headquarters and head to the Eagle Run Trail in Oscoda. The trail runs
along the AuSable River. Expect waterfowl species along with birds of the forest and forest edge.
Eastern Towhee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Veery, and Hermit Thrush are all possible. Tour returns
to Festival Headquarters at approximately 11:00 a.m. FEE: $15 Tour Rating : Moderate - Trail is a
maintained grass trail; walk will be approximately 2.5 miles.
8 a.m. | Carpool Tour

Grasslands and Clark’s Marsh
This carpool trip will depart from Festival Headquarters and head to several grassland areas
between East Tawas and Oscoda. Species to be observed may include Upland Sandpiper,
Bobolink, Grasshopper Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark. Stop at Clark's
Marsh where you will add marsh species. Driving time to first stop is approximately 25 minutes.
Group may lunch in Oscoda (on your own) with a return to Festival Headquarters by 12:30 p.m.
Tour Rating : Easy
9 a.m. | Carpool Tour

Wildflowers of the AuSable
Join Emily Kemnitz of AuSable Valley Audubon as she shares her wildflower expertise while you
journey down woodland paths. Visit several sites along the famed AuSable River corridor while also
observing bird species unique to wetland and woodland habitats. Driving time to first stop is
approximately 30 minutes. Return to Festival Headquarters at around 12:00 p.m. Tour Rating :
Moderate

10 a.m. | Guided Tour
Tawas Point State Park II: Sandy Hook Trail
Guided walk of the trail that goes to "the point.” Migrating warblers and songbirds will be seen.
Possible migrating shorebirds and gull species too. Meet at the tent in the State Park next to the
lighthouse gift shop. Tour ends at 12 p.m. FEE: $10 Tour rating : Moderate

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Vendor area open at Festival Headquarters

10-11 a.m. & 11 – 11:30 a.m. | Instructional session at Festival Headquarters

eBird - Join Michigan Audubon members to learn about eBird. Both the website and mobile
applications will be discussed. Not an eBirder yet? You’ll be able to register here.

11 a.m. | Special Seminar at Festival Headquarters
A Recovery Success Story: The Kirtland’s Warbler

1-2:30 p.m. | Seminars at Festival Headquarters
Purple Martins - Harbor Room A
Penny Briscoe will cover the basics of Purple Martin biology and behavior in this introduction
seminar.

Native Plants - Harbor Room B
Join landscape architect, Michael Bruggink as he covers native plants in Michigan with examples
and information to use for landscaping your own yard.

2:45-4:15 p.m. | Seminars at Festival Headquarters
Bird Friendly Backyards - Harbor Room A
Rosann Kovalcik will cover the basics of creating and caring for a bird friendly backyard and home.
Warbler ID - Harbor Room B
4:30-5:45 p.m. | Seminar at Festival Headquarters
Birding Trails - Harbor Room A
Interested in the birding trails movement? Join Linda Klemens as she discusses how to get started
and maintain your own birding trail.

7 p.m. | Evening Birding – Twilight at Tuttle Marsh
Board the bus at Festival Headquarters for an evening birding experience at Tuttle Marsh National
Wildlife Area. Waterfowl, shorebirds, marsh birds, and forest species will be the source of the night's
entertainment. Arrive back at Festival Headquarters at approximately 10:00 p.m.
FEE: $15 Tour Rating : Moderate

8:30 p.m. | Evening Birding - Whip-poor-wills in the Moonlight
Join a local guide to visit the nesting habitat of the Whip-poor-will. Participants will get to the site by
passenger van that leaves from Festival Headquarters. Return at approximately 10:00 p.m.
FEE: $25 Tour Rating : Easy

9-11 p.m. | Evening Birding – Night Migration at Tawas Airport
Join sensational birder Caleb Putnam, for an evening of birding with your ears. Caleb will instruct
you how to listen for night migrating birds as they fly overhead. Meet at the Tawas Airport (maps
available at Festival Headquarters). This activity is weather and wind dependent.

Saturday, May 20
6:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. | Welcome and registration tables open at Festival Headquarters
Morning activities at Tawas Point State Park

7-10 a.m. | Coffee and Doughnuts in the tent – donations support the Friends of Tawas Point
7-10 a.m. | Bird Banding Demonstration

7-11 a.m. | Tawas Point State Park: Campground Trail and Lighthouse Trail – Venture on your
own through a series of stations. Guides will be on hand to help identify birds. Maps with stations
will be included in your packet. Areas around the lighthouse, pavilion, bird feeding station, and the
campground are covered. Expect migrating songbirds, hummingbirds, gulls, and shorebird species.
Tour rating : Easy

7 a.m. | Guided tours
Tawas Point State Park I: Sandy Hook Trail
Guided walk of the trail that goes to "the point.” Migrating warblers and songbirds will be seen.
Possible migrating shorebirds and gull species too. Meet at the tent in the State Park next to the
lighthouse gift shop. Tour ends at 9:30 a.m. FEE: $10 Tour rating : Moderate

Pine River Kirtland’s Warbler Management Area
Board the bus at Festival Headquarters with the US Forest Service and a special guest birder to
head to the Pine River Kirtland's Warbler Management Area. Besides the Kirtland's Warbler, you
may see Clay-colored Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown Thrasher,
and other species of the jack pine habitat. On the return trip, the bus will stop at a known Trumpeter
Swan nesting site. Bus returns at approximately 11:30 a.m. FEE: $10 Tour Rating : Moderate

Eagle Run Trail
Board the bus at Festival Headquarters and head to the Eagle Run Trail in Oscoda. The trail runs
along the AuSable River. Expect waterfowl species along with birds of the forest and forest edge.
Eastern Towhee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Veery, and Hermit Thrush are all possible. Tour returns
to Festival Headquarters at approximately 11:00 a.m. FEE: $15 Tour Rating : Moderate - Trail is a
maintained grass trail; walk will be approximately 2.5 miles.

8 a.m. | Carpool tour
Grasslands and Clark’s Marsh
This carpool trip will depart from Festival Headquarters and head to several grassland areas
between East Tawas and Oscoda. Species to be observed may include Upland Sandpiper,
Bobolink, Grasshopper Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark. Stop at Clark's
Marsh where you will add marsh species. Driving time to first stop is approximately 25 minutes.
Group may lunch in Oscoda (on your own) with a return to Festival Headquarters by 12:30 p.m.
Tour Rating : Easy

Birding at Little Loon Lake Nature Area
A leisurely walk with Peggy Ridgway along a woodchip trail reveals a variety of warblers in the
canopy overhead. Participants will experience a change of scenery as they transition to wetland
habitat after traversing the boardwalk out into Mud Lake. Eastern Towhee, Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, Veery, and Hermit Thrush are all possible. Driving time to Little Loon Lake is
approximately 30 minutes. Group will have lunch in the area (on your own) with a return to Festival
Headquarters by 12:30 p.m.
Tour Rating: Easy

10 a.m. | Guided Tour
Tawas Point State Park II: Sandy Hook Trail
Guided walk of the trail that goes to "the point.” Migrating warblers and songbirds will be seen.
Possible migrating shorebirds and gull species too. Meet at the tent in the State Park next to the
lighthouse gift shop. Tour ends at 12 p.m. FEE: $10 Tour rating : Moderate

10 a.m. | Riverboat Tour
Join Captain Roger, Laurie, and crew for a relaxing two-hour round trip journey down the famed
AuSable River. The double-decked authentic paddle wheel boat will take you back in time as you
travel along the river corridor. Captain Roger will relate some of the colorful history of the area. A
local birder will be along for birding guidance. Restrooms, comfortable seating, lower heated deck,
and snack bar are also available to help make your journey a most memorable one.
FEE: $15 Tour Rating : Easy

10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Vendor area open at Festival Headquarters

10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Family Day activities at event tent (Festival Headquarters)

Wings of Wonder Presentation
12-4 p.m. | Purple Martin Workshop at Tawas Point State Park Pavilion
Michigan Audubon is pleased to welcome Penny Briscoe to host the workshop, “How to Be a Good
Purple Martin Landlord.” Briscoe is a local expert with more than 25 years of experience.
Learn how to acquire and install suitable housing, prepare nests for spring arrival, and perform
regular nest checks to ensure the survival of young birds. Briscoe will also share useful internet
resources and discuss recording and submitting data. Fee: $30

1-2:30 p.m. | Seminars at Festival Headquarters
Building for the Birds - Harbor Room A
One key threat birds face in virtually all human environments comes from collisions with windows. In
this program Joanna Eckles will provide background on the problem, detail existing and potential
solutions at home and discuss ways in which bird-safety can be incorporated into community
planning.

Native Plants - Harbor Room B
Join landscape architect, Michael Bruggink as he covers native plants in Michigan with examples
and information to use for landscaping your own yard.
2:45-4:15 p.m. | Seminars at Festival Headquarters

Bird Friendly Backyards - Harbor Room A
Rosann Kovalcik will cover the basics of creating and caring for a bird friendly backyard and home.
Warbler ID - Harbor Room B

4:30 p.m. | Tally rally
Join your fellow birders to review the Festival species list and hear the stories that go along with the
most exciting sightings.

6:30 p.m. | Birders’ Social and Keynote Address - Essential Elements of a Bird-friendly Community
Join us at the Tawas Bay Beach Resort for a buffet dinner, cash bar, and this year’s featured
speaker.
Birds need food, water, shelter and safety to survive and thrive in all parts of their life cycle – during
breeding season, winter, and migration. By creating bird-friendly communities we can support the
needs of birds while making our own communities stronger, more vibrant, connected and healthy
for people and all wildlife. In this program, we will discuss best practices for improving habitat,
reducing threats, and engaging people in conservation and outdoor recreation to benefit birds and
their habitats. FEE: $50 Buffet dinner is included in this cost.

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