We’re passionate about birds and nature. That’s why we opened a Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in our community.
1211 East Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49686
Phone: (231) 946-0431
Fax: (231) 946-1379
Email: Send Message
Store Hours:
Mon - Sat: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Comments:
Visit us in our new location! We've moved one door closer to the Omelette Shoppe.
Note: We often stay open later than the posted minimum hours. Give us a call if you're running late.
"Opaque moonlight illuminates large fluffy flakes falling gently to the pavement surface. The five a.m. stillness is broken as three vehicles converge on the parking area in front of the store. Four birding companions emerge; the excited conversations begin as gear is loaded into one car. Windows fog as steaming cups of coffee are sipped and birding stories are swapped.
We are headed north at this early hour to find northern owls and other wintering species. Our first stop is just east of I-75 near Pickford in the Upper Peninsula. Only moments have passed when we find the first of three Snowy Owls.
The geography here is flat. The hay fields now slumbering under a cozy blanket of snow, Meadow Voles feast on dormant alfalfa roots. This massive supply of forage allows for abundant numbers of Meadow Voles. The local hay farmers must appreciate the numerous owls and four coyotes we see in this area. The voles are the very reason for the concentration of predators here.
Twenty more minutes north and east we make our second stop. The lone parked vehicle and gentleman standing there with his camera equipment is a sign that our timing is good. A Northern Hawk Owl (upper photo, by Scott Sneed) perched at the very tip top of a White Spruce is a "lifer" for Scott and Matt. This is their first-ever look at this beautiful creature, a winter visitor from the northern boreal forests.
Next we are off to find the largest owl species in North America, the Great Gray Owl. We search in vain for the next four hours. Our efforts are not completely fruitless as we find many other northern visitors as we comb this area. Common Redpoll , Hoary Redpoll, Snow Bunting, Pine Siskin, six Bald Eagles, four Rough-legged Hawks, and eight Sharp-tailed Grouse (a U.P. resident, in lower photo, by Scott Sneed). If Great Gray Owls continue to be reported in the area in the coming weeks, we will make another trip.
Closer to home, Northern Cardinals have begun singing territorial songs, cooing Mourning Doves can be heard, the "cheeseburger" call of the chickadee is everywhere, and Downy Woodpeckers are drumming. Surely, these are signs of spring, but just don't put away the shovel and long johns yet!
This past weekend (February 13-16) area birders tallied a list of sixty-eight species for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Sixty eight species is the largest list of any city in Michigan. Total bird species for the state of Michigan is around one hundred twenty-five (125). To explore results for yourself, visit http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/results
I had a great time participating, I sent in checklists for all four days, including the birds we saw on our field trip to the Upper Peninsula. My total species list for the weekend was sixty.
Keep those feeders filled and birdbaths plugged in"
