So, you’re interested in birding but don’t really know where to begin? The good news is that here at the library, we have you covered!
What follows is a compilation of resources to help you on your journey, no matter if you are brand new to birding or if you are someone who wants to take the next steps to becoming a more knowledgeable birder.
Apps
Before one begins their birding journey, it’s important to realize there are several wonderful apps that are incredibly helpful. The first app to highlight is Merlin Bird ID, a lovely free app that you can download right onto your phone.
When you are out birding, you can pull out the app, and it will help you identify birds by recording the bird's sounds, a photo of the bird, or answering questions about the bird you saw. Once you identify the bird(s) in question, you can then add them to a list in your app.
If you want to take the next step in logging the birds that you find while you’re out and about, look to download the eBird app onto your phone as well. Both Merlin Bird ID and eBird are tied together; Merlin Bird ID is particularly great for identifying birds and for being a field guide, whereas eBird is particularly great for logging the birds you find.
Library Resources
If you would like to research birds in Michigan, we have a wonderful book here at the library, Field Guide to Birds of Michigan from the American Birding Association. It has information on all kinds of birds we see in our state, with some great pictures to match, so you can learn to recognize them when you’re out and about.
And if you could use a friendly reminder that birding doesn’t have to be anything grand, check out Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles, which compiles her journal entries over years of noticing the birds in her own backyard.
Equipment
You will want to invest in a good pair of binoculars. Past that, some of the best birding locations in our area take you off the beaten path into muddy or wet territory, and it can be particularly muddy and wet in-season. This is why it’s important to have both hiking shoes and mud boots to traverse wisely.
It is also very important to account for unwelcome visitors, such as ticks and or insects, and invest in the necessary repellent to keep yourself undisturbed.
Birding Locations
Talks of apps, library resources, and equipment are all important. But it’s also fair to ask here, where are the best places I should go in our community?
Here in our local community, we are lucky to be connected with a very knowledgeable birder, Ram Ramamurthy, who has helped highlight several good birding spots.
Wayne County
The first is right next door to us here at the library: Heritage Park. There are many songbirds and even some wader birds that you can see there in-season. Another spot that comes highly recommended is the Lower Rouge Trail.
To the northeast of Canton is the William P. Holliday Forest & Wildlife Preserve, which has over 10 miles of hiking trails, and just south of Canton is the Crosswinds Marsh, located at 27600 Haggerty Road in New Boston.
Washtenaw County
Moving past our immediate area of Canton into Washtenaw County, the areas around Ford Road and Prospect Road intersection are phenomenal for birdwatching, including the Kosch Headwaters Preserve at 8170 Ford Road and the Jack R. Smiley Nature Preserve at 3040 N. Prospect Road.
Check out this resource for a list of the wonderful nature preserves in Washtenaw County.
The Nichols Arboretum is a beautiful spot to walk, observe nature and find birds, and the last major spot to check out in Washtenaw County is Ford Lake.
Further Afield
And for interested birders willing to drive a longer distance, Lake Erie Metropark is highly recommended.
For more birding hot spot recommendations, check out Detroit Bird Alliance and the Michigan Audubon.
Happy birding, everyone!
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