Spring Fling 2013

Join us at Whitefish Point on April 26-28, 2013
for the 25th annual WPBO Spring Fling

This April 26-28 marks the 25th annual WPBO Spring Fling, when members and their guests “migrate” to Paradise, Michigan and the Whitefish Point area to visit with old friends, both human and avian. Many activities have been planned for another refreshing weekend of birding experiences. 

Birders can expect excellent birding along with opportunities to learn more about avian migration and conservation in the Great Lakes. Attendees will learn from fellow birders, field trip leaders, and guest speakers.

Join us as we celebrate with Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the dedication of the land addition to the Whitefish Point Unit.  With this 19 acre addition, over 50 acres of land at Whitefish Point are now managed and protected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Complementing this special event; Alicia King, Communication Coordinator for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Program, is this year's banquet speaker.

  Peregrine Falcon  © Ken Mettie

To Enjoy this Superior Weekend

• Mark your calendar for this special annual birding event: April 26 - 28, 2013. Call several friends and invite them to attend the weekend with you.
• Fill out the Registration Form and send it in.
• Make your own motel reservations. See the list below or go online.
• Find your birding equipment: binoculars, scope, and bird books and get them in working order. Review the raptors, waterbirds, and songbirds you expect to find.
• Look around on this website, www.wpbo.org. You will find recent bird sighting and additional information about WPBO.

Food

• The Upper Peninsula’s favorite food, a Pasty Dinner will be hosted by the United Methodist Church of Paradise, Friday 4:00-7:00 PM. Pay at the door.
• Hot beverages and muffins at the Point, Saturday and Sunday 6:30 AM. Pay at the tent.
• Lunch Saturday 12 noon to 2 PM. Purchase Soup, Sandwich and beverage at the community school, benefiting the Whitefish Township Community School.
• Banquet with scrumptious food and fantastic kool-aid, Saturday 5:00 PM.

Special Events

• Piping Plover Monitoring talk early Saturday morning.
• Falconry talk and demonstration Sunday morning.
• Owl viewing at dusk and dawn all weekend.
• Birding walks around the Point Sat. and Sun. mornings.
• Workshops: Saturday mid-morning and early afternoon.
• Educational Displays in Education Center.
• Owl’s Roost Gift Shop open for business.
• Winner’s Choice Raffle fundraiser at banquet.

 Pre and Post Spring Fling Field Trips

• Pre-Spring Fling Field Trip (April 26^th): Birding in Paradise
• Post-Spring Fling Field Trip (April 28^th): Searching for Spruce Grouse

These field trips are not part of Spring Fling, but you can register for them with your Spring Fling registration, or separately.

Spring Fling 2013 Chair

Mary Wise
Cell-734-755-0884
Home-734-439-0159
auntyem@umich.edu
Email Subj. line: WPBO-SF-13

 Keynote Address

Bird Migration - Journey on Wings

Alicia King 

Alicia is the Communication Coordinator and Urban Bird Treaty Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Program. 

Prior to her work with the USFWS, Alicia was the Director of the Bird Conservation Alliance at American Bird Conservancy.  She served as a host on the BirdWatch television program for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and hosted the Bird Feature segment on Discover the Wild for Wyoming PBS. She created and regularly appeared as the host on the television program For the Birds for the Indianapolis CBS affiliate.

Alicia is the author of the Orvis Beginners Guide to Birdwatching and has written several book chapters, education brochures and magazine articles. She currently serves on the board for the American Ornithologists Union Committee on Conservation.

Workshop I

Nesting Great Gray Owls of Chippewa Co.

Joe Nault

Joe is a Chippewa County resident and for the past several years he has been discovering and documenting nesting Great Gray Owls.

Workshop II

The Secret Lives of Birds: a close look at the Whitefish Point Area

Susan Kielb

While many birds are still migrating through this area, others brave the elements and get down to the business of nesting and rearing their young, even while the snow lingers. We’ll take a close look at the nesting of a few local bird species that depend on the area jackpine forests and spruce bogs. Although human observers may only catch brief glimpses of bird behavior, a great deal of a bird’s life story can be gleaned by closely watching an area over time, keeping careful field notes, and putting together the pieces of the puzzle.

Susan has a  background in biology and wildlife, and is a recently retired science teacher. She and her husband Michael spend about half the year at Whitefish Point, through all seasons. Susan spends many days exploring the public lands in this area, especially during the songbird nesting season.

Special Event

Whitefish Point Unit Land Dedication

Seney National Wildlife Refuge

On Saturday (April 27th) at 9:30AM, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will be hosting a dedication ceremony for the land addition to the Whitefish Point Unit of Seney National Wildlife Refuge.  The ceremony will take place at the new addition, south of the overflow parking lot.  Please join our partners at the Point for this momentous occasion. 

 Michigan Falconry

Angela Hanna

Join 12 year veteren Falconer Angela, with her 10 year-old Red-tailed Hawk, Onyx; to learn about the many aspects of Falconry, from training and equipment to hunting with a bird of prey. Live Red-tailed Hawk will be present for photographs so bring your camera. Live Flight demonstration possible.

Tahquamenon Treasures

Theresa Neal

Enjoy learning some of the unique history and natural features that make Tahquamenon Country one of Michigan's most popular destinations. This 45-minute slideshow, presented by park naturalist Theresa Neal, features the first explorers, the beginnings of tourism and the wildlife found in the Tahquamenon area.

 

 Schedule

Friday – April 26, 2013

 Saturday – April 27, 2013

 Sunday – April 28, 2013

Owl’s Roost Gift Shop special hours: 7 AM - 5 PM.

Banquet tickets or Workshop passes will be available at the Gift Shop.

 Area Lodging (906)

* WPBO Member Discount 2013 varies

Cloud Nine Cottages (Cabins), 492-3434

Curley’s Paradise Motel * (Motel & Cabins), 800-236-7386,  492-3445

Freighter’s View on the Bay*, 492-3266

Harmon’s Birchwood Lodge* (Cabins), 492-3320

Lakeview Cabins*, 492-3368

Magnuson Grand Hotel (formerly Best Western), 877-477-5817, 492-3770

Mile Creek Cabins, 492-3211

Paradise Inn * (Motel), 492-3940

Paradise On The Bay, 492-3568

Traveler’s Motel*, 492-3364

Vagabond Motel*, 492-3477

Saunders Sunrise Cottages*, 492-3378