Just A Chirp
Grosse Pointe Audubon Spring 2025
Spring Migration
From the President
Spring migration has started in Michigan. Grosse Pointe Audubon is sponsoring many
After the early migrants pass through in April, field trips to make sure our members have a
huge numbers of birds will move through the chance to see some our spring migrants.
state during peak migration in May. By the
time June arrives, 200 million birds will have Tuesday mornings in May we will meet at
moved to or through our state. 6:30 a.m. to walk in a different local park each
week. We have added a new destination this
You can easily determine what migrants are in year, Red Oaks Park in Madison Heights.
your vicinity using the eBird app. Simply tap
the magnifying glass at the bottom-center of Our premier event will be a bird walk at Port
your screen. A map of your area with the Huron State Game Area led by Joanna Pease.
number of species recently seen appears. Tap This trip may produce good looks at Cerulean
on the number and a list of the species will be Warblers, Hooded Warblers, Louisiana
displayed. Tap on any species to see where Waterthrushes, and a variety of other
and when it was seen. tantalizing targets! More details on all of these
events are below with additional details
following via email.
Spring Schedule 2025
Monday, April 21, Isle Royale: Wolves, Moose, and more, Erin Parker. Join former backcountry ranger and current MooseWatch
expedi9on leader Erin Parker to learn more about the “least visited and most re-visited” Na9onal Park: Isle Royale. Home to the longest-
running scien9fic study of predator and prey rela9onships in the world, Isle Royale’s unique seLng in Lake Superior supports a truly
unique mix of wildlife. Come learn about this fascina9ng place and the animals that call it home!
Grosse Pointe Audubon meets in the Annex of the Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church at 17150 Maumee, between St. Clair and Neff in
Grosse Pointe. Social hour starts at 7 p.m. and the mee9ng starts at 7:30. Our mee9ngs are free and open to all, so bring a friend!
Bird Walks
Tuesday, May 6, 6:30 a.m. PaAerson Park. Meet in parking lot.
Tuesday, May 13, 6:30 a.m. Lake Front Park, G. P. Woods. Meet in parking lot near tennis courts. R.S.V.P to
[email protected]Tuesday, May 20, 6:30 a.m. Red Oaks, Madison Heights.
Tuesday, May 27, 6:30 a.m. Ghesquire Park, G. P. Woods. Meet in parking lot next to Grosse Pointe Woods Municipal Building.
Saturday May 31, Port Huron State Game Area. Details to follow via email.
Ford House Bird Walks (register with Ford House and pay in advance)
Morning walks: 8:00 a.m. Saturday April 26, Saturday May 3, Sunday May 4.
Evening Walks: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday May 7, Thursday May 8
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Just A Chirp
Grosse Pointe Audubon Spring 2025
St. Clair River Field Trip
By Mark O’Keefe
Eighteen intrepid birders braved the cold
winds of February to join Joanna Pease and
Grosse Pointe Audubon for our February field
trip along the St. Clair River. The sunny
weather made for some excellent photo
opportunities and the birds were cooperative.
Long-tailed ducks were everywhere. We
conservatively estimated we saw 1,000.
American Black. Duck photo by Mark O’Keefe
Long-tailed Duck. Photo by Mark O’Keefe
We also had close-up looks at some American
Black Ducks. These can easily be overlooked
due to their resemblance to Mallards.
An unusual, mostly-white gull flew over, and it
presented an identification challenge. The
bird must have sensed our need for a closer
look. It landed on a nearby light pole where
we could observe the necessary field marks to Iceland Gull. Photo by Mark O’Keefe
determine it was an Iceland Gull.
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Just A Chirp
Grosse Pointe Audubon Spring 2025
We needed our scopes to find and identify a
distant White-winged Scoter. We saw 23
species. In addition to those already
mentioned these include: Canada Geese;
Mute Swans; Trumpeter Swans; Mallards,
Redheads; Canvasbacks; Greater and Lesser
Scaups; Buffleheads; Common Goldeneyes;
Hooded, Red-breasted, and Common
Mergansers; Herring, Ring-billed, and Great
Black-backed Gulls, Bald Eagles, American
Crows and, last and least, a House Sparrow.
After our group headed home, we heard a
Peregrine Falcon was spotted on the Blue
Water Bridge where we had searched for one
in vain.
Hooded Merganser. Photo by Mark O’Keefe
Redhead. Photo by Mark O’Keefe
Part of our group at the Blue Water Bridge
Photo by Mark O’Keefe
Quick quiz: What na/onality are the waterfowl on this stoop?
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Just A Chirp
Grosse Pointe Audubon Spring 2025
Book Review
By Amy Potter
Greetings fellow birders! I wanted to share a Though less plot-driven than her novels,
recent bird read with you with hopes you will Backyard Chronicles is rich in emotional
enjoy it as much as I did. The following book texture. It’s a meditative read that invites us
review was generated by the technology of to slow down, pay attention, and find meaning
Chat GPT and gives a brief insight into Amy in the small, often overlooked details of life.
Tan’s delightful journal of birds.
Verdict: A charming, contemplative book
On that note, what I think the review misses that showcases Amy Tan’s brilliance in a
is her true honest talent as a budding artist quieter, more personal light. Perfect for fans
with her realistic sketches and clever of reflective non-fiction and nature writing.
captions….just lovely! She has written the
book in a diary format so it is easy to leave out
and read a few pages when the mood hits
you! Enjoy!💕
Book Review: Backyard Chronicles by
Amy Tan
In Backyard Chronicles, Amy Tan departs
from her familiar themes of mother-daughter
relationships and cross-cultural identity to
offer readers a heartfelt and humorous
glimpse into the quieter corners of her life.
This memoir-like collection blends personal
essays, reflections on nature, and snapshots of
everyday encounters with Tan’s signature wit
and lyrical prose.
Tan’s backyard becomes a microcosm of
discovery, healing, and creativity. Whether
she’s recounting her interactions with birds,
musings on aging, or whimsical observations
about her dogs, every piece is infused with a
deep sense of wonder and introspection. Her
voice is warm and self-aware, drawing readers
into moments that feel both intimate and
universally resonant.
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Just A Chirp
Grosse Pointe Audubon Spring 2025
Quick Quiz answer. What nationality are the waterfowl on the stoop?
Porch-a -geese!
About Grosse Pointe Audubon:
Mark O’Keefe, President,
[email protected]Peter Moe, Vice President,
[email protected]Trina Bresser-Matous, Treasurer and representative to Seven Ponds Nature Center,
[email protected]Anna Wuerfel, Secretary,
[email protected]Board of Directors: Mike Florian, Joanna Pease, Terry North, Robert Walter, Jim Szelc
Edward McHale, Webmaster: FaceBook,
Bill Rapai, blog
Go to www.gpaudubon.blogspot.com for an online copy of Just A Chirp, a membership
form and more.
Keep up with other Grosse Pointe birders and follow us on Facebook!
