Winter is typically a slower time of year for birdwatching in Southeast Michigan, but that doesn’t mean the woods—and your backyard—aren’t visited by feathered friends who you should get to know better!

Identifying Birds

Benjamin Prowse, an Oakland County Parks naturalist based at Red Oaks Nature Center, said that several northern species of birds migrate to Southeast Michigan for the winter, including the Dark-eyed Junco, the American Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrows, and White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows. Several other species are “hit or miss,” including Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak and Common Redpoll.

“If we’re super lucky, we’ll get Red Crossbills or White-winged Crossbills,” he said. “Oh, I almost forgot about Rusty Blackbirds!”

But if you are new to birding, how do you tell these species apart?

Download an app, of course! Prowse cited two apps that are changing the birding scene:

• Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab of Ornithology—Cornell University created this free app to help identify a bird based on its size, shape, and color, as well as the timing and location of where it was spotted. Cornell researchers recently added “Sound ID” that records and identifies bird calls. It’s not only accurate, but it’s a great way to help new birders learn bird songs.
• Audubon Birds—This app functions like a field guide to the birds of North America. It has images, range maps, calls, songs, and more. Prowse’s favorite feature is the ability to download the full field guide, including the calls and songs, to use offline.

Go-to Birding Spots at Oakland County Parks

Red Oaks Nature Center in Madison Heights has become Prowse’s “go-to” birding spot. “With only 37 acres, the chance of finding the birds is much easier because they are more concentrated, and having brush right off the trails really makes it fun and easy,” he said.

But Prowse also loves Independence Oaks County Park in Independence Township because it’s a great spot for birds that require more breeding territory, like the Pileated Woodpecker, which he called “my favorite living bird!” He enjoys hiking Spring Lake Loop because it sits on a glacial moraine looking out over Spring Lake where the Pileated Woodpecker “loves to hang out.”

For waterfowl or raptors, Prowse advises birders to visit areas where the water doesn’t freeze solid, like larger lakes, rivers, and areas near industrial plants that heat the surrounding water. Open water promotes species that would normally migrate instead of staying over the winter, including Bald Eagles, Osprey, and many species of waterfowl.

Don’t Forget About Your Backyard!

Don’t overlook the obvious! Your backyard, or your office window, is another great space for birdwatching. Theresa Celusta, Oakland County Parks Nest Box Coordinator, offered these tips for winter bird feeders:

• Remember to put your feeder in a safe place to provide shelter from predators and enough space so they can  avoid hitting windows. 
• Clean feeders every two weeks and be sure to provide fresh water.  
• Not all birds will eat the same seed, nor will they eat it from the same types of feeders. To learn more about the birds that frequent feeders in the U.S. and Canada and the foods and feeders they love, use the “Common Feeder Bird Preferences” tool from Project FeederWatch.

If you have a feeder, change the feed to a higher-energy food source in winter, Prowse recommended. Great winter feeds include suet (rendered beef fat) and black oil sunflower seeds. A more modern approach to true suet is Miracle Meal (see recipe below) Which provides high-energy fats and proteins to help keep birds warm overnight.

A chickadee, for instance, can lose approximately 10 percent or more of its body weight in a single winter night from shivering to keep warm. It’s critical that the bird restores those energy reserves the next day to make it another night!

Miracle Meal:
1 part peanut butter (optional)
4 parts cornmeal
1 part flour
1 part vegetable shortening (2 parts if not using peanut butter)
½ C black oil sunflower seeds (optional)
Mix well. Keep remainder refrigerator. Lasts several weeks if stored properly.

For more information, visit Oakland County Parks website. Follow along with them for programs, events, and news on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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