Beaver Island Birding Trail Takes Wing

[BeaverIslandAssociation]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Beaver Island, Michigan
10/1/2013
Beaver Island Birding Trail Takes Wing


According to a survey by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 45 million Americans watched birds at their homes or on trips in 2011. Expenditures from those activities generated 92 billion dollars and created nearly 780,000 jobs. With a rich array of migrating, nesting and resident birds, Beaver Island is in a great position to serve as a prime birding site, a win for birders and for the regionâ??s economy. Currently, plans are going forward to create a virtual (web-based) birding trail around the island, patterned after the Sleeping Bear Birding Trail, which follows M-22. Thirty-three quality locations with excellent public access have been identified around the Island.

Kay Charter, Executive Director of Saving Birds Thru Habitat has worked for the past several years with the Beaver Island Community School. She has now joined forces with Beaver Island residents and state organizations to develop the Beaver Island Birding Trail, and its associated website. The planning group expects to launch the website after the first of the year. Beaver Island Community Center will serve as the trailhead and provide access to trail information throughout the week. A map marking birding sites is being designed.

Interpretive signage at sites will serve to enhance birding experiences and provide insight into habitat and management activities. There will also be an eBird component, which will allow birders to document and share their sightings. eBird is an interactive website maintained by Cornell Universityâ??s Laboratory of Ornithology and will be made available through a partnership with Michigan Audubon and Cornell University. In addition, first time birding surveys and trends in woodcock, grouse, waterfowl, and other bird populations will be possible through this technology.

The group plans to dedicate this virtual trail with state, regional and national speakers on May 24th and 25th, 2014. There will also be field trips with expert birders during that celebratory weekend. Frequently Asked Questions will be addressed using the Forum site until the birding website goes online this winter.
For more information, please contact any board member of the Beaver Island Association.

[asilasun]

This is wonderful!

[BeaverIslandAssociation]

Someone ask why is the island hosting the Beaver Island Birding Trail and not hosting a Beaver Island Birding Festival?

Answer: Organizations involved in planning the Beaver Island Birding Trail consulted with organizers of birding festivals held in several states. We found that a birding festival would require a budget of approximately $6,000.00 per year for speakers and guides, and to promote, and plan an island birding festival. We acknowledged that the island has many wonderful active volunteers, but it has limited resources. After consulting with partners, we decided that the Beaver Island Birding Trail was the best course of action to enhance visitorsâ?? island birding experience and sustain a long-term program. Instead of a celebration lasting just one weekend a year, birders and non-birders can learn about our many island habitats and enjoy our natural resources through the development of a birding web site, interpretive signage, and informative brochures. The dedication of the Beaver Island Birding Trail will occur over Memorial Day weekend and will have a festival feel as state and national speakers and guides interact with islanders and visitors.

[BeaverIslandAssociation]

Question: Is this Birding Trail a new trail that will be cut and developed to walk on?

The Birding Trail is not a single trail or a new trail. The proposed Birding Trail will use existing sites around the island to view birds. These sites will include existing trails, Little Traverse Conservancy preserves, roads, and state and township sites. Beaver Island is especially important to birds which find a diversity of habitats packed with native plants hosting a rich buffet of needed insect food. Birds also look for specific habitats to nest and raise their young. Additional information about sitesâ?? importance to birds will be found on the Beaver Island Birding Trail website.

Obviously sites that include trails can be hiked to observe birds, but at other sites, birds can be viewed in parking areas and along road sides. Organizers of the Sleeping Bear Dunes birding trail have indicated to us that older individuals and those with disabilities are using their trail more frequently, and they tend to remain with their vehicle to observe birds. This type of birding is called â??windshield birding,â?￾ and because of its miles of low-traffic roads, Beaver Island is the perfect setting for windshield birding. Donna Hardenberg, a long-time resident and birder, points out that â??There is no road on the island that does not offer good birding.â?￾ In addition, birding from roads during nesting season can alleviate destruction to ground-nesting sites. We are preparing a few sites that will safely allow birding while observing from the road. Taraâ??s Meadow is an example of a site where the private property owner will allow a birding hot spot to be designated. Birders will be asked to view the meadow from the road and will be able to identify this spot as a road viewing site by the maps, website information, and the color-coded logo sign.

We hope the trail encourages you to get out and view the birds and become a better informed member of the Beaver Island conservation community.

[Pam Grassmick]

This video was produced by Barbara Lucas and many will recognize some of the island shots. This discussion with Sarah Toner, a 15-year-old bird enthusiast discusses birding, the identification and observation of wild birds in their natural habitat. It is very insightful. http://a2cititv.pegcentral.com/player.p ... 5cf193608f

[BeaverIslandAssociation]

This website is expected to be active the end of January. It will include: birding checklists, habitats, birding hot spots, dedication activities, eBird/BirdTrax and more. Thanks to a recent grant from the Charlevoix County Community Foundation, our conservation partners, and island corporate sponsors, we are in full flight!

We'll update the community when the Beaver Island Birding Trail is fully active.

http://beaverislandbirdingtrail.org/

[BeaverIslandAssociation]

We are pleased to announce that the Beaver Island Birding Trail is active.

http://www.beaverislandbirdingtrail.org/index.html

Dedication activities at the Community Center and guided field trips are planned for Memorial Weekend to celebrate our natural resources with Islanders and visitors.

[BI Pirate]

Who would guess that bird watching produces greater tourism revenue than carp catching.

Skull&CrossBones