Rare white-faced ibises were captured in this photo by Zachary Branigan.
IT'S A BIRD...TRAIL: Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy Flies into Action
November 10, 2013
2 Comments
By: Dave Rogers
Birding (aka bird watching) is hot stuff these days.
County environmental and community development director Laura Ogar calls birding "an economic bonanza" because of the numbers of birders expected to be be attracted here once the word gets out that this is a birder's paradise.
Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy advocates are promoting the Saginaw Bay Birding Trail, noting:
The Saginaw Bay contains the largest contiguous freshwater coastal wetland system in the US.
It is a critical stopover point for migratory birds.
It is not uncommon to see as many as 75 species in one day by visiting the many protected lands along the Saginaw Bay shoreline during migration (we saw 101 on Wednesday).
Birder Joe Soehnel has seen 199 birds in 2013 in Bay County alone.
Habitat is the #1 reason for the loss of wild birds.
Founded in 1997, the SBLC now protects 6,000 acres of land, most of which is funded and maintained for reasons rooted in wild birds.
Ten nature preserves owned by the SBLC are open to the public, 7 of which (soon to be 8) are part of the future Saginaw Bay Birding Trail, and exist in coastal areas.
The Saginaw Bay Birding Trail is a 142-mile bird watching paradise stretching from Port Austin to Tawas, being co-promoted by the National Audubon Society.
The SBLC is grassroots, member supported, with 90 percent of donations going to programs and mission-related activities.
According to Rob Clark of The Bay City Times, SBLC Executive Director Zachary Branigan and land protection specialist Trevor Edmonds, spotted a flock of rare white-faced ibises, and one even rarer glossy ibis, near Pinconning last spring.
The sighting was reported to the Cornell University Ornithology Lab that documents such things. Word came down that this may be the largest flock sighted in this part of the country.
"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!
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WALLWE Says:
On November 12, 2013
at 03:55 PM
A LIFETIME MEMBER OF AUDOBON MEMBERSHIP. MAKES ME FEEL WONDERFUL THAT THIS PROJECT HAS GROWN SUCCESSFULLY UNDER COOPERATIVE EFFORTS OF MANY GROUPS. A LITTLE HELP PLEASE ...WOULD LIKE CONTACT WITH BIRDING TRAILS IN SAGINAW BAY AREA SO I MAY SEND SUPPORT DOLLARS. SINCERELY .. BILLY BONES
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sheridangabriel Says:
On November 13, 2013
at 03:23 PM
I hope that both grade school and high school science classes would place emphasis in private and public schools would stress this invaluable resource at our fingertips.Field trips educating classes children to the wonders of bird life and wetlands would greatly add to the consciousness of our area residents.Teach our children,and they will amaze us with the difference they can make to wildlife protection and habitat enhancement.
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Dave Rogers
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Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read, respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City. (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)
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