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Information - MSRW - Mackinaw City (spring)

Migration site MSRW - Mackinaw City (spring) Contacts Ed Pike Contacts Web site https://www.mackinacraptorwatch.org/ Last count  27 April 2024 Observation hours 276:04 observation hours, 1 year

lat: 45.77944, lng: -84.74156

Description

The Straits of Mackinac in Michigan forms a unique convergence of land and water. The tapering shape of the lower peninsula concentrates migrating birds at its northern tip in the spring, as they await appropriate conditions to cross the Straits north to their summer breeding grounds. To a lesser extent, Lakes Michigan and Huron tend to funnel migrants to fly south over the Straits in the fall. Hawks and owls are of particular concern to conservationists because of their position at the top of the food web.

Their numbers and migration timing provide valuable insights into ecosystem conditions. Because of its geography, the Straits is one of the best places in the country for studying raptors in both the spring and fall migration seasons. Because of this national significance and the region’s significant visitation by tourists, it is an ideal place to educate the general public about this natural resource.

Location

The Spring raptor watch is conducted from March 5th to June 5th. Depending on conditions, the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch operates on one of two sites near Mackinaw City, MI that are about a mile apart from each other. They are both directly off of W. Central Avenue. This map shows the primary site in Mackinaw City.

The site that is used most often early in the spring is behind the Mackinaw City Recreation Complex, near the Baseball Field. The secondary site is a gravel pit/field about 1 mile west of the Recreation Complex on the south side if Central Ave. Look for a Hawk Watch sign near the location to turn off West Central Ave.