located michigan usa adjacent operates non profit affiliate education research facility society recorded species birds point network bird documents bird population region bird banding data collection research studies history established spring hawk banding project point later expanded survey migrating project lasted forerunner michigan formed secure license access automated light established non profit organization supported membership fees donations gifts voluntary service grants private government institutions began annual monitoring spring beginning expanded include monitoring fall additional research activities received federal land patent acres km2 old light station property managed research educational activities researchers exposure extreme weather adopted procedures britain use small buildings rocky points coast people stay monitor migrating birds records report observations stations migration collaborated michigan record species birds point features designated globally important bird area point land water features create natural corridor funnels thousands birds spring fall providing unique opportunities research education conservation programs golden eagles great gray red red known birds seen migration thousands birds use critical habitat energy reserves spring fall study found highest density kilometres higher shore inland locations federally endangered returned annually point time years pair nesting fledged chicks point nests confirmed point sparsely sand beaches ideal breeding grounds fish wildlife service designated approximately kilometres shoreline critical habitat bird giving protection point research programs staff volunteers paid staff migration includes field owl counter hawk counter gift shop manager experienced lead field trips michigan best hot spots annual fund called spring celebrates bird migration point census professional staff document migration hawks eagles provides comparative data long term monitoring populations daily census conducted hawk metres west metres water level licensed lure birds sky nearly invisible nets bird immediately released banded details recorded official log sheet includes date time location bird species age sex researchers report increased capture point environmental indicator come ban ddt conducts spring fall banding migrating mist nests summer study juvenile northern saw owl dispersal point year owl banding project recently increased number banded addition audio broadcast owl calls captured feet high feet wide specialty nets trees data recorded banding released researchers report nearly banded north_america banded recent success owl research seasons begun document annual basis play host largest diverse owl migration north_america important spot documenting monitoring movements upper great lakes reports red pass point fall representing approximately estimated north american population significant counts point include common red common count conducted spring fall beach near tip daily hour count starts sunrise highest numbers occurring days frequent fog makes difficult count weather condition time years point successfully fledged offspring nesting pairs confirmed point successfully fledged young awarded grant intensely monitor nesting shoreline areas designated shoreline michigan critical habitat population isolated extremely vulnerable region august added acres acres feet shoreline critical habitat observatory conducts census program document point populations special emphasis rare species migrants daily census combined hawk counts produce species migrating bird observatory north american network studies tracks processes shares enormous volumes data migrating birds atlantic pacific big picture birds populations northern half north_america
Whitefish Point Bird Observatory