S U M M E R 2 0 21 | G E T O U T D O O R S
This page: A common yellowthroat. Opposite page: A golden-winged warbler and a golden-crowned kinglet.
A Birder’s Paradise Marquette area’s blend of natural settings provides hot spots for finding interesting species
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By Ron Garbinski | Photography by Beth Olson
irders love to discover new sightings they can joyfully add to their personal lists or detail in their birding journals. That’s why the Lake Superior region around Marquette rates as such a popular area for birders of all experience levels, says Jeff Towner, chair of the Laughing Whitefish Audubon Chapter of Marquette and Alger counties. “We’re a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts
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of all types and a great area for birders, especially during spring and fall migration periods,” he says. “Marquette is surrounded by public land that’s accessible to anyone,” so birders have lots of opportunities to spread out and explore. Marquette is located in the North Woods biome, so the species differ from those usually found in southern Michigan. “There are also boreal forested wetlands that provide habitat for species normally
found farther north, for those who are looking to add noteworthy species to their life list,” Towner says. Time to Explore: “Some of the best places to bird are situated within the city limits, while others are less than an hour’s drive away,” adds self-described dedicated birder John Pepin, deputy public information officer for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources office in Marquette. He also says birders in Marquette are
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