Birding Sites
Upper Peninsula Northern Lake Huron Shoreline

Some of the best places to watch migrating birds in the Great 
Lakes area are along shorelines.  And the northern Lake Huron 
shoreline (Upper Peninsula) is one of several excellent spots.  
Springtime is particularly rich in the sounds and sights of 
migrating bird life.  Early birds arrive in the Lower Peninsula 
as early as February and continue moving northward through the 
state until early or mid-June.  Fall migration begins in July and 
finally winds down in November.  Best bets for birding along the 
Northern Lake Huron Shoreline include: 

Search Bay

At the end of Search Bay Road (USFS Road #3436) about 7 miles 
east of I-75 off of M-134.  This part of Hiawatha National Forest 
is great for songbirds in April and May.  Look for Sandhill 
Cranes or kettles of raptors in September; small flocks of 
warblers, vireos, chickadees and nuthatches move quickly through 
the balsam fir, white cedar and white birch.

St. Vital Point

Large flocks of warblers can be seen in the parking lot near the 
DeTour campground in May, late August, and September.  The 
Cranberry Lake flooding area immediately to the north is 
excellent for seeing a variety of warblers, thrushes, and 
kinglets.  Look for a scattering of shorebirds, especially 
yellowlegs, in both spring or fall near mudflats.  Ducks may be 
common at times.  This area is part of Lake Superior State 
Forest.

M-134 Rest Stop near M-48

Operated by the Michigan Department of Transportation, this rest 
stop provides a perfect shoreline view to spot mixed flocks of 
warblers, vireos and flycatchers.  Gulls and cormorants are 
common offshore.  Raptors steadily stream westward during 
September.