Sault Ste. Marie - "the Soo" ---------------------------- Table of Contents INTRODUCTION HOTLINE BIRDFINDING GUIDE #1 BIRDFINDING GUIDE #2 BIRDFINDING GUIDE #3 -- HOW TO BIRD SAULT STE. MARIE... ACCORDING TO UMICH BIRDERS ADVICE FROM NORTHERN MICHIGAN BIRDING HOTELS / MOTELS INTRODUCTION Sault Ste. Marie is a favorite wintertime destination for Michigan birders. In relation to birding, the Soo area is best known as a place to find northern owls, particularly in years when owl food sources far up in Canada are limited. These owls include Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Great Gray Owl, and occasionally Boreal Owl. Other "good" birds at the Soo in winter are winter finches and more -- Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Hoary Redpoll, Bohemian Waxwing, Boreal Chickadee, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Gray Jay, Northern Shrike, Northern Goshawk, Gyrfalcon, Rough-legged Hawk, ... Winter birding at the Soo is done mostly by car. After a long drive to get there if you live in the southern Lower Peninsula, you'll be driving all the backroads once you're there. Two full days of birding will allow you to cover nearly all of the area twice and pick up most of what's there. But trips to Sugar Island and Neebish Island (both by ferry) are good to do, and three full days in the area will be better than two. (So when has three days of birding not been better than two?) HOTLINE As of this date (12-28-00) there is no email or online RBA for the Soo, but you can call 705-256-2790 for a recorded message and you can check the Message Board at http://www.northbirding.com. The Sault Naturalists have a web site at http://www3.sympatico.ca/donandvivhall/index.html, but there is little information there about birds. BIRDFINDING GUIDE #1 The only birdfinding guide book there is for the Soo is: Edward Czerwinski, A Birder's Guide to the Sault Ste. Marie Border Area, 1995, Sault Naturalists of Ontario and Michigan. [$6.75 available from the Sault Nat., P.O. Box 21035, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6B 6H3.] Order directly from the address given or email Bob Knudsen at jknuds@soonet.ca. The book is 30 pages softbound. It lists 16 areas, 10 in Ontario and six in Michigan. It includes good maps and mileage information similar to what is found in Lane guides. The book emphasizes summer birding more than winter. BIRDFINDING GUIDE #2 Karl Overman has written a very helpful article about birding at Sault Ste. Marie. It may be found in the November 1992 issue of "Winging It," the monthly newsletter of the ABA, and at the following link: http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/al_brushaber/directions/soo1.html BIRDFINDING GUIDE #3 -- HOW TO BIRD SAULT STE. MARIE...ACCORDING TO UMICH BIRDERS Date sent: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 12:11:46 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Kielb To: birders@umich.edu Subject: the SOO Hello hardy bird-watchers: You don't need a bird guide to be successful at the SOO. We always do a Friday-Sunday trip and here's what to do- Stop at Rudyard on the way (I-75 exit 373?). Go right to the first road, then south to the next main road, then right to the first road west of the freeway then north, right on the main road about one mile north and back to the freeway. Why? Snowy Owl, Snow Bunting, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Shrike, and Sharp-tailed Grouse. Cruise the roads slowly (theme of the trip) scan ALL poles, posts, naked trees, AND, most importantly, barns (snowies love these). Continue on to the SOO. Get off at 9-Mile and go east to Riverside. Stop and inspect ALL birds. THERE ARE NO THROW-AWAY BIRDS at the SOO (oops, there are starlings). Take Riverside north to the SOO. Every day be prepared to slowly travel the roads south of town. Criss-crossing ALL N-S and E-W roads will give you many rewards. Stop for any feeder or small flock of birds. Most of the smaller birds will be redpolls and Pine Grosbeaks, these are the common feeder birds. Any shrub with fruits has the potential for Bohemian Waxwings! At first light scan tree tops in areas with alders, birches, and aspen for Sharp-tailed Grouse. Believe it or not they are easier to find in years with heavier snow. Visit the LSSU campus, east of the water-tower (I forgot the name of the road). Pull into the parking area about 1/2 mile east of the tower. There are cherries/crabs (seldom looked at closely) that always have the potential for Bohemians. [Ed. LSSU = Lake Superior State Univ.] On a map find Sherman Park and the shallows, drive there along the main roads and once in the 'wilds' of surburban SSM scan for small birds. There are feeders near the shallows, often with Evening Grosbeaks as well as the more common birds. At dawn and/or dusk visit the SOO Edison plant parking lot to the south of the building. Scan the building for a Gyrfalcon. Go to Hulbert Bog. This will be easily a half day trip. M-28 is usually well cleared since it is the major E-W artery. [Joyce Peterson says: To find the general area of the swamp: go west from M123 at Eckerman Corner on M28. Just past Hulbert Lake at Hulbert Corners (see map--not visible from M28) at approx 6 miles, turn left on Basnau Road. This road goes due south for 1 mile and then turns due west and proceeds for another 2+ miles to rejoin M28.] [Steve Santner says: (Check feeders) at the eastern end ... on the southward leg of the loop. (This area) is in a deciduous (mostly) woodland. The Boreal Chickadees and Gray Jays are not in this section. They are in the westward section when you get into the bog.] Take a side trip to Sugar Island. Check the ferry schedule and plan appropriately. Two loops on the island. The first at the north end takes you through woods with scattered feeders and lots of small birds. The second loop is to the south and goes through open fields with scattered spruces - great potential for Snowy Owl, Great Grey Owl, and Northern Hawk Owl, as well as shrike, and other birds. We will be headed up Jan 3-5 and will stay at a house on Sugar Island. If all goes well (with the birds as well as the rental) we will give information. Good luck to all, Mike Michael A. Kielb 1731 Hatcher Crescent Ann Arbor, MI 48103 USA (734) 995-4357 Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 10:05:21 -0500 From: Latham Claflin To: "Bruce M. Bowman" Subject: Re: the Soo Bruce- Three things about birding the Soo. First, use Karl Overman's article [Ed. Winging It, November 1992: see link above], and use Mike Kielb's directions and advice. Both have birded the Soo area extensively. Mike used to lead birding trips there for many years. I went once with him and it was very rewarding. Second, I have winter birded the Soo a number of times and easily covered the area each day. After 2 days you should have seen virtually every bird of note and then some. Often you will run into other birders even if you do not know in advance that they will be there also. Typically, I drive up after work on Friday, bird all day lite hrs on Sat and Sun, then leave for home near dark. Third, spur of the moment is no good -the trip must be planned. There are big weekends for other events in the Soo - such as snowmobile races, events at Kewadin, etc and the hotels can be full. So check out open weekends in advance. Regardless, the month of February and first 2 - 3 weeks of March are actually good times. Birds have settled in and the location of the rare ones are known. Still you need to cruise the whole area. If you can swing it, a couple of trips may be necessary. Hope this helps. Lathe MORE... Macklin Smith summarizes a birding plan as follows: My guide is this. In town, look for Gyr and ducks, then continue east along the shore stopping at feeders. Then drive the entire grid looking for owls. Then explore the areas west of town for woodpeckers and finches and maybe waxwings. ADVICE FROM NORTHERN MICHIGAN BIRDING From: "Sandy" Subject: Northern Michigan Birding Newsletter Date sent: Sun, 7 Jan 2001 19:12:52 -0500 Northern Michigan Birding Newsletter January 2001 [excerpt] DESTINATION: The Soo This winter has lots of birders trekking north to Michigan's upper peninsula in search of winter birds. Winter birding can be good in the Sault Ste. Marie area (The Soo) through Mid-March. Since I receive many requests for information on birding this area, here's some Soo Trip Tips... if visiting 'The Soo' is on your radar screen. 1) Best results are obtained if you have a good plan and route you want to follow. Print and/or record all reports with the birds and their locations and plan your trip in advance. Be sure to check the NMB Database at http://www.northbirding.com/database/index.htm for a complete and updated list of sightings. Our database contains all Michigan bird sightings reported on the NMB Message Board as well as those posted to several Michigan Birding List serves. 2) Binoculars are necessary of course, but a spotting scope is pretty much a requirement, too, especially for viewing northern owls, which can be perched at far distances. 3) Make sure you have reservations for lodging in advance. The Soo has some winter events that can draw large numbers of folks to the area. You don't want to be left out in the cold without a cozy place to warm your birding bones! 4) Dress warm - with layers. This is a vigorous road trip. Most birding hours are spent in a vehicle, occasionally popping in and out, and windows up and down, observing birds you encounter along The Soo roads. Layering... it's a good thing! Boots and snow shoes are great if you plan any hiking. 5) Birding etiquette is important while traveling The Soo roads. Be sure to pull over and park in spots that are not only safe for you and your group, but for other drivers too. 6) Find a birding buddy and HAVE FUN!!! And remember to post your trip report to http://www.northbirding.com/forums/nmb/thread_open.html on the NMB Message Board. Sharing your sightings can help others to plan a successful trip too! Have a great day!! Sandy NEEBISH ISLAND Subject: [birders] Re: Neebish Q To: birders@umich.edu From: thomas_pavlik@peoplesoft.com Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 09:19:42 -0500 Bryn, I was at Neebish Island last Saturday. We took in C. Redpolls, Pine Grosebeaks, N. Shrike, R.L. Hawk and a Great Gray Owl. The island is southeast of the Soo. From Mackinaw Bridge there are a couple options but we headed north on I-75 to Kinross then took M-80 east. Take this to M-129 and go north for about 2 miles to 15 mile rd. Take this east until it ends into Scenic Drive at Lake Huron/St. Mary's River. The Delorme map shows the ferry landing right there but you actually have to jog south on Scenic Drive for a couple hundred yards. There are signs for Neebish Island. Here is a link to the Ferry schedule. Keep in mind there isn't much on the island - no coffee shops or bathrooms. Also note there are large gaps in time between some of the ferry runs depending on when you get there. http://www.neebishislandresort.com/ferry_schedule.htm As a teaser, here is a decent photo I got of the Great Gray. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/pavlik/GreatGray.jpg Good Luck, Tom Pavlik HOTELS / MOTELS Hotel/Motel AAA member (Y/N/# of diamonds) City Telephone V=good value Bavarian Economy Inn N/1 Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-6864 Best Western SSM Y/3/V email Sault Ste. Marie 800-297-2858 pingleson@up.net Budget Host Crestview Inn Y/1/V Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-2170 Comfort Inn SSM N/3 Sault Ste. Marie 906-635-1118 Comfort Inn St. Ignace ? St. Ignace 906-643-7733 Days Inn Lakeside ? Mackinaw City 231-436-5557 Days Inn SSM Y/2/V Sault Ste. Marie 800-329-7466 Doral Motel Y/1 Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-6621 Evening Star Motel ? Newberry 906-293-8342 Grand Motel N/1 Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-2141 Hampton Inn N/3 Sault Ste. Marie 906-635-3000 Harbour Pointe Lakefront ? email St. Ignace 800-642-3318 Lodging sales@harbourpointe.com Holiday Inn Express Y/3/V Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-3999 Kewadin Inn Mackinaw City ? Mackinaw City 800-345-9457 Kewadin Inn SSM Y/1/V Sault Ste. Marie 800-345-9457 Kewadin Inn St. Ignace ? St. Ignace 800-345-9457 La France Terrace Motel Y/1/V Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-7823 Lake View Hotel ? email Mackinaw City 616-436-7490 lakeview@mackinac.com Lawson Motel Y/2/V Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-3322 Mid-City Motel Y/2 Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-6832 Ojibway Hotel & Conf. Ctr. Y/3/V email Sault Ste. Marie 800-654-2929 wmalaska@ojibway.com Royal Motel N/1 Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-6323 Skyline Motel Y/2/V Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-3393 Sunset Motel Y/1 Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-3906 Super 8 Motel Y/2 Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-8882 Timber Ridge (*see below) N Sault Ste. Marie 906-632-2299 *Mike Kielb recommends staying at a place on Sugar Island. He says: "We stayed in a three-bedroom house at Timber Ridge (906-632-2299) on Sugar Island ($11 ferry fee per day). The cost ($90/night) was quite reasonable when you consider that three couples could easily share the house, and make their own meals." ------------------------- Bruce M. Bowman bbowman@umich.edu January 13, 2001