Willow Run Airport ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Birders, In response to the numerous private inquiries I've received, here are directions to Willow Run Airport (a condensed version of what will be published in the forthcoming ABA guide), and to the spot where I had the Upland Sandpipers. Please do not leave your car here, as the birds may get too aggitated (if they're near the road again in the future). From I-94 go to Rawsonville Road (Exit 187). Go north on Rawsonville Road and, almost immediately (0.1 miles) you will come to a T intersection at I-94 North Service Drive. Turn left and go 0.2 miles to McGregor Road. Turn right and go 0.9 miles to Tyler Road. Turn right on Tyler Road toward Willow Run Airport. After 0.3 miles take the right fork (toward Willow Run Cargo). Continue past the Cargo Terminal 0.4 miles, and the road bends to the left at 0.4 miles, then left again after another 0.4 miles, then right after another 0.4 miles (total of 1.2 miles from the Cargo Terminal). The Upland Sandpipers were about 3/4 mile past this last right bend, and the Grasshopper Sparrows were in this stretch as well. The Western Meadowlarks were singing from somewhere distantly in the middle of the airfield, as they often are. [Note: Although you will pass an open gate with signs indicating "No Admittance", these gates are almost never closed, and birders have not been bothered as long as they pull safely well off the road.] Allen Chartier amazilia1@comcast.net 1442 West River Park Drive Inkster, MI 48141 Website: http://www.amazilia.net Michigan HummerNet: http://www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet/index.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The rain this morning gave me a good excuse to explore the Willow Run Airport this morning. I had 43 species in 1.5 hours. I assume this is old news to you, but I saw 5 UPLAND SANDPIPERS, a WESTERN MEADOWLARK, and many GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. These were all near the road in the "Restricted Area" which is the road running east-west along the southern perimeter of the airport. Both entrances to this stretch have signs that say "Restricted Area, Authorized Vehicles Only." The usual western entrance sign is clear and large. However the eastern entrance sign is 90% covered by leaves, and is almost unreadable. I would suggest entering there for that reason. To reach it take I94 to the Belleville road exit. Go north to Tyler. Turn left (west) and go a few miles to Third street. The entrance to the restricted road is from Third street. Incidently, over the past few years, I've never been stopped by security vehicles on the restricted road. I've always gone on weekends, however. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date sent: Sat, 10 Apr 1999 23:31:48 -0400 To: mich-listers@envirolink.org From: "Roger Kuhlman" (by way of Jim Lesser ) Subject: Upland Sandpiper Willow Run Airport 4-10-99 Four Upland Sandpipers were at the South East end of Willow Run Airport around noon Saturday. From the behavior I observed the four birds seemed to be interacting as two mated pairs. To get to the general area take Tyler road as far East in the Airport restricted zone as possible to where the road turns North. At the first east-west street head west to the end, park and scan the fields to the South. Also I guess if you are brave enough you might stop somewhere on Tyler road and look North for the birds in the restricted Zone but I don't know if airport security would be to happy about that. While at the airport I did not find the Western Meadowlark. I heard plenty of Singing Easterns but no Western. Maybe the bird has moved. Other good birds seen on Saturday included: 3 Savannah Sparrows Willow Run 1 Barn Swallow north of Petersburg MI 1 Pine Warbler Arb Ann Arbor 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers Arb 1 Chipping Sparrow Arb 2 Winter Wrens Arb 1 Rufous-sided Towhee Arb 5 Hermit Thrushes Arb 2 Eastern Phoebes Arb 5+ Ruby-crowned Kinglets Arb 2 Wood Ducks Arb 1 Common Loon Barton Pond Ann Arbor Roger Kuhlman 4-10-99