“Birds are the most popular group in the animal kingdom. We feed them, and we tame them, and we think we know them. And yet they inhabit a world that is really rather mysterious.”

David Attenborough,

British naturalist

Birds are often mentioned when people talk about weather. “When birds fly high expect clear sky, if birds fly low expect a blow” claims The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Bird behavior is an indicator of weather. Change in bird species and behavior over time are signs of change in the environment. For individuals, bird watching or birding is an outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by people regardless of age or physical ability. Conservation groups, such as the Audubon Society, monitor changes in species and migratory patterns to understand the environment.

Fossil records trace the origin of birds to the meat eating dinosaurs, maniraptoran theropods, with an example being Velociraptor in the movie “Jurassic Park.” Birds have developed a para tympanic organ in the middle ear that is sensitive to change in barometric pressure, a key indicator in weather forecasting.

The Kirtland’s Warbler is a song bird that demonstrates how precarious a creature’s existence can be. Its nesting area was discovered in 1903 in Oscoda County in the lower branches of new growth Jack Pine trees. The heat from fires is required to open the cone and spread the seeds of the Jack Pine. Fire suppression and forestation policies limited habitat. Understanding the Kirtland’s Warblers’ needs has helped to increase population from an estimated 167 in 1971 to 2,000 in 2012.

Birds are ecosystems servers. They pollinate plants, propagate seeds, control insect and rodent pests. Birds also scavenge, keeping natural areas free of carrion. There is the benefit of eco-tourism as well. A Black Backed Oriole, native to Mexico, was spotted at a feeder in Berks County, Pa. Corey Callaghan, doing doctoral research at the University of New South Wales, documented the pilgrimage of 1,800 birders to see the bird and added $233,851 to the local economy in the process.

Northeast Michigan is a good geographical region for birding. Three Audubon Society chapters – the Au Sable River Valley, Thunder Bay and Straits Area – have combined to highlight birding hot spots along the US-23 Heritage Route from Oscoda to Mackinaw City.

There are maps and directions available. Tawas hosts a bi-annual birding festival, with the next one scheduled for May 2019. The Mackinaw Straits Area Raptor Watch sponsors an event to be held this year on April 6-8 in Mackinaw City.

Bird watching can begin in your backyard by placing a feeder that will help attract birds, then using binoculars and field guide aids in identification. Avid birders keep records noting date, location, species and weather conditions by notation. Apps also are available for smart phones. The Thunder Bay Chapter of the Audubon Society welcomes people who want to share their interest in birds.

“I think the most important quality in a birdwatcher is a willingness to stand quietly and see what comes. Our everyday lives obscure a truth about existence – that at the heart of everything there lies a stillness and a light.” Lynn Thomson, “Birding with Yeats; A Mother’s Memoir.”

*********

Tom Brindley grew up in Iowa, and studied journalism and accounting. He is a retired controller from Alpena Community College and has been active in local non-profit organizations. He can be reached at bindletom@hotmail.com.