Bird City Michigan celebration
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ALPENA – On Saturday, September 26, there will be a city-wide celebration of Bird City Michigan- Alpena. The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a guided morning bird walk starting at Sytek Park on Bagley Street. At noon until 4:00 booths/displays will be held at South Riverfront Park behind the old post office and down the road from Water Street Commons. Nature and conservation-minded organizations will have free family friendly activities with lots of kid fun. Participating organizations include:
– Convention and Visitor Bureau – table and handouts of area
– TBAS/Bird City -handouts and free bird beanie babies for kids
– TBAS Spotting scope and binocular station
– Build a bluebird house (limited number)
– ABC Bird Center
– Window Strike Prevention
– Huron Pines
– Besser Museum- fossils
– Alpena County Library – mobile book bike, bird craft for kids
– U.S. Fish & Wildlife
– Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary – handouts, goodie bags
– Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative
– Designs by Nature-Huron Shores (growing native plants)
– Sip & Soar with a cool drink at Thunder Bay Winery
Alpena was designated a Bird City Michigan-Alpena earlier this summer. The designation was presented to the Alpena City Council on August 3 by Linda Smith from Michigan Audubon. Bird City Michigan recognizes communities for their bird-friendly actions in four categories: habitat, threats, education, and sustainability. Alpena's Bird City Michigan application describes 18 bird-friendly actions the community is engaged in, such as habitat restoration at Island Park and Mich-e-ke-wis Park, nest monitoring, window collision prevention, sustainability programs such as the bike path, and community engagement events.
The program encourages like-minded organizations, such as municipalities and conservation groups, to work together to create healthier, more welcoming environments for birds and people. The Thunder Bay Audubon Society spearheaded the application process by forming a Bird City Michigan team including the following organizations: Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Alpena Downtown Development Authority, Alpena Bird Center, Alpena Community College, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Library, City of Alpena, Great Lakes Great Responsibility, Headwaters Land Conservancy, Huron Pines, NOAA & Friends of TBNMS, Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative,
Thunder Bay Audubon Society, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The program aims to boost Michigan's growing ecotourism sector by promoting designated Bird Cities as prime destinations for birding and nature-focused travel
As a bird city, Alpena will:
• Create bird-friendly spaces where species can thrive
• Engage more people in birding and inspire lifelong connections with nature and improve mental health
• Strengthen Alpena by promoting health, beauty, and sustainability
Attracting birders means economic growth. $107 billion was spent by birders in 2022 on travel, equipment, and related activities. Alpena can tap into this thriving nature tourism market by providing support for local shops, restaurants, and lodging- all while protecting birds
Fun Fact – Alpena is the farthest north designation in Michigan - except for Houghton in the Upper Peninsula.
Learn more at https://birdcity.org/michigan/alpena or by contacting Karen at 989-464-6573.