Monthly Meeting Cancellation Policy
If the weather is questionable, please check the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo’s website (www.kalamazooaudubon.org) or the ASK Facebook page for a cancellation announcement of our monthly meetings.
Field Trip Cancellation Policy
Field trips and bird counts are held rain or shine; they are only cancelled in severe weather. Contact the leader listed or check the ASK Facebook page if conditions are questionable.
Events in March 2026
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- Monthly Beginning Birding Walks
Monthly Beginning Birding Walks Monthly Beginning Birding Walks
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March 7, 2026Led by experienced birders from the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. Free and open to the public. Meet at the second parking lot at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, on County Road 652, just south off of M-43. All skill levels are welcome.
We enjoy nature while typically identifying 20-40 species of birds, plus butterflies, frogs, etc. Over 200 bird species have been sighted at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, which offers a variety of habitats and easy walking trails. Annual highlights include colorful songbirds like orioles, warblers, and tanagers, hawks and eagles, kingfishers, Great Blue and Green Herons, and over 20 species of waterfowl. Eastern Bluebirds can be found year-round! Children accompanying adults are welcome. The focus is on birding fundamentals, and extra binoculars are always available. For further information, see www.kalamazooaudubon.org. The walk typically takes about 2 hours (but feel free to arrive late or leave early).
Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery -
- Field Trip - Kalamazoo River Valley Trail
Field Trip - Kalamazoo River Valley Trail Field Trip - Kalamazoo River Valley Trail
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March 21, 2026Join us for a leisurely stroll along the Kalamazoo River near Parchment, as we search for early migrants and resident birds. We’ll look for ducks on the river and woodland and backyard species including hawks, woodpeckers, sparrows, wrens, and finches. Possible migrant species include Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, blackbirds, Eastern Phoebe, Brown Creeper, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. We will stay on concrete sidewalks and paved trail, covering 2 -3 miles in total. Meet at 9am along Commerce Lane just north of Mosel Avenue.
Leader: Kent Martin (256) 751-3358
Kalamazoo River Valley Trail -
- Program - Small Wetlands, Big Impact: Feeding Birds Across the Dunes
Program - Small Wetlands, Big Impact: Feeding Birds Across the Dunes Program - Small Wetlands, Big Impact: Feeding Birds Across the Dunes
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March 23, 2026While it may still be cold and blustery when you read this, picture your favorite Lake Michigan beach with sand, sun, warm breezes, and the iconic dunes. Moving inland, you may encounter interdunal wetlands—rare habitats that form between beach ridges and are connected to the Great Lakes by groundwater. These important and globally imperiled ecosystems host diverse species, but face threats from both natural and human-caused fragmentation.
This talk explores how small interdunal wetlands produce emerging insects that serve as a crucial food source for birds during the breeding season. By looking at different wetland types, we’ll see how changes in wetland habitat influence insect availability and the birds that depend on them.
Our speaker, Jennifer Shamel, is a PhD student at Western Michigan University studying how interdunal wetlands support birds during the breeding season. Her research focuses on insect emergence from interdunal wetlands and how these insects influence bird presence and diet. She is especially interested in how wetland conservation can benefit birds and other wildlife.
We hope you'll join us on Monday, March 23rd, at People's Church, 1758 North 10th Street, Kalamazoo. This program is geared to all audiences, and we enthusiastically invite families and nature lovers of any age to join us! Come at 6:30 PM (new time – half an hour earlier this year) for some refreshments and socializing. Snacks and beverages will be provided. It's helpful if you bring your own coffee cup. The one-hour program will start at 7:00 PM. Handicap parking and access is at either the front or the rear entrance of the building.
We will have a Zoom link for those who can’t make it or feel uncomfortable attending in person. This link will be available shortly before the meeting in the April newsletter that is emailed to you. We will also be recording the meeting for later viewing.