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Welcome to our Photo Gallery! (Last update: May 2, 2008)
Birds of the Benzie Area
No matter the season, there are interesting birds to be seen in the Benzie area. By April migration was well under way.
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Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are here all summer, but they seem easier to spot when they first arrive in the spring. The red throat tells us that this handsome bird is a male. (Photo by Martha Mollema) (Click on Picture for Larger View) |
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Appearing in the Mollema yard on the same maple tree (and at the same time!) was this Yellow-rumped Warbler. Frequently the Yellow-rumped is the first warbler to arrive in the spring and the last to depart in the fall. (Photo by Martha Mollema) (Click on Picture for Larger View) |
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The White-throated Sparrow is another migrant arriving in April in large numbers. Its loud whistled song is often characterized as "Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody." (Photo by John Ester) (Click on Picture for Larger View) |
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Veterans Memorial Park on M-115 just west of Mesick is a good place to see waterfowl on the Manistee River. From their actions these Trumpeter Swans appeared to be a nesting pair. (Photo by John Ester) (Click on Picture for Larger View) |
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In addition to chasing off a Mute Swan, the Trumpeters engaged in other behavior associated with nesting. This included mutually raising and spreading their wings and, as shown here, simultaneously straightening their necks before trumpeting. (Photo by John Ester) (Click on Picture for Larger View) |
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On the first of Paula Dreeszen's Wednesday hikes we stopped at the GTRLC's Upper Herring Lake Boardwalk. There we spotted what first appeared to be a large rock . . . until it raised its head and revealed itself to be a Sandhill Crane sitting on a nest. (Photo by John Ester) (Click on Picture for Larger View) |
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Club Activities
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Our May 1 meeting featuring Kay Charter drew a large and receptive audience. Here Kay talks about the importance of grasslands for migrants like the Bobolink appearing on the screen behind her. (Photo by Char Ester) (Click on Picture for Larger View) |
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On our "Wednesday Warblers and Wildflowers" field trip on April 30 there was a shortage of the former but plenty of the latter. In addition to Trillium, Trout Lily, Dutchman's Breeches and many other wildflowers was this aptly named Spring Beauty. (Photo by Joe Brooks) (Click on Picture for Larger View) |
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Our annual April trip to the Arcadia marsh drew so many birders it was necessary to split the group in half. Here a portion of the group led by Brian Allen check out Sandhill Cranes engaging in their elaborate breeding display near Chamberlain Road. (Photo by Len Klein) |
| Andrea Burks obviously endorses Benzie Audubon's efforts to expose youngsters to the natural world! (Photo by Len Klein) |
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Our March 29 field trip was the second of three led by Doug Cook, monitoring the return of spring migrants. Here the group takes advantage of the Benzie Audubon David Harrison Overlook to check birds in the Elberta Marsh. (Photo by Carl Freeman) (Click on Picture for Larger View) |
