01
Tawas Point migrant trap
The point juts into Lake Huron and concentrates spring migrants on bad weather days. 30+ warblers possible.
On land · Quiet · 4 hotspots
Season · March – October
Birding.
Sandhill cranes stage at Negwegon in September. Eagles year-round above Thunder Bay. The endangered Kirtland's warbler nests only in the young jack pine north of the coast.
Sandhill cranes staging · Negwegon
Species recorded
280+
Coast-wide eBird checklist
Best hotspots
4
Negwegon, Tawas Pt, AuSable, Headlands
Migration peak
May 8–22
Spring · songbirds
Crane staging
Sep 10–28
Negwegon · 500+ at dawn
Where to look · 5 spots
Five hotspots, each their own bird.
Curated by Sunrise Coast Council editors. Routes, sites, and pull-offs from south to north along US-23.
02
AuSable River bald eagles
A dozen active nest sites along the AuSable. Best viewing from the Lumberman's Monument overlook.
03
Negwegon sandhill cranes
Hundreds stage in the open beach grass before the long flight south. Guided walks Saturday mornings in late September.
04
Kirtland's warbler tour
The world's rarest songbird nests only in young jack pine. USFS-led tours from Mio are the only legal access.
05
Headlands fall raptor migration
The Straits act as a funnel. Broad-winged hawks in mid-September, golden eagles peak first week of October.
The Kirtland's warbler
The world's rarest songbird nests here.
The Kirtland's warbler — a yellow-bellied songbird the size of a sparrow — was nearly extinct by the 1970s, with a known global population under 200 pairs. It nests only in young jack pine forest aged 5–20 years, in only a few counties in lower Michigan, the upper peninsula, and (recently) Ontario.
Fire suppression and brown-headed cowbird parasitism nearly finished it. A USFS recovery program — controlled burns, prescribed jack pine planting, cowbird trapping — brought the species back from 167 pairs in 1974 to over 2,400 pairs today. It came off the endangered list in 2019. You can see them on guided tours from Mio, mid-May through early July.
2,400
Breeding pairs · 2024
167
Low · 1974
2019
Off endangered list
Birding · the kirtland's warbler
"A coast like this is on the flyway. You don't bring the birds. You wait for them."— Whitefish Point Bird Observatory
Gear & know before you go
What to bring, what's provided.
You'll want
- Binoculars — 8x42 is the standard
- Field guide or Merlin app (free)
- Quiet earth-tone clothes
- Patience — birds are not on a schedule
When to go
- Dawn — first 90 minutes after sunrise
- Calm weather — wind grounds birds
- May 8–22 — peak spring migration
- Sep 10 – Oct 15 — fall raptors + cranes
Guided tours
- Kirtland's warbler — USFS, $10
- Sandhill cranes — Negwegon, $15
- Spring migration — TPBO, free
- Custom — local Audubon, donation
Questions · 4 answers
Birding on the coast — questions.
Quick answers to what travelers ask most.
Q.01
Is birding good on Michigan's Sunrise Coast?
Yes — Sandhill cranes stage at Negwegon in September. Eagles year-round above Thunder Bay. The endangered Kirtland's warbler nests only in the young jack pine north of the coast.
Q.02
When is the best time of year for birding on the Sunrise Coast?
The recommended season for birding on Michigan's Sunrise Coast is March – October. Species recorded: 280+ — Coast-wide eBird checklist.
Q.03
Where can I birding on the Sunrise Coast?
5 spots along the 200-mile coast. A standout option: Tawas Point migrant trap — May 1–25 · Free · Sand spit. The point juts into Lake Huron and concentrates spring migrants on bad weather days. 30+ warblers possible.
Q.04
What gear or preparation do I need for birding on the Sunrise Coast?
You'll want: Binoculars — 8x42 is the standard; Field guide or Merlin app (free); Quiet earth-tone clothes; Patience — birds are not on a schedule.