Belle Isle Nature Center Belle Isle Park ------------------------ Natural history exhibits, nature trails, excellent birding. The Nature Center is at the east end of the island at Oakway and Riverbank. At the Nature Center you'll find the oldest aquarium in the USA and a really beautiful conservatory. It has been suggested that you bird in a group here, i.e., that it may not be safe to bird alone. No doubt some would say that this degree of caution is unnecessary, but I think no one would disagree that you shouldn't remain at Belle Isle after dusk. Belle Isle Park is open every day year-round. The Nature Center is closed on Mondays but is open year-round. Nature Center hours are Tuesday, noon-4 p.m.; Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone: (313) 267-7157 ------------------------------------------------------------ Date sent: Tue, 02 Jan 2001 15:43:57 -0500 To: birders@umich.edu From: R & B Ward Subject: Tip: Belle Isle duck watching Send reply to: R & B Ward We took our visiting family to the Dossin Great Lakes Naval Museum last Wed.--it's a great place for children, some nice hands-on activities. While there we realized that it's also a wonderful place for comfortable, sheltered duck-viewing. The auditorium has a window-wall on the Detroit River, and the "wheelhouse" looks down onto the river. We could see all the feather detail on nearby Canvasbacks, Common goldeneye and a Hooded merganser, and had good views of a raft of Red-breasted mergansers out in the open channel. All while staying warm and dry and out of the falling snow. It was very quiet that day, but you could run into school groups normally, I guess. Admission is free on Wed., too. For more info: http://www.detroithistorical.org/html/Information/dossin.html Barb & Dick Ward