From: "Jochen Schacht" Organization: Kresge Hearing Research Institute Date sent: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 13:15:05 EST5EDT Subject: Re: Kensington MP Send reply to: schacht@umich.edu Directions to KENSINGTON METRO PARK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >From Ann Arbor, take US-23 North to I-96 East. Exit at Kensington (1st exit) and follow signs to the Metro Park. Inside the park, watch for sign to the Nature Center. Park permit required ($3 for the day). A map of the park and a bird checklist are available. A total of 250 species have been recorded in the park with a single-year high of about 180. May Bird Count ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The 20th annual May bird count takes place at Kensington Metro Park on Saturday, May 11, 1996. It starts at 7 am from the Nature Center and ends with lunch (bring your own) around 1 pm. Six to eight groups are led by birders familiar with the Park. The count usually tallies close to 100 species. I have participated quite a few times in the past and always enjoyed it. The count is organized by Bob Hotaling, Naturalist at the Park. Bob Hotaling is an avid birder and a good resource person for anyone who would like to explore the park (and so are other Naturalists at the Nature Center). There are a total of three Kensington Metro Park bird counts per year: May, Fall (mid-September) and a New Year's (first Saturday after New Year). -------------- Jochen Schacht Kresge Hearing Research Institute Ph: 313-763 3572 University of Michigan Fx: 313-764 0014 Ann Arbor MI 48109-0506 schacht@umich.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------- Date sent: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 16:42:37 -0500 From: Steve Santner To: "Mencotti, Mike" , birders@umich.edu Subject: Re: Oakland County spots I don't find Oakland County to be as productive an area as might be predicted by the large areas of state lands, and the traffic getting to these spots is terrible. However, almost all of the state areas in the western part of the county have at least something to recommend them. Proud Lake (accessed from the western side) has Pine and Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, and Acadian Flycatcher. I've seen Northern Goshawk (in August) and evidence of Pileated Woodpecker at Holly Rec Area. I know others have found Barred Owl there as well. Highland Rec Area has Cerulean and Hooded Warbler and is one of the more pleasant and diverse areas to bird. There is a metropark (I forget the name - maybe Indian Hills?) near Proud Lake Rec Area which has both Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes (probably) nesting. I've seen very few field birds in Oakland Co (there are very few fields!) but I have managed to find Bobolink and Horned Lark in the few remaining fields in the northeast corner of the county. Horned Lark also can be found along the road in the waterthrush metropark. I've found almost no marsh birds (rails, bitterns, Marsh Wren) despite the fact that they were found during the breeding bird atlas. I did find one spot with Com Moorhen at a swampy condominium lake (!) in the southwest corner of the county. Kensington is the best spot in the county for waterfowl and is the only spot in Oakland Co where I've seen Bald Eagle. Note that part of Kensington, including most of the nature center area is in Livingston Co. I've not yet found any accessable sewage lagoons and finding shorebirds in this county appears to be almost hopeless. However, I find driving around Oakland County in August looking for drained or drying up lakes to be pretty onerous and maybe I just haven't tried it enough. There certainly are enough lakes in the county to check. Traffic is just too much after about 10:00 AM on weekends. Steve Santner