S1 - Veteran’s Memorial Park

Located on M-13 three and a half miles north of the Zilwaukee Bridge along the Saginaw River, Veteran’s Memorial Park offers a mile and a half of river access. This is a good place to check for waterfowl and offers stopover habitat for songbirds.

S2 - Crow Island State Game Area

Crow Island State Game Area is 3,638 acres of forest and wetland and is divided into an east and west unit by the Saginaw River and M-13. Access into the State Game Area is limited, but the dike systems can be used as hiking trails for improved observation. The Michigan DNR manages the area for American Bittern, Mallard, Ring-necked Pheasant, and Wood Duck, using wildlife management techniques to improve habitat. Crow Island has had over 100 species recorded in recent years including: Tundra Swan, Northern Shoveler, Eared Grebe, Common Gallinule, Black Tern, Marsh Wren, and Rusty Blackbird. The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail passes along the west edge of the SGA for an additional vantage point. This area is open to hunting, so please be mindful of hunting seasons and regulations prior to birding. ​

S3 - William H. Haithco Park

If you’re driving on I-675, check out William H. Haithco Park. Located just off the highway, the park features a 40-acre manmade lake that offers views of waterfowl throughout the year. This is a good spot to check for Ruddy Ducks, Northern Pintails, Northern Shovelers, and common waterfowl. Dogs are not permitted. Please visit their website at www.saginawcounty.com/parks/ for up-to-date hours of use.

S4 - Imerman Memorial Park

Imerman Memorial Park provides access to the Tittabawassee River and is a good location to find warblers during spring migration. The park features over a mile of hiking trails, canoe rentals, and picnic pavilions. Please visit their website at
www.saginawcounty.com/parks/.

S5 - Green Point Environmental Learning Center

Located along the Tittabawassee River corridor, the 82-acre Green Point is a great place to find migrating warblers that tend to use the site as a stopover on their journey north. Nearly 150 bird species have been observed here! Over 2 miles of hiking trails wind through mixed hardwood and bottomland forest habitat. Check out the Center’s wildlife viewing room and environmental programming, too!

S6 - Price Nature Center

Located on Sheridan Road, just one mile east of M-13 and Curtis Road, Price Nature Center is open year-round and features 3 miles of hiking trails through 186 acres of beech and maple forest. Spring is a great time to visit as it is good spot to find spring wildflowers and migrating warblers.

S7 - Saginaw Valley Rail Trail

The Saginaw Valley Rail Trail features 9.55 miles of abandoned rail corridor, stretching from St. Charles to Saginaw. The trail bisects a variety of habitats including rivers and wetlands, and provides numerous access points, viewing platforms, and bridges that make the trail birder-friendly. Restroom facilities are located at the Van Wormer parking lot. Parking is available at 6225 Stroebel Rd., 2998 Van Wormer Rd., and 401 East Water St.

S8 - Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

The Refuge is 9,800 acres of marsh, bottomland hardwood forest, and grasslands that attract more than 270 species of birds. Four trails and a seasonal auto tour route provide visitors opportunities to view a plethora of birds and a variety of other wildlife. Be sure to check out the Ferguson Bayou Trail and the Wildlife Drive, as they offer three wildlife observation decks, two with spotting scopes. The Refuge is a year-round bird hotspot and is often the go to place to see Long-eared Owls during the winter. Other good finds at the Refuge in recent years include: Glossy Ibis, American Avocet, Red Knot, Gray Kingbird, and Le Conte’s Sparrow.

S9 - Shiawassee River State Game Area

The Shiawassee River State Game Area is 9,852 acres of wetland managed for Canada Geese, Wood Ducks, Mallards, and American Bittern. Public access is limited to walking and biking (the Saginaw Valley Rail Trail passes through the Game Area). Ducks, geese, and swans can be viewed throughout the year with largest concentrations in the spring and fall. Wading birds and shorebirds are also commonly found across the Game Area. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can canoe or kayak through the Game Area for great warbler observation! Boats can be launched at the end of Hulien Rd. and then taken out at Miller Rd., located on the north end of the Game Area. This area is open to hunting; please be mindful of hunting seasons and regulations prior to birding.

S10 - Ringwood Forest

Located 2 miles south of St. Charles and 2 miles west of M-52 on Ring Road, Ringwood Forest features 160 acres and 3 miles of hiking trails through old pine forests. The park also features a pavilion and a canoe/kayak launch on the Bad River. The Forest is a good place to find woodpeckers, warblers, traditional woodland species, and occasionally waterfowl.