Join Huron Pines, Thunder Bay Audubon Society and Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary for North Point Bird Blitz at North Point Nature Preserve in Alpena.
Located just east of Alpena, this preserve is home to almost 1,400 acres of forested wetlands, four miles of undeveloped shoreline, and rare ecosystems found only along the Great Lakes. With Thunder Bay to the south and Misery Bay to the north, this rugged peninsula is an optimal location for spotting birds during spring migration. Public access to North Point Nature Preserve is permitted only during guided events like this one.
We are implementing a new no-show policy for our events to ensure fair access for all attendees. Please review our complete policy HERE before registering.
Two sessions are available — choose the one that's right for you:
Early Birder Session | 6:00am – 9:00am (option to stay until 1:00pm) This session is tailored for experienced birders who want to make the most of the early morning hours. Attendees will drive out to North Point Nature Preserve and meet Huron Pines staff on site. Please note that parking at the preserve is limited, so carpooling is strongly encouraged.
Capacity is limited. All attendees age 18 and older must complete their own RSVP form. Please do not complete on behalf of groups or multiple people.
All-Levels Session | 8:30am – 1:30pm Open to birders of all experience levels, this session is a great opportunity to learn from the experts. Participants will meet at the NOAA Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena before boarding a bus at 8:30am to the preserve — the ride out is approximately 30 minutes. Huron Pines staff will be on hand to help newer birders build their skills and confidence. The bus will depart the preserve at 1:00pm and drop attendees off at the Heritage Center by approximately 1:30pm.
Capacity is limited. For transportation reasons, we ask that all participants RSVP by Monday, May 11th. All attendees age 18 and older must complete their own RSVP form. Please do not complete on behalf of groups or multiple people.
What to Bring
Participants should be dressed for the weather. We recommend bringing binoculars, a reusable water bottle, snacks and sun protection.
Trails on the preserve are primarily hard-packed two-tracks and are relatively flat. There are bathrooms on site. If you have any questions about trail conditions, please contact Huron Pines Preserve Manager, Ken Bauer, at ken@huronpines.org or (989) 448-2293, ext. 11.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. It is a priority for Huron Pines to ensure that our communications and programming are available and accessible to everyone. Please contact amanda@huronpines.org if you have any questions about accessibility or believe barriers remain.
We recognize that accessibility is not always possible in every area of our work. Our efforts are ongoing. Through a commitment to continued learning and understanding, we will strengthen our awareness of the barriers and inequities that exist at the individual and community levels, in order to advance more equitable opportunities to experience the outdoors in our region.
Huron Pines is leading the effort to inspire lakeshore communities in Michigan to join the Lake Huron Forever initiative. Projects like land protection and community engagement serve to activate collaboration and partnerships to sustain a healthy Lake Huron. The Lake Huron Forever initiative is supported by Bay Area Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, Community Foundation Grey Bruce, Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network and Sunset Community Foundation.
