Point la Barbe

For many years, Point la Barbe has been known as one of Michigan's best migration hotspots. The woods surrounding Father Marquette National Memorial Park are full of warblers and sparrows. From Bridge View Park one can view the open water of the Straits of Mackinac along with some of the most impressive views of the Mighty Mac bridge. In both the spring and fall, and even into early winter, these waters can be teaming with waterfowl. One of the largest rafts of redheads in the state can often be viewed from here. There have been up to 20,000 individual ducks recorded in this raft along with mergansers, long-tailed ducks and many other diving duck species! In addition, common, Caspian and black terns are frequently seen hunting the waters. If you look to the west, you can also see Green Island and the offshore shoals which are home to one of the State's largest ring-billed and herring gull colonies with over 10,000 ring-billed gulls were recorded in one season. Waterfowl may move to different locations throughout the Straits area depending on wind conditions. Straits State Park and Dock #3 are good alternatives to look for waterfowl if winds are high out of the west as these locations may be more sheltered from the wind. As you continue from the park westward on Boulevard Drive the birding action really heats up. Rails, bittern, marsh wren and heron species are often seen or heard in the large marsh complex south of the road. This is also one of the few places that you are likely to see a great egret in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. At the Point itself one can expect to get great views of Green Island as well as catch migrating hawks and shorebirds that have just crossed, or are preparing to cross, the open water of the Straits. Look for whimbrels, golden eagles, golden and black-bellied plovers and Peregrine falcons. Rarities such as western sandpiper or Eurasian widgeon have also been recorded. In addition to waterfowl and shorebirds, the point is a great place to get out and check the small trees and shrubs that line the shoreline. After south winds in the spring months these trees can be thick with warblers, flycatchers, tanagers and orioles.