Calendar RSS Feed

February 19 - April 24, 2010Party for the Planet Enrichment and More February 19 - April 4St. Johns Lenten Soup and Salad DinnersEvery Friday Weekly Friday Night Fish FryEvery Friday Night now - AprilVid WeatherwaxMarch 20, 2010A Visit to the Dahlem Sugar BushMarch 20 and 21Grass Lake Spring Business ExpoMarch 20, 2010Creative Voice WorkshopMarch 20, 2010Family Fun NightMarch 20, 2010Jackson Symphony concert March 21, 2010Scats and TracksMarch 23, 2010Good Morning! Greater JacksonMarch 24, 2010The 3/50 Project SpeakerMarch 25, 2010 to March 30, 2010RedMarch 26-27ICE KART RACINGMarch 27, 2010Early Waterfowl Trip

Jackson County, a bird lover's paradise

Jackson County is a bird lover's paradise, with dozens of native and migratory bird species flocking to our forests, fields, marshes and lakes. With many stellar opportunities for observation, the birds of Jackson County will provide plenty of enjoyment and a fascinating connection to wildlife for both novice and seasoned bird watchers.

Wander along shady paths, hike woodland trails, enjoy sparkling lakes teeming with birds: Each location you encounter will offer a memorable experience. A great diversity of habitats, from native forests to wide marshes, provides a year-round haven for the birds of Jackson County.

Watch our bird presentations

The Andrews Gallery of Wildlife Art at the Ella Sharp Museum

Shooting a piercing gaze over his shoulder, a hawk searches for prey. The fight for survival takes arresting form as a red-tailed hawk stands poised to strike a ring-necked pheasant. Arrayed in striking hues of azure and crimson, a bluebird seems ready to take flight.

Each one of these images and many others are presented in stunning detail at the Andrews Gallery of Wildlife Art, which represents creatures from across the globe and as well as a multitude of birds. Changing twice a year, the exhibit at the Gallery consists of a selection of 60 to 70 works from the more than 700 artworks that make up the Andrews Collection of Wildlife Art.

Andy and Sandy Andrews, longtime Jackson residents and lifetime connoisseurs of fine art, amassed this remarkable collection of wildlife art over their 40 years of collecting. In 2006, the couple bestowed this collection on the Museum, thus creating the Andrews Gallery of Wildlife Art.

From wood carvings to paintings to sculptures in bronze, the many media represented in this collection are united in their realistic portrayal of wildlife and their ability to capture the imagination.

Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary

The Haehnle Sanctuary is well-known throughout Michigan as THE staging area for Sandhill Cranes. Every autumn, thousands of these birds gather here in preparation for their southern migration. The 954-acre Michigan Audubon Society sanctuary has a variety of habitats, making it possible to see over 200 species of birds and plants, including the Rough-legged Hawk and Northern Shrike during the winter months.

Dahlem Environmental Education Center

The Dahlem Center serves as a natural history education center for kids, but it is also known around the state and country for having one of the largest bluebird trails. Birders can capture the songs of Eastern Bluebirds along this well-maintained trail, as well as the harmonies of other migratory songbirds.

Jackson's Many Parks

The Jackson area boasts numerous city and county parks, many of which are prime bird watching locations. Some are large – Cascade Falls Park covers more than 450 acres, and Ella Sharp Park sprawls over 562 acres. Other parks represent a delightful pocket of tranquil green space, tucked in among streets and buildings.

Since the majority of Jackson's county parks border lakes, they present ideal opportunities for encountering land birds, waterfowl and wading birds.

The Falling Waters Trail

One of Jackson's most distinctive county parks, the Falling Waters Trail is a 10.5 mile long linear park, created on the bed of the former Michigan Central Railroad.

Our downloadable, printable map will act as your guide along the Falling Waters Trail. Use it along your walk to identify the locations of common sighting and bird-friendly habitats.

This long, narrow park is perfectly suited for a leisurely bird watching stroll. Unbothered by the noise of cars or other motorized vehicles, bird watchers will enjoy a walk down a 12 foot wide, level path. In addition to birds, many wildflowers and small creatures also call the areas along the trail their home.

This quiet corridor connects several neighborhoods as it runs east to west, spanning from Weatherwax Drive, just south of downtown Jackson, to the village of Concord.

The park's name pays homage to the Native American name for this area, "the Land of Falling Waters," inspired by the fact that Jackson County is the headwaters for four Michigan rivers. Sandstone Creek meanders alongside of the trail, and the trail actually crosses dazzling Lime Lake on an old causeway.

Open one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, the trail is accessible during prime bird watching occasions.

The Songbird Company

The Songbird Company, LLC. is a Jackson County, Michigan-based wild bird seed manufacturer that produces premium wild bird seed blends. These blends can be purchased at many of the wild-bird supply stores located in Jackson County. The blends were developed from a two year field study conducted in the Waterloo Recreation Area in Jackson County, Michigan. As part of the study, every variety of seed available in Michigan, that is not invasive, was placed into multiple bin feeding stations and monitored for which seeds were favored by specific birds. The results were incorporated into three premium seed blends: Finches Favorite, Minimal Waste, and Deluxe Wild Bird Seed. These blends contain a greater variety of seeds while leaving out the seeds less-preferred by birds, such as milo (sorghum), wheat, and flax typically associated with most commercial mixes. In addition, The Songbird Company, LLC sells a large variety of wild bird feeding supplies which can be viewed through our online store at www.thesongbirdcompany.com.