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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

Bird lovers are flocking Jackson County

Bird watching is a fun, relaxing and inexpensive activity that everyone may enjoy, and Jackson County is the perfect place to experience this beloved pastime. Exploring sun-dappled paths, woodland trails and dazzling lakeshores, beginner and veteran bird watchers alike will delight in the hundreds of native and migratory bird species in Jackson County.

Watch our birding presentations

A day at the park

Many of Jackson's city and county parks are great places to bird watch. Near downtown, check out the sprawling Cascade Falls Park and Ella Sharp Park.

Several natural areas, each just a short drive from downtown Jackson, have stellar bird watching potential. East of the city, the Waterloo State Recreation Area encompasses much of northeastern Jackson County. With over 20,000 acres, this is the third largest state recreation area in Michigan, and features lakes, beaches and nature trails. Six miles south of Jackson, the 408-acre MacCready Reserve has over six miles of trails winding through towering trees and lush wetlands.

The Falling Waters Trail is a unique, 10.5 mile long linear park where bird watchers can commune with birds and woodland creatures. Situated on the bed of the former Michigan Central Railroad, this park is also a splendid location to stroll, jog, bike ride or rollerblade.

Year-round events and attractions

In Jackson County, there are attractions, community events and festivals throughout the year that will appeal to bird lovers.

At the Ella Sharp Museum of Art & History, the Andrews Gallery of Wildlife Art displays an ever-rotating selection of the Midwest's finest wildlife art collection. Birds are prominently featured in the Gallery, and the museum's four other galleries will enchant lovers of art and history.

Just south of downtown Jackson, the John and Mary Dahlem Environmental Education Center sits on 300 beautiful acres. Five miles of hiking trails meander through a variety of habitats, creating the ideal setting to view an array of birds. An indoor exhibit area and a gift shop are open year-round, and each August, the Dahlem Center holds their Birds, Blooms and Butterflies Festival.

In October, Sandhill Crane Vineyards will hold the Cranes, Colors and Cabernet Festival, which celebrates the spectacle of the sandhill cranes, Michigan's fall colors and local wines.

The Jackson area is famous among birders for our sandhill cranes, gathering here in the fall by the hundreds or even thousands: Jackson's uninterrupted natural areas allow for such large assemblies of birds. Our unique habitats also attract rare or uncommon birds. For example, in the Jackson area, bird watchers may observe black tern, cerulean warbler, various raptors, American bittern, grasshopper and Henslow's sparrows, bobolinks, redheaded woodpeckers and pileated woodpeckers.

For a complete resource on bird watching in the Jackson area, check out BirdsInJackson.com. In addition to in-depth information on the species you'll find here and the best places to view them, this site features weekend bird watching package deals, self-drive touring maps and a calendar of bird-related events.