We are currently accepting donations to fund the 2025 owl banding project. Please join us in our efforts to continue this important research!

Conducting avian and natural history research at Whitefish Point

Our Mission

The Friends of Whitefish Point is committed to fostering avian and natural history research, education, and conservation in the Whitefish Point, MI area. Through collaboration with like-minded organizations, we aim to advance meaningful conservation efforts and preserve the region’s natural heritage for future generations. 

Whitefish Point

Since the early 1900s, Whitefish Point has been recognized as a continentally important area for bird observation and monitoring. The area acts as a funnel for migratory species due to its location within the Great Lakes flyway. The owl monitoring program at Whitefish Point provides important baseline data for conservation decision-making related to northern owl populations.

Projects

  • long -eared owl in hand

    Owl banding

    We conduct spring, summer and fall owl banding. Migrant owl banding is our core activity.

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  • A Saw-Whet Owl looking out from a nest box.

    Nest Boxes

    We monitor over 150 Northern Saw-whet Owl nest boxes annually to increase the understanding of their breeding biology.

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  • A snowy owl flying over a snowy field.

    Project SNOWstorm

    We have been collaborators in Project SNOWstorm since the winter of 2014-15 and have banded 20 Snowy Owls in Michigan.

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  • A map of Michigan showing the location of Whitefish Point

    NSWO Migratory Connectivity

    We are collaborating with Project Owlnet’s Northern Saw-whet Owl Migratory Connectivity Project.

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The beach at Whitefish Point in winter

Support us

If you are interested in helping Friends of Whitefish Point continue our important work in 2025, we are currently focused on gathering donations to fund the entire 2025 owl banding season. Donations can be made through our financial sponsor the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory. To explore other ways to help us, click on “Get involved”.

Partners

  • Lake Michigan Bird Observatory

    Advancing the conservation of birds in Wisconsin and throughout the Western Great Lakes Region through coordinated research, monitoring and education.

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  • Project Owlnet

    Facilitating communication, cooperation and innovation among hundreds of owl-migration researchers in North America. Project Owlnet makes it easier for ornithologists to understand owl movements and biology.

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  • Northeast Motus Collaboration

    Creating an interior northeastern U.S. telemetry network to track migratory animals – connecting enormous expanses of land through scientific research, for the benefit of both humans and wildlife.

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  • Project SNOWstorm

    A unique collaboration of more than 40 scientists, bird banders, and wildlife health professionals. Project SNOWstorm has followed the movements of 105 Snowy Owls, collecting 250,000 to document their movements in astounding detail.

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  • Canadian Migration Monitoring Network

    A collaboration of bird observatories and bird banding stations across Canada that measure vital long-term data on population trends of 200 difficult to monitor northern bird species, including owls.

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  • Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory

    One of the premier raptor migration sites in North America. HRBO has been conducting systematic raptor counts and raptor banding since 1972.

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birch trees in snow

“Few places in North America have been as pivotal for bird migration research, especially owl migration, as Whitefish Point on the Upper Peninsula. The Friends of Whitefish Point are crucial for continuing this important work.”

Scott Weidensaul
Author of “A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds