Field Trip #8: Rockhounding and Birding the Lake Michigan Shoreline

Description

Jeff Scofield: Jeff works for Central Michigan University in the Dept of Biology.  Jeff is a frequent visitor to Beaver Island and has been since taking classes at the CMU Biological Station as both an undergraduate back in the late 80s, earning a B.S. Degree in Biology, and then as a graduate student, where he earned a M.S. Degree working with spiders.  If Jeff sees a board or piece of metal lying on the ground, rest assured that he will flip it over in hopes of finding a snake or two underneath.  In addition, if he’s not looking for snakes and spiders, there’s a good chance you might see him metal detecting or rock hounding on a beach.  But the most likely activity you will see him doing is riding a bicycle around the Island.  Jeff is an avid mountain biker and gravel road biker and has travelled around the country, along with his wife Nancy, in pursuit of fun trails and enjoyable gravel roads.

Dr. Nancy Seefelt: Nancy is a Michigan native who grew up in Sterling Heights, near Detroit. After high school, she enrolled at Central Michigan University (CMU) and discovered Beaver Island when she took a class at the CMU Biological Station. Nancy received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from CMU, and her doctorate from Michigan State University. She currently holds a faculty position in the Biology Department at CMU. Much of her research focuses on avian ecology, specifically the breeding biology of waterbirds (gulls, terns, herons and cormorants) in northern Lake Michigan and the stopover ecology of migrating songbirds along Lake Michigan shorelines. The migration work involves censusing, mist netting, and remote acoustical monitoring; the acoustic monitors also track the sounds of migratory bats. In addition, Nancy monitors the breeding activities of the endangered Piping Plover as part of the recovery program for this species.

Board transportation for this trip at the BIC Center. You’ll return there at the conclusion with time for dinner. Dinner options include the Concession Stand at the BIC Center and the Shamrock (both nearby).

WoW 2026 T-shirts: After your registration(s) are processed you will receive a discount code good for one free Warblers on the Water T-shirt. You must complete your t-shirt order by May 5. T-shirts will be delivered at the Meet & Greet Kickoff Event Friday evening. One free shirt per participant. Additional T-shirts may be ordered at the BIC Center online store for $20. All orders after May 1 are subject to stock on hand.

Please note our cancellation policy: Cancellations made by 5:00 p.m. on April 17, 2026 will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be made for cancellations after that time.