A short-eared owl looks out across Shiawassee NWR. - FWS photo by Kim Le Blanc

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge is collaborating with the Saginaw Valley Audubon Society to provide birders with opportunities to see the refuge’s short-eared owls. 

The refuge provides important habitat for this state-listed endangered species, which arrives in late fall to spend the winter roosting and foraging in the extensive grasslands and marshes.  Refuge staff and volunteers recorded a peak count of 18 owls in 2006. 

There is great demand from Michigan birders to see these owls, which are much harder to find in the rest of the state.  However, the birds mainly utilize areas of the refuge that are closed to the general public.

In close collaboration with the refuge, volunteers from Saginaw Valley Audubon Society began a program to provide auto tours through the refuge for birders to see the shortears.  The tour route and stopping locations were developed to minimize disturbance to the birds while still affording good looks for birders. 

Thus, the refuge is providing a unique public use opportunity while reinforcing relationships with an important constituency.  Moreover, it is being done in a manner that does not threaten owl use of the refuge.  This program has been extremely popular with birders and has yielded many accolades to the refuge.