Woodward Avenue runs through the middle of the dense urban area of Detroit. Normally this wouldn’t be the best place to find birds, but just south of the byway, along the Detroit River lies the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. This area sits along a huge migratory corridor to Canada. Hop over to Gosse Ile the main island for the refuge, to visit refuge headquarters and learn more about where to see the many types of birds.
On December 21, 2001, President Bush signed legislation establishing the first International Wildlife Refuge in North America. The refuge, which includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and riverfront lands, runs along 48 miles of the Detroit River and western Lake Erie. The refuge was established to protect and restore habitat for 29 species of waterfowl and the 300 species of migratory birds in Michigan and Ontario, Canada. It also provides excellent, up-close birding opportunities, despite its proximity to the busy area surrounding Detroit.
Browse the coasts of the Detroit River and hop along the islands to see local waterfowl and migratory birds. Thrill at the sight of hawks and eagles swooping across the sky. See a range of aquatic birds like the Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Mute Swan, as well as several other types of swans. Sit back and spend a lazy day listening to the songs of the warblers and tiny finches.
