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Michigan State Bird Observatory

Migratory birds instill passion and inspire people of all ages across the globe. Their epic journeys connect people, ecosystems and nations. Yet, in the last 50 years we have lost an estimated 3 billion birds in North America. Most of these species are migratory and a source of their decline is loss and degradation of the habitat they rely on during migration. At Michigan State Bird Observatory, we monitor the 100+ species of landbirds that pass through mid-Michigan on their migratory journey and conduct research on the health of birds in relation to a constantly changing environment. Michigan State Bird Observatory (MSBO) is a living laboratory that each year connects thousands of people of all ages to nature through the beauty and wonder of migratory birds and trains future wildlife professionals through internship opportunities.

A Bird’s Eye View

We opened our station to the public in 2013 and we have seen a remarkable increase in visitor participation and demand for our outreach and education programs. With our growth, we are reminded how much we rely on the financial support of our community. The baseline needs of our organization have not changed; we will always need to hire highly skilled field staff to ensure the safety of the birds and the integrity of our research, as well as to train our many interns and volunteers.

Each year we hear about the amazing qualities of our crew.  They are welcoming, eager to answer questions and share their love and passion for migratory birds. Providing students the opportunity to learn field skills while they are attending the university is one of the most important things we do. But we want these opportunities to be accessible to everyone and not only students who can afford to take a volunteer position; hence each crew member is paid.  

We are still short funding to fully operate our fall field season. We need $10,000 to cover the costs of our amazing field crew, including our many interns in training.  Our 2024 field crew consists of 12 field staff to continue to support our mission and provide educational programing to local schools and the community.

Your Support Will Make a Difference

A gift to MSBO would support the organization’s annual field costs of integrating avian research, the training of current and future wildlife professionals and the education of people of all ages, while showcasing the diversity of avian wildlife inhabiting mid-Michigan. 

It will also help support a new project on Saw-whet owls in which we will do owl banding starting in October 15 – November 15 and open this up to the public. Last year we piloted a few nights and were very successful capturing these beautiful owls!

Who We Are

Our team is composed of students, staff, faculty and community volunteers. We are led by MSU Associate Professor, Dr. Jen Owen, who has dedicated her career to studying the health of migratory birds in light of the many environmental challenges they face.

We work to train university students in conducting avian research and how to communicate science to educate the public about the importance of migratory stopover sites and conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.

Disclaimer: All birds are safely handled and released in compliance with federal and state regulations.

Make a Gift by Mail:

University Advancement
Spartan Way
535 Chestnut Road, Room 300
East Lansing, MI 48824

*Make check payable to Michigan State University and write “Appeal 25OOPCF1MSBO” in the note section.

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