Category: State Parks

Ready for a little feathered magic? 🐦 I’ve been looking forward to staying in the Detroit area since the beginning of this trip, mostly because I follow a photographer who shares videos on Facebook of her “hand of snacks,” feeding the local birds in all seasons of the year. Her bird photography is worthy of accolades. I wish I had half her talent. She shared the name of the park where her skills find these incredible experiences, and I took note. The birds are used to people because they have been handfed for years. I did my research, scheduled a day when we would be close enough to the park, kissed my husband good-bye while he was setting up a Zoom call, and took off, my backpack loaded with a five-pound bag of birdseed (the smallest bag I could find). 

It was easy to find the Kensington Metropark Visitor’s Entrance where I paid my $10.00 one-day fee, but one never fully appreciates how big a park is until you get lost inside. We have experienced the enormity of National Parks, which of course are expected, but this park was much larger than I imagined. That park makes a city park look like a thimble in a bathtub! There are three separate entrances, miles of nature trails for hiking and biking, fishing docks and boat access on Kent Lake, two separate parks with swimming beaches, a regulation golf course (which Tim now wishes he would have played), primitive camping, winter and summer sports, and so much more. 

It was a bit of a challenge following the map to the Wildwing Trail, but I took the long way around to get a better “feel” for the park. Once I got close, I still had some difficulty finding where the trail actually starts. Of course, that could be my old chemo brain lol, but I ran into at least one couple and another individual who didn’t seem to know where they were. So, maybe it’s not just me.  

Pro tip: If you want to unlock the magic of the Wildwing Trail, head to the parking lot near the Nature Center and caper down the stairs like you’re on Mission Impossible to BirdyLand. At the bottom, scan for the trailhead straight ahead—it’s your portal! That’s the easiest way to find it (I hiked the reverse direction). My Australian GPS chortled as he sent me bumping down a dirt road behind the Nature Center. After that mini-adventure, I finally cracked the code and found the actual parking lot. Trust me. Take the easy way in and skip the detour—unless you’re looking for bonus chipmunk sightings! 

The name of the Wildwing Trail suits it. There are a ton of birds and a wide variety of species. I prayed they would find me and find me they did! Prayers answered—thank you Lord. My first encounter was with a pair of Sandhill Cranes, approaching me in the parking lot like they knew something I didn’t. In spite of the signs warning us not to feed them, they seem to be very comfortable around people.  Little did I know the cranes were abundant here, and they always seemed to seek me out wherever I was on the trail. I have seen many of these birds in Florida, as they migrate there during the winter. But these are different.

The Metropark highlights a bird of the week, and when I looked up their page on the Sandhill Crane, here’s what they offered. “Often referred to by park visitors as a prehistoric bird, the Sandhill Crane is an exciting bird to spot while visiting the Metroparks. With their characteristic red marking on the crown of their head and stilt-like walking they are certainly a majestic bird to encounter. Sandhill Cranes are typically gray or slate colored with some rust colored markings on their underside. The Sandhill Cranes at Kensington Metropark have more rusty coloring than cranes found in other areas due to the high iron content in the water, when they clean their feathers the water stains the feather with a rusty hue. Their slender and sharp bill, growing longer than their head, provides good warning to keep a safe distance from them whenever you may encounter them in the park.”

Seriously, the Wildwing Trail is like the Disneyland of birds, all things red—sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds, cardinals, red-bellied woodpeckers—and even a few cheeky chipmunks tried to join the party. Check out this video for all the spontaneous bird landings, laughs, and a few tips for your own bird-feeding adventure. Whether you’re a bona fide bird nerd or just looking for a little joy at my expense, you’re in for a treat.

P.S. Heads up, fellow bird whisperers! While the signs may wag a finger and say “don’t feed the wildlife,” I got the inside scoop from the ranger at the nature center—there’s a right way to do it, so you’re in the clear! Just remember: sprinkle responsibly and don’t leave a birdseed buffet behind for the squirrels to throw a midnight rave.

À la prochaine…hasta la próxima vez…until next time!