birdwatching

Alison Vilag pays attention for a living. She counts migrating ducks at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, near Paradise, Michigan. It's key to getting a pulse on different bird populations. But for Alison, counting ducks is more than just science – it's an escape from the expectations of others.

Alison Vilag pays attention for a living. She counts migrating ducks at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, near Paradise, Michigan. It's key to getting a pulse on different bird populations. But for Alison, counting ducks is more than just science – it's an escape from the expectations of others.

Manistee birder Brian Allen had an unforgettable moment with Sandhill Cranes a few years back. It’s a tale so wild, he wonders if anyone would believe him.

Like most of us, Dea Armstrong has only seen birds from the ground. Today, she’s going to fly with them. Armstrong is Ann Arbor’s city ornithologist,...