Because Gillson Park juts out into the lake, it is an outstanding place to see migratory landbirds as well as waterfowl. This 60-acre park on Lake Michigan with has a diversity of habitats - beach, dune, parkland and native plantings - plus a great view of the lake.
The birding is good any day that migrants are moving. Landbirds could be anywhere in the trees and shrubs, and even on the lawns. In late fall or early spring, scan the lake for waterfowl from the beach house, the dog beach, or any place with a good view of the lake, and check the harbor. Gillson is a great place to watch “reverse migration” in early- to mid-March - large flocks of blackbirds moving south.
Parking closer to the lake is reserved for residents, but there is free parking along Upper Drive. The park grounds are open during daylight hours. Below is a link to a virtual bird walk highlighting many areas in the park and what birds to expect there as well as links to resources such as a radar map to check to see whether the birds were moving the night before.
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Go Green Willmette hosts beach clean ups and volunteer days for native plantings.
Katbirding - Virtual bird walk website