BROCKWAY MOUNTAIN -- Over 800 birds migrate through Brockway Mountain during this time of year, and students from all around the Keweenaw spent the day bird watching.
With binoculars in hand, students were given a lesson on the different types of birds they might see.
“We have a sheet for identification of common soaring birds in our area here, and so you look at the shape, you look at the size, and the speed with which it flaps its wings. We’re showing them what things to focus on,” said David Flaspohler, professor from Michigan Tech’s School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science.
Even though the thick fog made it somewhat difficult for students to spot the birds, the field trip was still a great learning opportunity.
“I learned from this that if there’s a cliff and the sun is shining down, birds will go up with the wind,” said student Rachel Brandt.
Brockway Mountain is 700 feet above the surface of Lake Superior which makes it the perfect place for students to look down on the birds that are normally flying above them.
“It’s one of the places where you can actually get very close to some of these raptors migrating,” Flaspohler said.
For some students, it was their first time visiting Brockway.
“A lot of people are familiar with Brockway Mountain, but maybe if they’re not in that birding community or they're not into bird watching, they don’t realize that this is a popular place for migration,” said Michelle Miller, outdoor field trip coordinator.
Students are also learning about the geology of the mountain and the different types of rocks that are located in this area.
This is the third year the Western U.P. Center for Science Math & Environmental Education hosted this event and since then, more than 300 students have had the opportunity to visit the site.
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