Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Cass County this morning, where fourteen days of eBird observations have logged 121 species across the southern Lower Peninsula. The data tells a story of good warbler activity, settled breeding birds on wetlands, and a few notable rarities that merit attention if you're heading out today.
What's Moving Through Cass County Right Now
The top sightings in the past two weeks cluster around two main habitat types: open grassland and wooded wetlands. Decatur Road near Cassopolis continues to produce, with Savannah Sparrows and Horned Larks both recorded at five and four individuals respectively, most recently yesterday. That's steady work on marginal habitat. Over at Harwood Lake public access near Three Rivers, the diversity is better: Red-winged Blackbirds (4), Tree Swallows (3), Northern Yellow Warblers (3), and Purple Martins (3) all on the board as of May 13. That's the kind of site worth a stop on a morning like today.
The warbler wave is in full swing. Pokagon Tribal Land parcels have been locked tight, but those hotspots are clearly holding good birds: Cerulean Warblers (4), Blue-winged Warblers (4), Yellow-throated Vireos (3), Wood Thrushes (4), and Eastern Towhees (4) all reported from the Dowagiac area. You cannot access that land legally, but it's a reminder that the habitat exists and that migration is progressing on schedule through the county.
Notable Sightings Worth Noting
A Yellow-breasted Chat at Pokagon Tribal Land, Dowagiac on May 11 is the kind of sighting that gets flagged for a reason. Chat distribution in Michigan is scattered and patchy; if you know the species' voice and habitat preference, this is worth pursuing in similar cover elsewhere in the county. Two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers at Old Farm Home on May 10 also carry some news value, as delayed migrants still working through the county in mid-May.
The Trumpeter Swans at Black and Pemberton Street Pond in Vandalia on April 30 are now historical; don't count on them still being there, but it's worth noting that the pond itself is a location to check.
Weather and Timing for Today
Today is sunny, calm, and warming to 63 degrees by mid-morning with a 10 mile per hour northwest wind. This is not a day that will push birds. South winds tomorrow will help, but today's northwest flow is neutral at best for warbler movement. The long day length (14 hours, 29 minutes) means dawn chorus will be strong from 5:55 AM through 7:55 AM if you can get out early. Tonight will drop to 40 degrees and remain clear, which could settle birds and make for productive early morning work Friday.
Where to Bird in Cass County Today
If you have access to the big hotspots, those are your targets. The Crane Pond State Game Area and Camp Friedenswald have the highest all-time species counts (139 and 137 respectively) and are the logical places to chase variety. Harwood Lake public access near Three Rivers has current activity logged and is accessible without restriction. It produced Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, and Yellow Warblers in the last 48 hours.
The data from the past two weeks is solid but not exceptional. This is typical mid-May fare for Cass County: migrants moving through, breeders settling in, and a few lingerers still finding their way north. One hundred twenty-one species in fourteen days is respectable work for a county this size, but it also suggests that not every corner has been thoroughly covered. Fresh eyes on understudied parcels could still turn up birds.
Check live sightings and the full county breakdown at https://birding.chrisizworski.com