By Matt Mackinder
Clarkston News Editor

INDEPENDENCE TWP — As the Clarkston Area Backyard Birders Club prepares for its last two meetings of 2023, club president Bill Haney calls the current time “the great migration.”
“Well, that might overstate it a bit, but as autumn approaches, we expect many of our CABB birders will migrate to Wint Nature Center for our last two meetings of 2023,” said Haney.
The next meeting is Sept. 27, followed by Oct. 25 at the nature center, 9501 Sashabaw Road.
For the Sept. 27 meeting, starting at 6:30 p.m., Haney said “we’ve had helpful suggestions from many members and have set up the evening’s program accordingly.”
“Unusual sightings and other notable developments in the bird world and our own backyards have continued into recent weeks,” said Haney. “So we’ll devote the entire session to hearing and talking about what’s on your mind and in your backyard. As we go along, we’ll see images on the big screen of some of our favorite local birds.”
Mary Kraut will have her baked goodies, charter member A.J. O’Neil will have Detroit Bold Coffee, and Wally’s Raffle will take place.
Haney said there is more, too.
“You’ll be able to take home a mesh feeder bag loaded with thistle and other seeds certain to bring smiles to the beaks of your finches, nuthatches, red-headed woodpeckers and other frequenting favored feathered friends,” Haney said. “This is a gift from our dear friend Steve Stroud, owner of The Gateway, our very first venue for the club before we simply grew too large.”
For the Oct. 25 meeting, Lee Anne Whitman will make an encore performance to close out the year on a musical note. This will be Whitman’s fourth appearance, treating the club to her original songs of Michigan’s birds, wildlife and natural places.
The club has no fees or costs of any kind and reservations are not needed.