Les Cheneaux Area: Cedarville Wastewater FEATURED SITE |
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Directions: Head east on M-134 until you reach N. Blindline Road (only a quarter mile east of S. 4 Mile Block Road). Head North on Blindline and drive approximately one mile till you reach the wastewater treatment plant. Drive past the township buildings on the west and the snowmobile club on the right till you reach the edge of the large holding pond. There will be a two track that goes along the north end of the treatment ponds. You can park at the head of this two track, which is used as an ATV trail. DO NOT cross the fence into the treatment plant. Instead walk along the two-track/ATV trail that goes along the north end of the plant. Walking this trail will give you views of the treatment ponds on one side and the forested area on the other side. Both sides can host large numbers of birds.
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Male Hooded-Merganser with Crayfish
Photo: Paul Rossi |
Male Cape May Warbler
Photo: Paul Rossi |
Birding Opportunities: You might not expect a wastewater treatment plants to be one of the best places to see rare birds but this particular treatment plant offers a wide variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, and passerines. The storage ponds along the ATV/snowmobile trail are a great place to view Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpipers as well as the occasional Peep in the spring and fall. These storage ponds also have a number of interesting migrant and breeding waterfowl such as Hooded Merganser, Ring-necked Duck and Wood Duck. The woods along the trail and to the east of the storage ponds feature large flocks of migrant songbirds in the spring and fall including species such as, Cape May Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, and Wilson Warbler. In addition the summer months provides great views of breeding Swallows and Eastern Kingbird. This unexpected migrant hot spot can be a truly great place to bird. Just make sure to stay on the ATV trail and DO NOT enter the actual waste water plant itself.
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Other Exciting Features: While the wastewater treatment plant itself does not offer much beyond birding, and a service to local residents, the nearby resort town of Cedarville offers a number of enjoyable features. Gift shops, restaurants, museums, golf courses and an excellent library are all welcoming to the traveling birder. The Les Cheneaux Library even offers book rentals of many birding field guides and welcomes birders to stop by and share what they’ve seen. Exciting stops such as a wooden boat building school, maritime museum and history museum are also found there. There are also a number of excellent resorts and hotels for an overnight stay.