Northern Michigan Warblers and More Workshop

Available Dates: May 28, 29, 30, 2011

Fee: $1290 includes four full days shooting in the field with mid-afternoon slideshows and photoshop demonstrations.

Deposit: $400

Target Group Size: 3 participants

From: Sault Ste Marie, MI

The Upper Penninsula of Michigan is a wonderful transition zone from Boreal Forest to Northern Deciduous Woodlands, Tamarak Bogs to grassy meadows which makes for a wonderful veriety of species and habitats. During this workshop, we will target many of the Boreal species that traditionally require traveling deep into Canadian wilderness to find - species like Cape May Warbler, Palm Warbler, Spruce Grouse, and Evening Grosbeak. Most of our efforts will be concentrated around Hiawatha National Forest where we will trave back roads. Matthew is not only an expert at finding the birds, but will also introduce how to get the birds to land where you want them and how to use natural perches and backgrounds to create ideal compositions. Surrounded by three Great Lakes, the entire area is very secluded and beautiful, and we are usually the only people for miles.

Equipment: I recommend bringing a digital SLR with matching lens. When you calculate your digital crop factor (usually 1.5x the normal focal length or so for digital cameras today) and slap on your tele extenders (1.4x or 2x) you should have the equivalent of at least 600mm. Please be familiar with using the equipment you bring. While I have experience with basic Nikon, Canon, and Olympus systems and can help guide you along, you could miss a rare photo opp when adjusting settings or even looking through the viewfinder with new equipment.

If we have cloudy weather, the photos often turn out as good or better than in sunny weather, but having a fill flash really helps bring the colors to life in overcast conditions.

• If we have cloudy weather, the photos often turn out as good or better than in sunny weather, but having a fill flash really helps bring the colors to life in overcast conditions.
• Once a participant commits to doing the tour, a down payment is required right away to reserve the date. Pay with personal check or via PayPal to matthewstudebaker@yahoo.com. Unfortunately, refunds are impossible.

Physical Activity Requirements: Low activity. We’ll be shooting near the car most of the time. We may walk across a couple small fields. You certainly don’t need to be athletic to do this workshop. If you can walk a normal city block or go grocery shopping you should be just fine. One of the biggest hassles of the workshop is simply taking out the equipment from the van and putting it back in every couple hours.

Likely Species on the Michigan Songbird Workshop - species in bold have historicly been the most cooperative, and a sampling of other species of the other species usually oblige as well:

• Common Loon
• Sandhill Crane
• American Bittern
• Upland Sandpiper
• Broad-winged Hawk
• Bald Eagle
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
• Hermit Thrush
• Swainson's Thrush
• Scarlet Tanager
• Eastern Pheobe
• Alder Flycatcher
• Olive-sided Flycatcher
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
• Golden-crowned Kinglet
• Brown Creeper
• Warbling Vireo
• Red-eyed Vireo
• Blue-headed Vireo
• Yellow-throated Vireo
• Magnolia Warbler
• Black-throated Blue Warbler
• Black-throated Green Warbler
• Northern Waterthrush
• Cape May Warbler
• Pine Warbler
• Golden-winged Warbler
• American Redstart
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Northern Parula
• Palm Warbler
• Ovenbird
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Evening Grosbeak
• Indigo Bunting
• Eastern Towhee
• Song Sparrow
• Lincoln's Sparrow
• White-throated Sparrow
• Pine Siskin
• Purple Finch

Contact Matthew Studebaker for your reservation today!

Make Checks out to:
Matthew Studebaker

7325 Austin Powder Drive
Solon, Ohio 44139
matthewstudebaker@gmail.com