Share your sightings!
North Huron Birding Trail
  • Home
  • Locations
    • Interactive Map
    • Eastern UP - Winter Birding Locations
    • St. Ignace Locations >
      • Bridge View Park and Pte. La Barbe
      • Straits State Park
      • Dock #3
      • Huron Boardwalk
      • Carp River Mouth
    • Les Cheneaux Area Locations >
      • Search Bay National Forest Campground
      • Birge Preserve Complex
      • Derby Nature Preserve
      • Cedarville Wastewater
      • Cedarville Bay
      • Woollam Nature Preserve
      • Prentiss Bay
    • DeTour Area Locations >
      • Gerstacker Preserve
      • DeTour Roadside Park
      • DeTour State Forest Campground
      • DeTour Harbor and Drummond Island Ferry
      • Detour Peninsula Nature Preserve
    • Drummond Island >
      • Pigeon Cove Flooding
      • Drummond Island Township Park and Heritage Trail
      • Williams Preserve
      • Drummond GEMS area
      • Maxton Plains Alvar
      • Glen Cove Road - Adventure Birding
      • Potagannissing Wildlife Flooding
    • Pickford Grassland Area >
      • Goetzville Fields
      • M-48 Habitat
      • Pickford Grassland Loop
      • Prater Acquisition
      • Munuscong Potholes
      • Munuscong State Forest Campground
  • Birding Resources
    • Birding Resources
    • Recent Sightings
    • Birding Basics
  • Plan Your Trip
    • Plan Your Trip
    • Lodging
    • Birding and the Economy
  • Events
  • Contact

Drummond Island: GEMS  Area (Grouse Enhanced Management System)

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Directions
From the intersection of Maxton and Damit roads, head north on Maxton Road.  In 1 mile the entrance to the GEMS is on the right (east) side of the road. A parking area and informational sign is located here. 


Birding Opportunities
​
This Michigan DNR owned Grouse Enhanced Management System (GEMS) site was the first GEMS opened to the public in Michigan. These sites provide unique opportunities for both hunters and birders. The GEMS sites can be found across the state, and are managed to enhance habitat for Ruffed Grouse as well providing trails for a variety of hiking experiences. The GEMS site on Drummond hosts a large number of young aspen trees making it an ideal location for Ruffed Grouse. Other species such as American Woodcock and Golden-winged Warbler also benefit from this type of habitat and can be found at this GEMS location. Nesting Sandhill Cranes and Chestnut-sided Warbler are additional breeding species and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher are often heard near the bog habitats. It is important to note that Ruffed Grouse and other hunting seasons are Sept. 15 - Jan. 1 and if you are birding in this area, or any state owned public lands, you should make sure to wear a hunter orange hat or vest. 
Picture
Grouse
​Photo by K. Beyer
Picture
Sandhill Crane Flock
Photo by Paul Rossi
Other Exciting Features
​
The informational sign at this site has a number of interesting facts about the GEMS site and how it is managed. It also provides visitors the opportunity to take a selfie with the sign and receive a discount at a number of local businesses. 

Picture

Location

Quote of the day

“Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them. Now we face the question whether a still higher 'standard of living' is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free. For us of the minority, the opportunity to see geese is more important than television.” 
― Aldo Leopold

Contact Us