Our Amazing Adventure to Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

 Off to another adventure last Saturday with TaGeez and ShelleyJean.

Geocaching has taken us to some extraordinary places, but, sometimes, extraordinary places give us an excuse to geocache!

I'm a huge follower of the National Parks/Forest system, and one day I spied an Instagram post for the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge appeared in my feed. Pelicans in Michigan?!?! How cool is that! 

So, connecting with ShelleyJean, we decided a Virtual Run was in order. Since completing the Michigan State Parks Centennial Geotour, we've been at a loss for a new challenge. Logging all the Virtuals in Michigan seemed enjoyable, and we decided on this trip through the thumb we would add High Favorites and a little Roadside Americana.

Have you been to the Shiawassee NWR? It's a hidden gem in Genesee County outside Saginaw.

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1953 and contains 10,000 acres of marsh, bottomland hardwood forest, and grasslands. It was authorized by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act “...for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds. 

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge’s diverse habitats attract more than 270 species of migratory birds. Its four trails and seasonal 6.5 mile auto tour route, the Wildlife Drive, offer visitors an opportunity to see many of these birds as well as a variety of other wildlife. The Ferguson Bayou Trail and Wildlife Drive offer three wildlife observation decks, two with spotting scopes. 

 90-degree sunshiny weather, social distancing, and FREE! Perfect anecdote to the COVID-19 blues.

We saw herons, egrets, seagulls, ducks, Monarch Butterflies, turtles, geese, swans.. too many birds to tally.

Another great shot from SJ

Great shot by SJ

We also spied a very friendly bug!

SJ and her steady hand - beautiful!

And, lucky for us, Great White Pelicans!

Oh, we will be back again!

THE VIRTUALS!

Oh, yes. I forgot about those. Traveling around the thumb area, we had a hoot steering toward steers, posing near flagpoles, jostling giraffes, tromping across the Tridge, and staring at statues! Another glorious adventure visiting Michigan history and Roadside America!