Painted Turtles & White-eyed Vireo on Friday

Each spring, I attempt to complete a Painted Turtle Survey along the Maple River in the Muskegon State Game Area. Parameters necessary for obtaining a representative total include sunny skies, reasonably warm temperatures, and light winds. Counting when no other hikers are present (to minimize disturbance) and prior to leaf emergence (to assist detection) is also crucial.

On Friday, April 25, I recorded 102 Painted Turtles. This figure is down from the previous average of 142. While simple detectability may play a role in annual variation, the lower numbers this year may have stemmed from fewer basking sites due to higher water levels, or there may have been a real population loss due to the long and cold winter. I also encountered a single Blanding's Turtle.

Bird highlights during the hike included very good counts of Greater Yellowlegs (51) and Wilson's Snipe (37). I also observed a White-eyed Vireo - a species not seen in Muskegon County every year - foraging silently in thick brush near the MSGA headquarters.

- Brian Johnson