Crane Chicks and Northern Lights

 May 13 Email:

Hi Ric, the Sandhill Cranes hatched, 2 days old in these.  Also some of this past weekend’s northern lights show.  - Don Neumann

Thanks, Don.  Great photos!  - Ric

Golden-winged Warbler at SGA

May 6 Email:

Hey Ric,

I saw this guy at the State Game Area this morning.

Mike Boston

Thanks, Mike.  I think seeing a Golden-winged Warbler out there might be good for birders.  The Blue-winged’s and Golden-winged’s crossbreed and create some hybrids (Brewster’s and Lawrence’s) before the Golden-winged’s disappear.  For awhile we might see any of the four types.  - Ric

Happy Birthday Birds

 April 30 Email:

“Glen took me birthday birding ALL DAY LONG today!  I thought you might enjoy these pictures.  A Cape May warbler in April !!!”

- Beth Miller

Thanks, Beth!  I’m calling your birds Warbling Vireo, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler and Cape May Warbler.  Happy Birthday!

- Ric

White-eyed Vireo at MLNP

Beth Miller sends these three pictures of the White-eyed Vireo that was at the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve.

Three Recent Photos

Thanks to Don Neumann for sending these recent photos of a Sandhill Crane on its nest, a Bald Eagle parent at its nest in Spring Lake, and a Red-tailed Hawk on the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center properties.

End of an Era?

I birded the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center properties this morning finding 25 species and 7 Year Birds (Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Killdeer, Song Sparrow and Eastern Meadowlark) along with Rough-legged Hawk, Common Raven and Sandhill Crane.

More significant, however, was the barricade across Swanson Road south of Apple Ave. and the missing woods on both sides of Swanson just beyond the ditch!  We knew that sooner or later that land would become a solar energy array, and it looks as if the time has come.  :-(