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.  :-(

I have two pair of Eastern Bluebirds coming to my heated birdbath every morning.  They come early, today it was 7:51am. They only stay 2 or 3 minutes, just long enough to have a drink.

Chalie DeWitt

Ferrysburg

Do You Know About These Cards?

Don Neumann emailed these two photo with a message titled "Arm and Hammer":

"Hi Ric, picked up about 60 of these at an estate sale. Had never seen them before and was surprised to learn they had been available for 90 years, starting in the 1880’s. Was wondering if anyone from the club may know about or collected them.

Looks like they originally came in (on? the box and later you had to send in box tops to get the current set.   I had never heard of or seen these and thought someone may have some history with them."

I wrote Don that I'd never seen these myself but that there might be some people in the club who knew about them.  If you do, please contact me.  Thanks!  - Ric

Golden Eagle on Monday

Kevin Feenstra sends this photo of a juvenile Golden Eagle he saw soaring over the Muskegon River near Mill Iron Rod on Monday.

Saturday Morning at the Nature Preserve

 

I found 25 bird species on a short walk around the colorful fall-like Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve this morning.  This Green Heron fished west of the entrance bridge.

A pair of Red-shouldered Hawks flew around and screamed overhead.  Other species included Wood Duck ...

... Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Warbling Vireo, Cedar Waxwing and Common Yellowthroat.

Another Rambi ?

A couple years ago we chronicled the adventures of Rambi, a Mourning Dove that Mike VanderStelt reared from a fledgling to an adult.  Yesterday Mike found another abandoned fledgling, this Cedar Waxwing. 

If its parents don’t tend to it, Mike will try to keep it alive as he did with Rambi.  We’ll keep you posted.

Wednesday Birds at the Recovery Center

Thanks to Dan Lockard for these photos of a Great Egret, Sandhill Cranes and a juvenile Bald Eagle.  He took them on Wednesday the 16th at the Recovery Center (Wastewater) properties.

Hofma Preserve

I birded Hofma Preserve this morning.  The marsh was unfortunately beautiful with huge patches of purple loosestrife.

I found 17 bird species including Wood Duck, Green Heron, Great Blue Heron,

Cedar Waxwing, Swamp Sparrow and Yellow Warbler.

Muskegon Peregrines Update

Below I've summarized many recent email and Discord (birding app) posts regarding Peregrine Falcons in downtown Muskegon.  Here's a photo from Wildside Rehab of one of the juveniles that was "rescued" and is now in rehab prior to release.

As some of you may recall, peregrines successfully fledged numerous youngsters for several years using the nest boxes on what used to be the tallest object in Muskegon County, the smokestack of the B.C. Cobb plant.

Those boxes were moved to the roof of the Shoreline Inn before destruction of the smokestack.  Although the boxes were never used as nest sites, peregrines were sometimes seen on that roof killing pigeons and rearing young.

Unlike the old Cobb Plant properties, ground level in downtown Muskegon is no place for a fledgling falcon.  Three juveniles, one last year, two this year, were recovered from the ground near the Huntington Bank Building and it's been confirmed that peregrines are using that rooftop ledge for nesting.

Although there's nothing definite yet, it's possible that the Shoreline Inn boxes might be moved to the Huntington Bank building with future youngsters perhaps being banded as were the Cobb Plant young. 

Black Lake Today; Oak Savanna Last Week

I walked around the southern areas of Black Lake Park this beautiful morning finding 30 species of birds.  Nothing remarkable.  Great Crested Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, American Redstart, Sandhill Crane:

Last Saturday Beth Miller and I accompanied a Great Lakes Audubon group as they birded Lane's Landing and an oak savanna being created (actually, re-created) by the Michigan DNR.  It's not finished yet; more controlled burns necessary, etc., but well worth visiting now, and open to the public.  

From the Maple Island bridge, drive 3.5 miles east on South River Drive.  Park on the right where the road meets the power lines and walk the trail south through the woods to the savanna opening (the J-shaped light green area circled on the map below).  Ferns still live where the grasses will be.  Red-headed Woodpeckers and Field Sparrows have already found the property to their liking.