When an Eastern Bluebird lands on your nest box the first time, it’s the start of a whole new episode among your varied birding activities (photo by Paul Konrad).

With spring in the air, it’s time to make a nest box plan and prepare to put it into action – soon. If you already have nest boxes in your yard or another area, if you haven’t already prepared them for the coming season, watch the weather for a nice day when you can do a clean and maintenance update that will welcome cavity nesting birds to use them as the nesting season approaches. It’s also time to select and install a new nest box if you choose, which is pretty easy for smaller cavity nesting birds, like bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, and others; for larger birds like cavity nesting owls, kestrels, and ducks, it may take some extra effort.

We can’t emphasize enough how important it is for birders to help provide appropriate nest boxes for birds, because natural cavities are in especially short supply, as are woodpecker-created cavities. Read more

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced plans to hire up to 2,000 seasonal positions for the upcoming summer recreation season, helping to support active management work and improve access and experiences on national forests and grasslands.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is restoring fiscal responsibility, efficiency and accountability so that Americans can count on services that endure,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. “We have addressed millions of dollars in salary deficits inherited from the previous administration. The Forest Service is now on a path to fiscal solvency and able to fill these critical seasonal positions to improve services for visitors this summer.”

“Hiring these seasonal positions is essential to delivering the services visitors rely on,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “Our seasonal employees are active members of the communities they serve. They keep forests open and accessible, campgrounds and other facilities clean, and neighboring towns thriving. It’s a direct investment in the people who make our national forests and grasslands special.”

Now that the Forest Service has streamlined its hiring process and shortened hiring timeframes, seasonal employees can begin work earlier — opening more opportunities for people in rural communities to compete for jobs close to home. Read more

Gladwin is now the 18th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. A hunter-harvested deer from Clement Township recently tested positive for the disease.

The Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the CWD finding. The sample was also sent for a secondary confirmation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where results are pending but anticipated to confirm CWD infection. Read more

The Boone and Crockett Club cheered the infusion of new funds available for big game migration habitat conservation and restoration announced today as part of the Make America Beautiful Again Commission. To support this core sportsmen’s priority, almost $8 million has been added to the $2 million in base funds available this year through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) for their Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund. Private and tribal funding is also included in the total.

Projects funded by the program improve habitat in priority areas identified by state wildlife agencies to address the needs of big game species as they travel to and stopover in their summer and winter range habitats.

“The migration corridors program began in 2018 as a proof-of-concept for a few species of big game. Having continued ever since, it has now proved the concept,” said Simon Roosevelt, Executive Vice President of Conservation at the Boone and Crockett Club. “The Trump administration, Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik in particular, has recognized this and we look forward to further expansion of this invaluable effort. More species, and more areas – especially in summer ranges – need to benefit from this work.”

Big game such as elk, mule deer, and pronghorn are iconic species in the West, providing important hunting and recreational opportunities and contributing a vital source of protein for western ecosystems. Read more

DNR, partners to launch second moose capture in UP

By ANDY HENION
Communications representative, Wildlife Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan wildlife researchers are preparing to conduct the second phase of a collaborative study that aims to figure out why the Upper Peninsula moose population remains stubbornly stagnant.This month, researchers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and Northern Michigan University plan to capture up to 43 moose from the animals’ core range in the western U.P. and outfit them with GPS tracking collars. In the project’s first phase, in early 2025, 20 moose were captured and collared.Check out previous Showcasing the DNR stories in our archive at Michigan.gov/DNRStories. To subscribe to upcoming Showcasing articles, sign up for free email delivery at Michigan.gov/DNREmail. Read more

The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) has released a statement on the following legislation passed for exterminating mule deer on Catalina Island in California:

The Mule Deer Foundation is aware that mule deer were introduced to Catalina Island in the 1920s and are not historically native. However, their long presence has made them a valued part of the landscape to many Californians for ecotourism and recreation. As mule deer across the West and California have been in decline for more than 60 years, it is disappointing to see deer entirely removed from yet another location rather than being managed at sustainable levels. Science shows that some grazing can be compatible with healthy ecosystems, and experts have raised concerns that complete removal could unintentionally increase wildfire risk by allowing fine fuels to accumulate. The Mule Deer Foundation (muledeer.org) stands ready to help develop science-based management frameworks for Catalina Island that reduce impacts while maintaining a controlled deer presence consistent with public values.

Greg Sheehan
President/CEO
Mule Deer Foundation Read more

Calling all birders: the DNR’s third annual Camp Warbler is set for June 1-3, and registration is underway.

This two-night, three-day adventure, designed for adults and featuring presentations and guided birding activities, takes place at the DNR’s Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, or RAM Center, near Roscommon. Camp Warbler is an all-inclusive event, providing lodging as well as five meals and motor coach transportation from Belle Isle Park in Detroit.

“This getaway is perfect for individuals or couples seeking to enjoy the best parts of Michigan and meet new friends,” said Melissa Guigue, manager of the RAM Center, which offers a unique blend of rustic lodging and modern meeting facilities on the northern shore of Higgins Lake. “You’ll enjoy a stay where the options for outdoor fun are endless.”

Event highlights

Participants will be treated to presentations and activities led by interpreters and staff from state parks and the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, the latter of which gives visitors a taste of Michigan’s great outdoors in the heart of Detroit. Camp Warbler activities include:

• An interpretive, guided wildlife drive through the Shiawassee Wildlife Refuge, with stops along the way for additional birding. Shiawassee is one of just three wildlife refuges in the state.
• A stop at Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling.
• Presentations on birding that will inspire both experienced and beginner birders.
• A visit to a Kirtland’s warbler breeding site. Read more

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a?lighthouse?keeper, we’ve got a dream destination! Grab three friends and apply to the 2026 Lighthouse Keeper Program?at?Tawas Point Lighthouse, located?in?Tawas Point State Park (about 75 miles northeast of Saginaw). Opportunities are available from early May through late October.

This program is perfect for enthusiasts of history, lighthouses or Michigan (or a combination of all three). Enjoy a two-week stay along the beautiful Lake Huron shoreline, immersed in the history of Tawas Point.

Equipped with training and knowledge from the lighthouse’s historian, keepers serve as guides, greeting visitors and leading tours. Keepers also are responsible for basic facility maintenance and cleanliness. The total service commitment is about 30 hours each week. The keeper schedule includes plenty of free time to explore the state park, nearby communities and surrounding area.

“We get up, we take a great bike ride, we swim and then we’re here for about five hours with the tours,” said Heidi, a 2025 Tawas Point Lighthouse keeper. “The people here are spectacular. We’ve met people from different countries, from different parts of Michigan, and they’re all interested in lighthouses, just like we are – so it has been a terrific experience. We really appreciate the opportunity!”

The lighthouse might be nearly 150 years old, but the living quarters feature modern accommodations. The second floor includes two bedrooms that can sleep four adults, a fully equipped kitchen and a full bathroom. Free on-site parking is also provided. Keepers apply in teams of four; the cost is $250 per person. All team members must be at least 18 years old and able to climb the 85 steps to the top of the tower. Applications are due by 11:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. There is a $10 nonrefundable application fee. Successful applicants will be notified no later than March 31. Learn more at the?Michigan History Center’s?Lighthouse Keepers webpage?or email?DNR-TawasKeepers@Michigan.gov.

Program budget, maximum and minimum grant requests have increased

The application period for the Upper Peninsula’s Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative competitive grant program is now open.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources initiative is a cooperative grant program designed to enhance deer habitat on private lands in the U.P.

New for 2026 the total DHIPI program budget has increased to $200,000.  The maximum and minimum grant requests have also increased respecively to a maximum of $25,000 and a minimum of $5,000. The required match remains at 25%. Read more