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Category: Wildlife
Goldfinch
Michigan: Experience the Excitement of Spring Birding
Common yellowthroats and scarlet tanagers are among the many bird species that can be found on Michigan’s birding trails and that will be celebrated with birding events around the state this spring.
Contact: Holly Vaughn, VaughnH@michigan.gov, 313-396-6863
Experience the excitement of spring birding in Michigan with events, trails around the state
scarlet tanagerMichigan is home to a variety of important bird habitats and an exciting array of public birding events and birding trails. Now is the time to start making plans to get out and enjoy the spectacular diversity of birds in Michigan.
“Michigan has so many great opportunities for birders and wildlife watchers, with more events popping up all the time,” said Holly Vaughn, Department of Natural Resources wildlife communications coordinator. “There is no better place to begin birding than Michigan, and there are opportunities to observe birds anywhere you may be in the state.”
In addition to the many festivals listed below, Michigan is home to a growing number of birding trails, with six already existing and more planned. Michigan’s birding trails are open to the public and provide great opportunities for family recreation.
Spring birding events in Michigan include: Read more
The Sportsmen’s Act of 2017 on the Move
By Glen Wunderlich
Americans deserve, have asked for, and were promised transparency in government. Yet, over the past decade our government has purposely thwarted any legitimate attempts to uncover the whereabouts of millions of excise-tax dollars cleverly extracted from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) by extremist groups under the guise of environmentalism. At long last, however, the U.S. Senate’s reintroduction of S. 733, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2017, would shed light on the issue, while providing access to federal lands by being “open unless closed” for fishing, hunting, recreational shooting, and other outdoor experiences.
The Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) was enacted in 1980 and required an annual report of the number of cases processed and total attorney fees reimbursed. EAJA allows plaintiffs to recover attorney fees and other expenses from the federal government when they prevail–average citizens who need help finding and paying for a lawyer to correct errors in earned benefits or to remedy mistaken penalties imposed by federal agencies. That reporting ended in 1995.
Studies released independently by Notre Dame Law School and the Government Accountability Office show that environmental groups pad their claims for reimbursed legal fees using the EAJA.
A Notre Dame law review article shows that the law intended for seniors, veterans, and small businesses is utilized by environmental groups to get pay-backs for their lawsuits, as well. A GAO study shows that no one really knows how much money has been spent. However, what we do know is that the original intent of the EAJA has been perverted to the extent that it threatens the financial foundation of genuine wildlife conservation as we’ve known it.
Adding agency reporting requirements to the Equal Access for Justice Act for monies spent in litigation settlements and awards are only one aspect of S 733, which should make it to the President Trump’s desk. Here are other key provisions of the bill:
- Specifically declaring the policy of the United States to include the enhancement of hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities on federal lands;
- Continuing to recognize the States’ authority and responsibility for wildlife within their borders;
- Establishing that Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands are open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting unless specifically closed to those activities;
- Placing limits on such closures and imposing requirements for the process for closing lands;
- Requiring the creation of a list of federal public lands that allow hunting but for which access is a problem;
- Exempting commercial filming permits for film crews of three or fewer, or for news gathering purposes;
- Amending the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to allocate funds for construction and expansion of public target ranges on BLM and Forest Service lands;
- Establishing a statutory Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting;
- Allowing the transport across National Park Service (NPS) land of bows or crossbows that are “not ready for immediate use”; and
- Confirming it is proper to use qualified volunteers from the hunting community to cull wildlife on NPS land.
Additionally, this legislation would create an online public database of information on court cases against the U.S. government and would ultimately free up financial resources for conservation measures entitled to those Americans, who in good faith, provide the funding.
Time has come to deliver the transparency in government we were all promised and rightfully deserve.
Mountain Lion Preying on Sheep Killed
A man’s hand next to one of the front paws of a mountain lion killed in the Panhandle demonstrates the large size of the predator. [JERRY SHAW / ODWC]
The Cimarron County mountain lion was a large specimen, as shown by this man’s hand next to the big cat’s head. [JERRY SHAW / ODWC]
These tracks helped confirm a mountain lion had been in a livestock pen in western Cimarron County. [MAX CROCKER / ODWC]
A large mountain lion observed killing livestock near a family home in western Cimarron County was killed by an Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry Wildlife Services officer Saturday, April 1.
A landowner reported the mountain lion to an Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation game warden, who followed existing protocol and contacted the Wildlife Services Division of the Agriculture Department. Wildlife Services is responsible for situations of depredation or destruction of property involving mountain lions.
The landowner told officials his son reported that a mountain lion had killed sheep near the driveway of his home. Read more
Reminder: Spring Birding Tours at Michigan’s Wetland Wonderlands
The Department of Natural Resources invites Michigan residents to celebrate spring and explore the state’s wetlands with a birding tour at one of the nearby Wetland Wonders or Signature Wetlands. Opportunities for wildlife watchers to participate in a spring birding tours continue through the end of April.
Highlights of the birding tours may include diving and dabbling ducks in full breeding plumage, trumpeter and tundra swans, osprey, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and much more. Led by DNR Wildlife Division staff, as well as volunteers from Ducks Unlimited and Audubon clubs, the tours may include a “sneak peek” driving tour into refuge areas that are normally closed. Tours generally last two to three hours.
The birding tours will be held:
April 8 at 10 a.m. – Fish Point State Game Area
7750 Ringle Road in Unionville, 989-674-2511
April 8 at 9 a.m. – Pointe Mouillee State Game Area
37025 Mouillee Road in Rockwood, 734-379-9692
April 8 at 9 a.m. – Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area
1570 Tower Beach Road in Pinconning, 989-697-5101
April 15 at 9 a.m. – Houghton Lake Flats State Wildlife Management Area
Meet at the gazebo, north of M-55 on Old 27, one-quarter mile east of U.S. 127 in Roscommon County, 231-775-9727, ext. 6032
April 29 at 8 a.m. – Fennville Farm Unit of the Allegan State Game Area
6013 118th Ave. in Fennville, 269-673-2430 Read more
MI DNR offers advice for those who find a feathered visitor nesting in their yard this spring
3 goslings in grass near body of water
Michigan residents may get a surprise this spring in their gardens, flower boxes or even in the landscaping by their office buildings. Bird nests can be found in some unusual locations.
Ducks nests, particularly mallard nests, seem to appear just about everywhere in the spring. Female mallards often build nests in landscaping, gardens or other locations that people may consider inappropriate. While finding a duck’s nest in an unexpected location may be a surprise, there is no need for concern.
“She will be a very quiet neighbor, and with her cryptic coloration she may go largely unnoticed,” said Holly Vaughn, Department of Natural Resources wildlife communications coordinator. “Leave the duck alone and try to keep dogs, cats and children away from the nest.” Read more
Not your typical spring birding event – a woodcock walk at dusk
If you’re looking to get out and stretch your legs, a spring birding event might be just the ticket. Grab your flashlight and binoculars and join Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff before dusk for a short walk to hear the “peent” call of a male American woodcock just before it lifts off the ground in its spiral dance 200 to 350 feet in the air.
The woodcock walk will be held Thursday, April 27, at 8 p.m. in northern Gladwin County at the Lame Duck Foot Access Area GEMS, an area showcased as a fall ruffed grouse and woodcock hunting location. Read more
Arizona: Mexican Wolf Captured in Chiricahuca Area
PHOENIX — A female Mexican wolf originating from an ongoing reintroduction effort in Mexico was captured March 26 on private ranch land in southeastern Arizona by the Interagency Field Team (IFT) and relocated to the Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility in New Mexico, where it is in good health. Management agencies in the United States and Mexico will determine the most appropriate long-term management action for this wolf.
The wolf was first sighted in the United States on March 19 by an Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife manager and again on March 22 by ranch employees. In the latter instance, the wolf exhibited minor problem behavior by not retreating after the reporting party tried to haze it out of the area. The wolf is believed to have been traveling alone, as there have been no other wolf sightings in the area.
The wolf was initially described as wearing a GPS radio collar, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department conducted an aerial telemetry flight on March 22 to detect any signal emanating from the collar; however, no signal was detected, and the collar was later found to be non-functional. Read more
Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium Opening Set
National celebration planned with commemorative events honoring positive conservation impact of hunters and anglers
Springfield, MO – Johnny Morris, founder/CEO of Bass Pro Shops and leading conservationist, in partnership with noted conservation partners from around the world, today announced the all-new Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri will celebrate its grand opening on National Hunting & Fishing Day, September 21, 2017.
“I am proud and excited that this special facility dedicated to those who love the outdoors will open in the heart of America in our hometown, Springfield, Missouri,” said Johnny Morris. “We are deeply grateful to the many remarkably talented individuals and world-class conservation organizations that have come together for the past nine years to help make this vision a reality. It is our shared hope that the tremendous investment of time, energy and resources will have a profound, positive long-term impact on the future of hunting, fishing and conservation in America.”
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium will be the largest, most immersive fish and wildlife attraction in the world. Read more
MI DNR monitors waterfowl populations from the sky
Earlier this year, Department of Natural Resources staff took to the sky in small aircraft to observe and count ducks, geese and swans on southern Michigan waterways. DNR Wildlife Division staff observed 148,521 ducks, 49,840 geese and 5,103 swans in 2017’s survey.
In the 2016 survey, 157,028 ducks, 33,468 geese and 5,896 swans were observed. Goose observations increased in 2017, while duck observations were down about 5 percent and swan observations down 13 percent.
Though duck observations were slightly down, biologists believe that duck populations in Michigan are stable. The 5-percent decline can be attributed to cold arctic blasts in late December and early January pushing birds southward, with some ducks bypassing Michigan altogether. Read more