This BirdCast live bird migration radar map shows the migration intensity at 12:30am early Monday morning, while the second BirdCast map below shows bird migration action at 8pm Monday evening (both images courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology).

Each spring and fall modern birders benefit from a package of 4 futuristic versions of online equipment with which we can glean information about bird migration night after night across the Lower 48 States. BirdCast provides an exceptional experience to monitor ongoing migrations each night and review migrations for any spring night flight, even alerting you to what species you can expect to see locally day by day. A favorite among the 4 webpages is the real-time migration analysis maps that show intensities of nocturnal bird migration as detected by the US weather surveillance radar network. Read more

2024 population survey revealed a minimum of 286 Mexican wolves distributed across Arizona and New Mexico

The wild population of Mexican wolves saw another year of growth in 2024, according to the results of the annual census.

The 2024 population survey revealed a minimum of 286 Mexican wolves distributed across Arizona and New Mexico. This increase marks the ninth consecutive year of population growth, the longest continuous streak since recovery efforts began.

The 2024 minimum count represents an 11% increase from the minimum of 257 wolves counted in 2023. Survey results show the population is distributed with a minimum of 162 wolves in New Mexico and 124 in Arizona. Read more

The “Cedar Bluebird House” is one of the best examples of a nest box that we have seen. It has all the details to make it a preferred product, including a unique clear plastic viewing window inside the side panel that opens and allows you to easily monitor nest box activities periodically.

A NestWatch graphic showing the nest entrance hole diameters for a variety of native cavity nesting birds. NestWatch is an excellent information source about nest boxes, birdhouses, and the birds that use them.

Expanding on last week’s article about building birdhouses for cavity nesting birds, this week we will be providing some basic information about selecting a nest box (birdhouse) for the cavity nesting birds you wish to attract to your yard and benefit during the upcoming nesting season. There are a lot of birdhouses available on the market, at department stores, hardware stores, online, and other outlets, but many of these products don’t meet some of the basic requirements of a good birdhouse. That’s where this article can help you look a little deeper what makes a standard birdhouse. Read more

National Invasive Species Awareness Week, Feb. 24-28, a great time to learn more, commit to year-round action

Invasive species are a growing problem in Michigan and the U.S. During National Invasive Species Awareness Week (Feb. 24 – 28, 2025), Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is joining efforts across all 50 states to encourage everyone to take action to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful plants, animals and diseases.

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Natural Resources. Read more

If you are a fan of Michigan state parks and trails and have always wanted to add your voice to the discussion that shapes them, consider applying by mid-March for vacancies on three key advisory bodies that work with the DNR.

• Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee

The DNR is accepting applications for an opening on the 12-member Michigan State Parks Advisory Committee. Volunteers serve terms of up to four years and meet six times a year virtually or at locations around the state. The ideal candidate will be a resident of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The committee advises and makes recommendation to the DNR on state parks policy and provides guidance on state park development, management, stewardship, funding and planning.

If interested, Read more

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has released a final environmental impact statement (EIS) analyzing potential environmental impacts from the statewide management of gray wolves.?

Issuing the final EIS is a key step in a process that started in 2023, when FWP originally released the draft EIS. The draft EIS was made available for public review and comment from Oct. 20, 2023, through Dec. 19, 2023, and again from Feb. 8, 2024, through March 9, 2024. The additional 30-day comment window was to offer an opportunity for additional input from Tribes and affected counties.

“This final EIS means the update to the 2003 Wolf Plan is nearly complete,” said FWP Director Christy Clark. “We appreciate the comments and feedback we’ve received on our draft documents from people across the state and country. That input is critical in ensuring we have a plan that is effective in managing wolves moving forward.”

FWP analyzed two alternatives in the final EIS. Alternative 1, the “no action” alternative, would represent the status quo. Read more

For the past several years, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has worked with local hound handlers to monitor lion populations. This unique and beneficial relationship is an efficient way to monitor a highly elusive species.

“We contract with hound handlers from the public,” said Molly Parks, FWP’s carnivore coordinator. “The hound handlers are very skilled with highly trained hounds. That’s exactly the skill we need to make this research project work.”

The local handlers bring a high level of integrity to the data being collected.

“They care deeply for the resource and are committed to collecting high quality data. Plus, they are trusted members of the community and can help communicate results,” Parks said.

Routine population monitoring began in 2019, when FWP developed a mountain lion monitoring and management strategy. Each winter, the hound handlers contract with FWP to use their dogs to track, tree, and biopsy dart the cats to collect a DNA sample in a new monitoring area.

New this season, FWP biologists are also deploying GPS collars on a subset of the treed cats to collect additional data. The data collected from both biopsy darts and GPS collars will be combined with 25 years of lion ecology research and lion harvest data is combined in statistical models that estimate ecoregional lion abundance and density, predict the effects of lion harvest on those populations, inform management recommendations and set quotas.

The information gathered from field monitoring and results from population models are considered by the Lion Ecoregional Population Objective Committees (LEPOC), which are made up of hunters, livestock producers, hound handlers and others who have an interest in mountain lion management and live in the lion ecoregion. The LEPOC makes recommendations to FWP regarding population targets and highlight localized areas of concern. FWP staff propose quotas to the Fish and Wildlife Commission based on the LEPOC recommendations. The commission makes the final decisions on quotas and regulations each year.

“This field work is really the core of our lion monitoring,” Parks said of the program. “We couldn’t do it without lion hunters and hound handlers.”

WATCH: Mountain Lion Research in SW Montana