Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Goldfinch
Washington –Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are estimating that over 10,000 migrating birds have died so far this year because of reduced water flow to the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon and California. Officials say the final death toll may be close to 20,000 birds. Read more
Realtree Nursery Food Plot Trees are now available at select Wal-Mart stores throughout the country. You can find Dunstan Chestnuts™, Sawtooth Oaks, American Persimmons and Native Crabapples in Wal-Marts in Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois. Read more
Ithaca, NY–The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is pleased to announced that the eBird website will now be sponsored by Swarovski Optik North America. The eBird program is a real-time, online checklist program, that collects more than a milllion bird observations each month from bird watchers around the world. (www.ebird.org) eBird data are visualized in charts, maps, and graphs which can be used by students, researchers, land managers, and conservationists needing detailed information about the numbers and distribution of birds. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
A new Elk Management Plan was approved by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Rodney Stokes at the April 5 meeting of the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) in Lansing. The plan incorporates an adaptive approach to management, whereby necessary changes to the plan can be implemented based on results.
Michigan’s current elk herd in an area north of Atlanta is the result of a release of seven animals from “various city parks and public institutions” in 1918 about three miles southeast of Wolverine. The herd grew steadily with estimates of 300-400 in 1939 and 900 to 1,000 in 1958. The Department of Natural Resources (department) is officially charged with the management of resident wildlife in Michigan by virtue of a 1996 referendum requiring the department to use principles of sound scientific management in decisions relative to the taking of game. With this in mind, the department has unveiled a new elk management plan with the following goals: Read more
Youngsters from the Powell Township School District in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have begun a project to attract indigenous Monarch butterflies to the area by planting milkweed. Details here…
Migratory bird week May 5th through 12th with live raptors, planting for birds, birds of the dunes and more here for the complete schedule and details.
Some wise great horned owls seem to understand their protection under the law, because they built their nest in a twin-boiler power structure that had been scheduled for demolition near Bullhead City, Arizona. Now it’s all up in the air. More here…
Following several days of treatment at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wildlife Nature Center in Helena, eagles that were suspected of being poisoned, were released into the wild. Find out where they went here…
On Tuesday, April 10, 2012, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources filed a civil complaint against Ronald McKendrick and Charlene McKendrick, who own and operate the Renegade Ranch Hunting Preserve in Cheboygan County. The McKendricks are being sued for violations of Michigan’s Invasive Species Act, which outlaws certain types of swine.
The complaint, brought in Cheboygan County Circuit Court, asks the court to require the McKendricks to comply with the state’s Invasive Species Act and to remove prohibited swine from their property. Read more
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — This year marks the 75th anniversary of the passage of the landmark Pittman-Robertson (also known as Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration) Act, which directs excise taxes collected on the sale of firearms and ammunition to be used exclusively by state wildlife agencies for improving wildlife populations, hunter education and public access to the outdoors. The benefits of this program to state agencies, sportsmen, sporting goods retailers and manufacturers and anyone who enjoys and appreciates wildlife and the outdoors have been abundant since its creation. Read more