Duncraft’s Best Nesting Shelf is an option to a DIY nesting shelf.

Not every bird nests in a birdhouse or nest box; actually, just a small percentage of birds are specialized cavity nesting birds, but some birds will build their nest on the edge or corner of buildings where they can fit a nest that offers a degree of protection and stability. The most obvious among these birds are robins, doves, phoebes, and House Finches. To attract these species, or to redirect them to a certain location, some years ago a creative birder tried building a simple shelf that proved successful, and over the years the design has been improved.

Today, a nesting shelf tends to be something of an open-ended box, but the best ones tend to be a little more open, with partly open sides so the birds can see more of the surrounding area. They have a slanted roof with a bit of an overhang, a drain hole drilled in each corner of the floor, and many nesting shelves have a low “curb” on the front. Read more

For more information, contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698 or pmuller@nwtf.net

Cross Charitable Foundation Grants NWTF Funding for Big Sky Forestry Initiative

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Cross Charitable Foundation, dedicated to supporting organizations actively promoting the conservation of wildlife and the environment, recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The grant from the Cross Charitable Foundation will be used for the Big Sky Forestry Initiative, a collaborative effort between the NWTF and the USDA Forest Service, in Montana. The project aims to reduce the threat of wildfire to keep our communities safe, improve wildlife habitat, offer accessible recreation opportunities with more healthy game animals and enhance water quality. Read more

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s reclassification of the northern long-eared bat from threatened to endangered status came into effect Friday, March 31, 2023.

In Vermont, the northern-long eared bat received a state endangered status in 2011 due to rapid and drastic declines caused by the deadly fungal disease white-nose syndrome. It received federal threatened status in 2015 after the disease had spread throughout the Northeast, but not the entire range of the species. Read more

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., reintroduced the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This legislation invests in proactive, on-the-ground conservation work led by states, territories and tribal nations to support the long-term health of fish and wildlife and their habitat across America. These locally-driven, science-based strategies would restore species with the greatest conservation need.

“The passage of RAWA would drive the conservation of our beloved natural resources at an unprecedented scale,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “The NWTF commends Senators Heinrich and Tillis for their bipartisan work and bringing this important piece of legislation back to the forefront of Congress, and we look forward to bringing this landmark bill into law in the very near future.” Read more

An example of a well-built nest box is the Duncraft Bluebird House, which can be referenced at Duncraft.com: Duncraft WSB Eastern Bluebird House

The North American Bluebird Society’s free downloadable publication: Get to Know Bluebirds: A Guide for Young Nature Lovers. This excellent new book is aimed at a young audience, but the messages are applicable for everyone.

North America is blessed with the only bluebirds in the world; 3 species, appropriately named for their respective ranges – Western, Eastern, and Mountain Bluebirds. These small colorful birds provide characteristic spring songs for many birders across the continental United States and southern Canada. Bluebirds are considered the most popular cavity nesting birds, and the standard birdhouse is built to suit bluebirds, while other models are smaller for wrens and chickadees, or much larger for kestrels and screech owls. Read more

The black bear’s winter slumber will soon be over. In late March to early May, bears leave their dens and begin looking for food to replenish their bodies. As they rejoin us in search of nourishment, it’s important to remember that human behavior affects bear behavior.

“Just like humans waking from a long nap, bears first look for water, often drinking from rivers and ponds or eating snow. Their early spring menu consists of last year’s vegetation, salvaged carcasses and fresh green shoots as they emerge,” said Rachel Leightner, Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife outreach coordinator. “Though these food sources are readily available, it is difficult to resist the calorie-rich offerings of bird seed, garbage, beehives and pet foods.

You might consider watching bears forage near your home as an exciting chance to see wildlife up close. But what’s really happening could be very troublesome for both you and the bear.”

Bears that find reliable food sources near homes can become repeat visitors and may lose their fear of humans, she added. Additionally, if a female bear with cubs teaches her young to forage from these food sources, it can lead to problematic behavior later in life and negative outcomes such as property damage, loss of livestock and dangerous situations for both humans and bears.

Leightner said that, fortunately, avoiding these problems is easy if you take a proactive approach and suggested the following steps. Read more

If you’re a fan of heading off the beaten path, you’re probably familiar with Michigan’s thousands of miles of state forest roads. The DNR annually updates state forest road maps on April 1. Maps are available in an interactive web format and as printable PDFs.

Forest road maps are updated each year based on considerations including changing road conditions, data cleanup and input received from residents. Maps show which state forest roads are open or closed to off-road and conventional vehicle use. It’s important to stay on these roads to prevent erosion and damage to wildlife habitat.

After the annual road inventory and review, the following will be open to ORVs:

• • In the Upper Peninsula, more than 5,503 miles – about 98% of the total mileage.
  • In the northern Lower Peninsula, about 6,109 miles – about 84% of the total mileage.
  • In the southern Lower Peninsula, just over 10 miles – about 3% of the total mileage.

Read more