Michigan Audubon is conducting Kirtland’s Warbler Tours thru June 26 for birders to see a recovering species that was formerly one of the most endangered species in the United States. Kirtland’s Warblers remain a difficult species for birders to find considering that only a few counties in central Michigan represent its primary nesting range, but during June, Michigan Audubon in collaboration with Hartwick Pines State Park is offering Kirtland’s Warbler Tours daily at 7am, with an additional 11am tour on Saturdays and Sundays. The tours are based at Hartwick Pines State Park just north of the town of Grayling. Read more

Canada geese are a common sight on Michigan’s waters. In fact, they nest in every Michigan county, but are most common in the southern third of the state. You may even see and hear Canada geese all year in some parts of the state.

In June and July, these birds often are found on lakes and golf course ponds, feeding on lush lawns while molting – the annual loss of their flight feathers, which takes about two weeks. Canada geese are unable to fly during molting, so putting up a temporary barrier between your yard and the water may help keep flightless geese away from your property. Geese are especially attracted to lawns that are heavily fertilized, watered and mowed.

“If you live on a lake and geese frequently visit your yard, try making your lawn less attractive to them by allowing your grass to grow long and cutting down on fertilizer and water, or try planting shrubs to create a barrier between your lawn and the water,” said Barbara Avers, waterfowl and wetland specialist with the DNR.

Intentionally feeding Canada geese can attract them to the area as well, so don’t – especially if you are having conflicts with geese. Such artificial feeding can make them comfortable around people; it also can increase overcrowding and potentially spread disease among the birds.

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Caledonia, MN (June 1st, 2022) – Over the last several years, the market has seen a major shift, and now more hunters than ever are using the cellular option to scout and locate game. The REVEAL by TACTACAM continues to be at the forefront of helping hunters break away from the confines of SD cameras and elevate their scouting experience with cellular cameras. Now with the ever-expanding market for cellular scouting cameras, TACTACAM has continued to innovate and push the technology forward to meet consumer demands, introducing the REVEAL X Gen 2.0 in June 2022.

Jeff Peel, President of TACTACAM, “We absolutely love seeing how well the REVEAL products have been received and the following they have created. We feel a great responsibility to the new REVEAL cellular users, and work diligently to create new products and app features that will make the user experience better every year.”

The REVEAL X Gen 2.0 holds all the positive attributes of the REVEAL X but delivers new features combined with innovative technology making scouting easy, fun, and affordable for the everyday sportsman.

Key features of the REVEAL X Gen 2.0 include: Read more

New USDA-NRCS partnership with Wyoming will focus on conserving big game migratory habitat on private lands.

On Friday May 20, USDA announced a new partnership that uses diverse Farm Bill investments to support voluntary conservation of private working lands and migratory big game populations in Wyoming. Using lessons learned from this pilot, USDA seeks to scale up this model across the West as part of President Biden’s commitment to support voluntary, locally-led conservation efforts to reach the administration’s national conservation goals.

USDA participated in extensive engagement and listening sessions with stakeholders throughout Wyoming and developed this pilot in response to their feedback. Those listening sessions helped guide the pilot’s concepts and principles: recognition of the large scale of this issue in key landscapes, coordination with state agencies, consistency with state policy and direction and support of existing partnerships wherever possible. Read more

Enjoy ‘Three Free’ Weekend June 11-12

“Three Free” weekend – two full days when residents and visitors can fish, ride Michigan’s off-road trails or visit state parks and state-managed boating access sites at no cost – is set for Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12.

PHOENIX — Eleven genetically valuable captive-born Mexican wolf pups have been placed into wild dens to be raised in the wild by their surrogate parents after another successful fostering season. Now in its seventh year, the Mexican wolf fostering program continues to help boost the genetic diversity of this endangered subspecies.

Over a three-week period this spring, 11 pups were fostered into five wild packs across New Mexico and Arizona. The pups traveled from captive facilities across the U.S. as part of a coordinated effort to place genetically diverse wolves into the wild population in support of recovery efforts.

Fostering is a proven method used by the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) to increase genetic diversity in the wild Mexican wolf population. It begins with carefully managed breeding by the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP) program to produce genetically diverse pups within the captive population. Within 14 days of whelping (being born), the captive-born pups are transported to the wild and mixed together with similarly aged wild pups.

Once all of the pups are placed back into the wild den, the breeding female’s maternal instinct kicks in. She will feed and care for both the wild and captive-born pups. With the help of her pack mates, the pups will be raised with the skills and knowledge needed for a life in the wild. The IFT has documented that fostered pups have the same survival rate as wild-born pups in their first year of life (about 50%). Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Cameras are everywhere!  They’re in the sky, in our vehicles, in doorbells and in our pockets.  Ordinary citizens routinely capture images we normally would not see – or, for that matter – believe.  Wireless phones that double as cameras do an incredible job, as millions of us already know; however, dedicated digital cameras may be a better choice.

Today’s phones are versatile devices but like so many multi-purpose gadgets, certain functions are compromised.  Take for example their size, which I find quite cumbersome.  Locating controls can be frustrating, as well.  Picture resolution is outstanding with phones but zooming the lens is limited for quality long shots.

After researching various dedicated digital cameras, I wanted to keep things simple and opted for a point-and-shoot Canon Power Shot ELPH 360.  It’s designed for the photo novice that wants to capture moments quickly on a budget of $250 or so.

Usually, when outdoors, there is plenty of gear to tote along when hunting or fishing but the slim and compact design of this little gem means it’s no ordeal to slip it into a shirt pocket.  Unlike other cameras of the past, there are no detachable lens covers to fumble with, either; the lens has an automatic cover that operates when the camera is turned on or off.

The 12x optical zoom can really bring wildlife up close, but at full magnification, resolution suffers.  But, if one wants to count antler points or locate bullet holes in a target downrange, it will suffice.

The 20.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor and image processor deliver detailed photos thanks to the optical image stabilizer, which separates it from the shakiness of a phone.  With a little practice and technique, it can make panning appear to have been done on a tripod!

No matter what type of camera is chosen, here are a few tips to make viewing your videos a more enjoyable experience.

*  When panning, do so slowly.  Begin by facing the end of the pan and then without moving your feet, twist into the beginning position.  Start the pan by holding the camera still for a few seconds, then slowly and steadily move it to the ending position – again with a good pause at completion of the shot.

*  To improve resolution, compose shots by getting closer to the target image rather than using a zoom mode.

*  Minimize movement with the camera by allowing the motion of the shot to tell the story.  Nobody wants to watch never-ending camera movement by the operator.

There are many dedicated, point and punch cameras on the market and YouTube has comparisons so that one can decide what options suits one’s needs and budget.  Like many technological marvels, having access to the internet is crucial, because there are no written instruction manuals in most cases.  But, having the ability to watch product demonstrations is a good way to make decisions before spending that hard-earned cash.

May 27, 2022 – The National Deer Association (NDA) is offering six-month internships that will run from July 1 to December 31, 2022. The intern(s) will work with the Conservation Department on research, education, advocacy, mission events, hunting, grant writing and/or certification program issues.

The selected individual(s) will assist the Conservation Department on identifying research funding opportunities, developing educational materials, engaging in legislative efforts and R3 programs, and/or helping with NDA’s certification programs. Read more

Adult male Baltimore Orioles are the quintessential American orioles that add the richest hues of orange to your yard.

The new grape jelly fan was a Yellow Warbler that regularly visited the primary oriole feeder last week. How many different birds eat grape jelly at your feeder?

We have long promoted adding grape jelly to your feeding station, this year and other years. We knew grape jelly is the primary gourmet interest of orioles, but last week we realized that grape jelly was driving all the birds to our feeding station – Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Yellow Warblers, House Finches, Gray Catbirds, American Robins, and yes, even Ruby-throated Hummingbirds check out the jelly offerings for small flying insects before or after they stop at the nectar feeder. These are really exciting birds to observe and to attract to your yard this spring, and maybe through the summer. Read more