Michigan welcomed some rare owls to the Upper Peninsula this fall, a trend that is likely to continue as northern owls migrate south into Michigan for the winter. At the end of September, a burrowing owl (like those pictured here) was seen at Whitefish Point, on the northern tip of Chippewa County, for the first time since 1986! This sighting is one of only four known records in Michigan.

Vagrants that are seen in unusual places often return to their home range, and many folks suspect this particular bird was from Florida and visited Michigan as a result of Hurricane Helene. Just a few weeks later, a northern hawk owl also was spotted at Whitefish Point. Northern owls such as the northern hawk owl can show up in the Great Lakes region each winter, leaving their colder habitats like the boreal forests of Canada and the Arctic tundra behind – but this visitor arrived a season early!

Both owls drew crowds of interested birders and photographers, and each season hundreds of species draw us outdoors as they flit in the treetops, hop through shrubs or run along shorelines. Whether in the backyard or deep forest, birding best practices can help protect our Great Lakes birds and visitors. Here are a few to start:

• Keep a respectful distance. Getting too close to birds, and their nests, can cause them to flush (or fly away), interfering with their natural behavior and potentially preventing them from eating or caring for their young. If your approach causes a bird to flush, you’ve gotten too close.
• Think carefully before sharing the location of a rare bird. While rare bird sightings are thrilling, they can draw a crowd, which can cause a disturbance.
• Leave the drones to the pros. Although drones can be useful to researchers and biologists documenting bird populations (such as at island nesting colonies), drones in general can be very disruptive to birds, especially osprey. They are also illegal in national parks and some state parks.

Get more top tips and explore helpful resources to guide your next birding trip.

Questions? Contact Erin Rowan Ford at 313-820-0809.

2024 breeding season breaks multiple records

Arizona’s breeding bald eagle population grew to its largest size ever documented, with a record 90 adult pairs occupying breeding areas across the state and hatching a record 96 young during the 2024 breeding season, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s annual survey.

This year’s breeding bald eagles laid at least 119 eggs and produced 96 hatchlings, of which 77 reached the important milestone of their first flight, known as fledging. Statewide, there were 104 documented breeding areas, including seven new sites in 2024.

“Arizona’s bald eagle population continues to be strong,” said Kenneth “Tuk” Jacobson, AZGFD bald eagle management coordinator. “The fact that we continue to see an increase in breeding areas and hatchlings speaks to the resiliency of these magnificent animals and the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to help conserve and protect Arizona’s bald eagles.”

From busy city golf courses to remote forests, the diversity of the active eagle breeding sites across Arizona requires a specialized approach.

“We evaluate each breeding area, its location, the breeding adults and their tolerance to human activities,” said Jacobson. “Then we form the management plan for that area and for the needs of that pair.” Read more

Black-capped Chickadees are among the cavity nesting birds that will use a Convertible Roost–Nest Box during winter – and during spring when the nesting season begins.

Installing a perch in a reversed Convertible Roost–Nest Box with the entrance hole positioned at the bottom of the box for winter roosting.

Some cavity nesting birds will use a nest box as a roosting location overnight and during inclement weather during late fall and winter. This is especially true for small owls and woodpeckers, and some cavity nesting songbirds like bluebirds and chickadees. Better yet though, are “Convertible Boxes” that can be used as a roost box during fall and winter, and as a nest box during spring and summer – and they are becoming big hits among birders. They are truly real 2-in-1 birding products that can benefit birds year-round. Read more

The sow and one of the cubs were released Monday at an approved release site in a remote area. The other cub was discovered to have a previous infection in one of its legs when it was captured, and it was taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center, where it was evaluated by a veterinarian and treated with antibiotics.

The Game and Fish officers were patrolling through Crown King Sunday afternoon when an area resident flagged them down. The resident said the bears were currently in his garage getting into garbage. The bears had reportedly been seen at other times over the past couple of months, and although they had not acted aggressively toward people, they seemed to be increasingly comfortable frequenting areas of human development.

The wildlife officers quickly evaluated the situation, then darted the sow and both cubs with a sedative. With the assistance of Crown King Fire Department personnel, the officers were able to capture the sow and one cub and safely remove them to a more suitable area away from people. However, the other cub quickly climbed a power pole, became entangled in phone lines near electrical equipment, and fell asleep. Read more

The 2024 bear management cooperator patch is a great way to commemorate the recent bear season. Adult hunters, patch collectors and others can buy a patch for $7. Young hunters, 10-17 years old, who have a valid bear hunting license can get a free patch.

The Michigan Bear Hunters Association, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, coordinates Michigan’s bear cooperator patch program. Proceeds from patch sales will be used for black bear education and outreach.

You can order patches online or by sending your name, complete address, and a check or money order payable to the Michigan Bear Hunters Association. If the patch is for a youth bear hunter, please send a legible copy of a youth’s valid bear hunting license. Mailed patch orders should be sent to:

MBHA – Bear Patch Program
10510 Fairgrieve Road
Johannesburg, MI 49751

Young artists can enter 2025 patch design contest

The Michigan Bear Hunters Associations holds a design contest annually to create the bear patch. K-12 students attending public, private or home school in Michigan are eligible to enter. To learn more about the patch design contest, visit the bear management cooperator patch webpage. The contest entry deadline is Dec. 31.

The elm zigzag sawfly, Aproceros leucopoda, recently has been detected in several midwestern states. The sawfly is from eastern Asia and is not considered a threat in its native habitat, but here it can cause severe damage. Feeding exclusively on most native and introduced elm species, the elm zigzag sawfly is a defoliator that causes damage to the leaves of the trees. Look for zig-zag chewing patterns in elm leaves and report any suspected elm zigzag sawfly infestations to the Midwest Invasive Species Network.

More information on the elm zigzag sawfly.

Each year, sportsmen, bird watchers, and other wildlife enthusiasts can join the Wildlife Department in documenting federally endangered whooping cranes as they migrate through Oklahoma. It is important for sandhill crane hunters to be aware that whooping cranes could migrate through Oklahoma and be roosting or loafing in hunting areas at any time throughout the entire season.

The 2,500-mile journey from nesting grounds in Canada to wintering grounds in coastal Texas can take nearly two months, with the first migrating family groups of cranes reaching Oklahoma in mid- to late-October. The birds may touch down in wetlands or grain fields for a few days to rest and refuel on crustaceans, other small animals, or grain before continuing on to Texas.

The small flocks of whooping cranes that migrate through Oklahoma are part of the only remaining naturally occurring population, known as the Aransas/Wood Buffalo population. Read more

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation strongly opposes a reckless ballot initiative that undermines scientific wildlife management, hampers the ability of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to balance predator and prey species, and endangers public safety.

Proposition 127 will appear on Colorado’s November ballot and seeks to ban all hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx, even though it is already illegal to hunt lynx in the Lower 48.

So far, RMEF supplied more than $340,000 to defeat the measure while collaborating with Colorado partners.

“We’ve seen this before in Colorado. Activists use deceptive language and emotion to purposely circumvent the recommendations of professional wildlife managers and biologists in favor of their own agendas,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “This ballot box biology flies in the face of proven, science-based wildlife management as well as key principles of the North American Wildlife Conservation Model, which is the bedrock for maintaining successful wildlife populations in Colorado and across America.”

Important points: Read more