ThinkingAfield.org

By TOM GONIEA
Fisheries biologist, Fisheries Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

As spring transitions to summer and the warm temperatures roll in, Michiganders weary of winter excitedly begin adventuring across the state. It’s a time of renewal and reinvigoration for many.But as you head out, be on the lookout for turtles, which are also on the move this time of year.

Late spring and early summer are times when turtles are moving en masse across the landscape. The females are actively looking for nesting sites, and males also just kind of wander this time of year, moving between the lakes, ponds and streams they call home.

This overland movement often involves crossing roads, which unfortunately results in noticeable levels of turtle mortality throughout the state. That roadkill can be high enough to affect local populations and likely is the largest direct loss of adult turtles by humans.

“I receive calls every year from people in my area about dead turtles on the roads and have few answers for them,” said Scott Heintzelman, fisheries biologist and Central Lake Michigan Unit manager for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “It is particularly sad to see or hear about turtles that have been intentionally hit on the road.” Read more

After consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured and relocated an adult male grizzly bear on May 2, 2025.

The grizzly bear was captured in association with conflict management efforts for cattle depredation, this bear was not the bear responsible for depredation and was released away from the calving pasture. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest, the grizzly bear was relocated to the Ghost Creek drainage approximately 60 miles northwest of Cody. Read more

In the weeks ahead, ducks, mergansers, herons, terns, gulls and more will fly through Portage Marsh State Wildlife Area in Escanaba – one of Michigan’s premier Wetland Wonders and an Audubon Important Bird Area – as they migrate north back to their breeding grounds.

Join the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and partners from Common Coast Research and Conservation and the Laughing Whitefish Bird Alliance for a guided birding tour along the coastal wetlands of the state wildlife area.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 17. The meeting place will be at the Portage Marsh State Wildlife Area, at the dead end of Portage Point 11.4 Lane (Lat: 45.706675, Long: -87.079639). Read more

The chance to observe the nesting activities at a Great Gray Owl nest site in Montana will attract even more attention after the nestlings become visible.

It’s especially interesting to take a look at a few of the early nesting birds featured on a number of live cams that feature larger birds, mostly owls and raptors. Starting with the Cornell Lab’s live streaming nest cams – you can see large nestlings of a Great Horned Owl in Texas and Barred Owls in Indiana; plus recently hatched Red-tailed Hawk nestlings being attended by adults in Ithaca, New York. There is also a trio of live nest cams in western Montana provided by the Owl Research Institute in association with Explore.org, including an incubating Great Gray Owl, young Great Horned Owls that are about to leave the nest, and an incubating Osprey.

Each of the nest sites has its own pair of adults, eggs or nestlings, and a story that began earlier this spring, which is provided for each nest site. In the case of the 3 Cornell live cams, you can also view video clips of recent highlights recorded at each nest site. It’s always interesting and fun to look in on what’s going on at each nest location.

Wait! Did we forget to include the Peregrine Falcon eyrie cam? Yes, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is also providing a live camera feed from inside an artificial nesting eyrie on a skyscraper in St. Paul, Minnesota. The female is presently incubating 4 eggs that should begin hatching any minute now, and there is an interesting story behind that uptown falcon nest site too.

Direct links to each of the live cams are provided below, and we hope you enjoy the show!

Great Gray Owl Nest – live owl camera from Montana | Explore.org

Great Horned Owl Cam – live owl camera from Montana | Explore.org

Osprey Nest Camera – live from Charlo Montana | Explore.org

Barred Owls | Cornell Lab Bird Cams (allaboutbirds.org)

Red-tailed Hawks | Cornell Lab Bird Cams (allaboutbirds.org)

Great Horned Owls | Cornell Lab Bird Cams (allaboutbirds.org)

DNR FalconCam | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)