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As finch season approaches, small birds such as these Pine Siskins and American Goldfinches will prefer shelled sunflower seeds over other foods.

When we look back on when we started feeding birds, like many birders we bought a plastic bag of mixed seeds that included a lot of millet, red milo, and cracked corn at the hardware store. But that was before the true advent of feeding wild birds. Today, birders in the know ignore these seed mixes and, realistically, buying bird food today is much easier. We know that by simply providing black oil sunflower seeds we will attract 95 percent of the seed-eating birds we all prefer to see in our yard, and by providing fresh water we will potentially attract and benefit all birds.

Black oil sunflower seeds provide the best quality of food for wild birds because they are small enough for even goldfinches, chickadees, siskins, and nuthatches to eat, but larger birds like cardinals, woodpeckers, and jays relish them – and these seeds provide highest level of food value of any seeds.

Today, we take providing sunflower seeds a step farther by providing shelled sunflower kernels, which eliminates the mess of empty shells that are spread around the ground and pile up below feeders. It also eliminates the toil of raking, shoveling, and bagging sunflower shells that accumulate around your feeding station. And let’s be honest, there are shells discarded here and there around your yard and neighboring yards too. The shells create a mess – so don’t buy them. Read more

Oct. 7, 2025
Contact: Jeff Vasher, 989-745-2942

A half-inch of rain overnight helped firefighters make headway on the Benzie Road Fire near Houghton Lake, which is now about 95% contained.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources fire crews were using a drone with thermal imaging capabilities Tuesday morning to look for hot spots on the 101-acre fire site, which included a marshy area of mixed pine and hardwood forest.

“It has been a good effort with some tough conditions Sunday and Monday,” said Jeff Vasher, resources protection manager for the DNR. Dry conditions, unseasonable heat and gusty winds all were challenges.

The fire was reported early Sunday afternoon east of Old U.S. Highway 27, near the Clare-Roscommon county line. Resources battling the fire included DNR firefighters, local fire departments, bulldozers, fire engines and drone aircraft support.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The rain is not enough to mitigate dry conditions in much of the state, so please check online for a burn permit or call 866-922-2876 before burning yard debris. Get more fire safety tips at Michigan.gov/FireManagement.

Oct. 6, 2025
Contact: Jeff Vasher, 989-745-2942

With fire danger extremely high across much of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula today, firefighters are working near Houghton Lake in Roscommon County to contain a wildfire burning since Sunday afternoon, Oct. 5, near the Roscommon State Forest Area.

The fire was reported early Sunday afternoon east of Old U.S. Highway 27, near the Clare–Roscommon county line. The cause remains under investigation.

The fire is estimated to be at approximately 85 acres in a marshy area of mixed pine and hardwood forest, where dry fuels and gusty winds have challenged firefighting efforts.

“Crews have been working through difficult terrain to contain the fire,” said Jeff Vasher, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lower Peninsula resource protection manager. “High winds have made suppression challenging, but firefighters are holding the lines and continuing to reinforce containment.”

Resources on scene include DNR firefighters, local fire departments, bulldozers, fire engines and drone aircraft support being used for aerial mapping and situational awareness. The DNR urges the public to avoid the area while crews continue suppression operations. Read more