Monitoring Bluebird Nest Boxes

Seeking volunteers for the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center’s 2024 nest box monitoring program.  Monitoring nest boxes is a great way to learn about cavity nesting bird species and contribute to a nationwide nest monitoring program.  Total volunteer time is approximately 1-2 hours, one time during the nesting season (May-early August). 

 

Interested individuals please go to the following link or call Anita Friend at 231-724-3457.

 

Here is a link to the on-line sign-up.

 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4EA8A82EA2F5C61-48276147-mcrrc

April Events

 April 16 Kirtland's Warbler Program

    The Kirtland’s Warbler, which breeds almost exclusively in Michigan and winters almost exclusively in the Bahamas, was delisted in 2019 after being listed as federally endangered since 1972.  Intensive habitat work on its breeding grounds, including jack-pine management and control of a nest parasite, the Brown-headed Cowbird, has led to recovery from as few as approximately 170 pairs to approximately 2,000 pairs.  Research and capacity building on the Bahamian wintering grounds have focused conservation efforts on the island nation.  Tonight's presentation will focus on the natural history of the Kirtland’s Warbler, actions taken for this remarkable recovery, and future work that will be needed to ensure the species does not become endangered again.

    Dave Ewert is a Conservation Specialist for the American Bird Conservancy.  He primarily works on conservation of the Kirtland’s Warbler, especially in the Bahamas.  He also has focused on protection of stopover sites for migratory birds in the Great Lakes region, and Great Lakes coastline and island protection.  Previously Dave led Science Programs of the Michigan and Iowa Chapters of The Nature Conservancy where he worked on fire management, invasive species, forest management and other topics.  He also served as a scientist for the Great Lakes region.  

    Dr. Ewert was an Assistant Professor at Central Michigan University prior to working with The Nature Conservancy.  He received his B.S. from the University of Michigan, and M.S. and Ph.D. from the City University of New York.  He has conducted research widely throughout the West Indies and Central and South America.

    Social time begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Loutit Library, 407 Columbus Avenue, Grand Haven.  The program runs from 6:30-8:00.  We hope you can join us!

April 20 Howard Christensen Field Trip

    The Howard Christensen Nature Center, 16190 Red Pine Drive, is several miles east of Muskegon in Kent County (northeast of Kent City; north of Sparta).  If you take Apple Avenue (M-46) to Casnovia, continue east on 18 Mile Road about five miles, then turn left (north) onto Red Pine Drive and drive not-quite-two miles up to the nature center entrance on your right.

    We will meet Greg Swanson. (a member of our club and a longtime nature interpreter at the nature center) at the Welcome Center at 9:00 a.m.  He will lead us through various habitats on some of the many miles of easy-walking, groomed trails on the property.  This trip will end around noon.

    Dress for the weather, which we hope will be pleasant.  We hope to see many birds of many species on this Saturday morning walk.  We hope to see you too!

Problem Receiving Newsletters

Due to a recent change in the way email programs on the internet determine what’s spam, some of our nature club members did not receive the March MCNC newsletter in their Inboxes.  Instead it went directly to their Spam folders.

Please check your Spam folder for the March newsletter.  If you find it there, be sure to label it as “Not Spam”.   Also if you don’t receive the April newsletter by the end of the second week of April, please let Ric know.  Thanks!

Wickstrom Project Update

   At our March 13 meeting Ric Pedler and Beth Miller explained the revised plan for using the $10,000 bequeathed to our club by the late George Wickstrom.  The original plan included a bridge over the ditch west of the Wickstrom area which would have violated wording in an emergency plan for the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center (MCRRC, formerly the Muskegon Wastewater System).  Anita Friend of the MCRRC walked Beth and Ric around the Wickstrom acreage on Feb. 12, 2024.

    This land is east and northeast of the MCRRC headquarters.  It extends north to White Road and east to the Muskegon Michigan Area Rocket (MMAR) property, is relatively level, and includes grassland and a woodlot.  Access will be from the MCRRC headquarters parking lot.  

    The George Wickstrom Trail will connect with the existing John Helstrom Trail.  Creating the trail itself (including a safety barrier around the south end of the ditch) and placing signage (a large sign at the trailhead about George Wickstrom and a few "George Wickstrom Trail" signs along the way) will be provided by the MCRRC and paid for by the bequeathment.  If there are remaining funds, they will be used toward construction of a Chimney Swift tower on the property (the balance of which would probably be provided by our club, but would need another membership vote).

    

    After discussion this revised plan was approved.  Later in the day, Beth contacted Anita.  Hopefully construction will proceed soon.  We will have more details, of course, at our May 16 Potluck Picnic Meeting.

March Events

March 13

Winter Meeting

Norton Library 11:00 a.m.

    A key item of business will be our project at the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center dedicated to George Wickstrom.  The latest details regarding access to the area, connection to existing trails, signage, etc. will be presented, discussed, and voted upon.  We'll post details afterward on this page.

    The Norton Branch of the Muskegon Area District Library is at 705 Seminole Road in Norton Shores.  The meeting will begin Wednesday morning, March 13, at 11:00 and last about an hour.  We hope to see you there.

March 16

Black Lake Park

Field Trip

    Meet at 9:00 Saturday morning in the Black Lake Park parking lot on the west side of Wood Road 3/4 of a mile south of Pontaluna Road.  

    We will bird that area first before beginnihg a casual walk around the park.  With this winter/spring season as crazy as it's been, who knows what birds we might see!  

    The trip will end around noon.  Hope you can make it.

March 19 Program

Education and Restoration at O.D.C.

Jamie Krupka and Tanner Bricker

    Jamie Krupka and Tanner Bricker will present this program about the Outdoor Discovery Center’s outdoor education and ecological restoration efforts over the last few years.  The Outdoor Discovery Center Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing outdoor education and conservation in West Michigan.

    The Outdoor Discovery Center began in 1999 through a partnership between Wildlife Unlimited of Allegan and Ottawa Counties, Inc. and the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD).  In the past 20+ years, the ODC Network has transformed from a small nature preserve into a multi- faceted organization that preserves and manages over 2,000 acres of natural area, operates three nature-based preschools, includes an explorer network that features guided trips across the globe, and does much more.

    In this presentation you will learn more about ODC's outdoor education and ecological restoration impacts in recent years.  Jamie will highlight outdoor education efforts for the first half of the program, and Tanner will explore some of ODC Conservation Services grassland/meadow restoration projects throughout the community during the second half.

    Jamie Krupka is the Chief of Interpretation for the ODC Network.  He holds a BS in Environmental Biology from the University of Dayton.  In 2003, he joined the ODC as its first naturalist and has seen the organization grow from a small non-profit to a thriving regional entity.  His job today includes sharing the outward message of the organization through trained naturalist staff, engaging educational signage and high-quality customer service.  Jamie is a birder who is always watching and listening to the world around him.  He enjoys taking pictures of animals, flowers and landscapes and traveling with his wife and kids.

    Tanner Bricker is the Conservation Services Director for the ODC Network.  He studied Natural Resources at Central Michigan University.  Tanner first joined the ODC conservation team in 2017 as an Invasive Species Technician.  His role today involves managing the ODC Conservation Services business line which specializes in natural area management, ecological restoration, and invasive species management.  Tanner is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, kayaking, and golfing in his free time.

Social time begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Loutit Library, 407 Columbus Avenue, Grand Haven.  The program runs from 6:30-8:00.  We hope you can join us!

February 17 Field Trip Report

      Eight of us met at 9:00 near the south breakwall of Pere Marquette Park.   Although dressed better for the windy, winter conditions than the two surfers in the water (no joke), we decided not to stay on the beach looking for birds.  Instead we drove to the trail north of Beachwood Park and looked for birds in the woods out of the wind. We saw few but enjoyed the walk.

     Then we drove to the nearby yard of two of our participants and saw several species including several Red-headed Woodpeckers!  That was a new species for 2024 for most of us and sent us home happy.

February Events

February 17 Field Trip

Pere Marquette Park & Muskegon Channel

      The trip will begin at 9:00 on Saturday morning, February 17.  Park your car south of The Deck restaurant.  We will begin birding that area, the beach, and the south breakwater as far as conditions allow.  Later we will drive around the Oval to various locations such as the west end of Muskegon Lake, Muskegon Channel, Margaret Drake Elliott Park, and the Coast Guard properties. 

      Remembering that it's usually colder and windier at Lake Michigan than at your house, dress for the weather.  We will quit around noon.  Hope to see you there!

February 20 Program

Birding in Sweden

Eric Gustafson

      Eric Gustafson will be presenting "Migration at Falsterbo".  

      The Scandinavian Peninsula is a vast region rich in birdlife.  Every autumn, millions of breeding birds empty out of the northern forests and head for wintering climes.  Located at the very tip of this landmass, Falsterbo acts like a very narrow delivery end of an enormous funnel.  Consequently, it has long been regarded as one of Europe’s premier birding sites.  

      Migration is already well underway in July, beginning with species on long-distance journeys to the equator or beyond, and continuing practically unabated through November.  This is a late September sampling of those migrating birds. 

      Eric Gustafson is a Holland Family Physician who stumbled into birding nine years ago.  Now he enjoys birding around home, across the United States, and abroad -- seeking and sharing new lifer birds and bird experiences. 

Social time begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Loutit Library, 407 Columbus Avenue, Grand Haven.  The program runs from 6:30-8:00.  We hope you can join us!

Wastewater CBC Report

The 2023 Muskegon Wastewater Christmas Bird Count, one of over 70 such CBC's across Michigan, was completed on Wednesday, December 20. Established in 1999, and registered with the National Audubon Society as an official count in 2005, the Wastewater CBC has been held every winter since its inception. This year 12 volunteers, split among 6 groups, maintained coverage from 8:00 until the last party finished at 16:35. Observers accrued 220 miles by car and 11.2 miles on foot. The participants were Charlie DeWitt and Eli Rotman; Terry Grabill, Andrea Grabill, Brennan Shuler, and Emily Bish; Beth Miller and Jo Popma; Dayle Vanderwier; Steve Minard and Sam Greene; and Brian Johnson.

Over the history of the count, the daily mean temperature has averaged 32.7°, with actual temperatures on count days varying from 16° to 61°. In 2023, for third consecutive winter, temperatures were mild, rising from 32° to 40° during the count period. Aside from an aberrant winter storm on Halloween, weather prior to count day also had been unusually pleasant, likely emanating from both increasing annual temperatures and a developing El Niño over the Pacific. The last 18 days before the CBC were warmer than normal, and on count day only 1 inch of snow covered shady areas. Water, including the Wastewater lagoons and the Lanes Landing marshes, was generally free of ice. Moreover, conditions on count day were great for birding. Although near overcast skies persisted, precipitation was absent, and winds were unusually light (4-7 mph from the SE).

These conditions offered an enjoyable day afield, and we accrued 8748 birds of 66 species. The species total far exceeds our previous average of 54.3 and is bested only by 67 species from 2012. The unusually extensive  areas of open water resulted in 22 species of waterbirds (average 13.5). Furthermore, summer and fall carry-overs (e.g. Yellow-rumped Warbler) numbered 13, which matches our previous high.

Of the 66 species found on count day, 50 surpassed their long-term averages. Only Wild Turkey and Black Duck were scarce, and misses this year were insignificant: mentionable ones being Snowy Owl, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, and Song Sparrow - all historically irregular. Conversely, six species set new high records: Common Goldeneye (6), Iceland Gull (2), Northern Harrier (8), Northern Flicker (19), American Kestrel (22), and Eastern Bluebird (52).

Other outstanding counts or species included: Snow Goose (1), Tundra Swan (10), Northern Pintail (7), Ring-necked Duck (26), Hooded Merganser (28), Ruddy Duck (280), Screech-Owl (1), Short-eared Owl (1), Winter Wren (1), White-throated Sparrow (2), and Yellow-rumped Warbler (2). A Common Grackle at the State Game Area provided our first record since 2002. However, no new species were found this year, so our cumulative total remains 116.

I have attached a spreadsheet that details the results each zone in 2023.*

Many thanks to all who helped with the count, this year and in the past. I hope to see you next year.

Brian Johnson

* Anyone wanting a copy of the spreadsheet may contact Ric or Brian.

January Events

Jan 16 Program

CANCELED DUE TO BAD WEATHER!

    

January 20 Field Trip

Resource Recovery Properties

    
    Meet at 9:00 on Saturday morning, January 20, 2024, at the outer entrance to the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center, 698 N. Maple Island Road.  This is a mostly-by-car trip around the "Wastewater properties" stopping to find birds along the way (dress for the weather).  Having a walkie-talkie tuned to Channel 11, Subchannel 0 can be helpful, but is not necessary.
    We will quit around noon.  This trip is open to the public;  We hope to see you there!   

November 18 Field Trip Report

     Nine people birded two locations this Saturday morning.  They enjoyed walks around the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve and the trail from Snug Harbor to Lost Lake at Muskegon State Park.

    Few bird showed themselves due in part to the time of year and nearby duck hunters.  All told twelve species were identified: American Tree Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Ring-billed Gull, Red-tailed Hawk (harassed by Blue Jay), American Crow, Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Mallard, American Robin and Dark-eyed Junco.