The Kettle Straits Area Audubon Society Newsletter

April 2020, Vol. 22 No 4 The Kettle Straits Area Audubon Society Newsletter

SAAS meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month September through May at the Cheboygan Area Public Library, 100 S. Bailey Street. Refreshments will be served and you may participate in the raffle draw- ings. The scheduling of a meeting or program in the library does not in any way constitute an endorsement by the library of the group, its activities, or of the ideas and opinions expressed during the course of meetings or programs.

Straits Area Audubon Society c/o Rose Rynerson 10490 East US 23 Cheboygan, Michigan 49721

Mission Statement: The mission of the Straits Area Audubon Society is to educate the community, including its children, about conservation and enjoyment of the natural world, with emphasis on the local natural communities of wildlife. This will be accomplished through regular seasonal meetings and by sponsoring field trips and classroom and field studies. Join Straits Area Audubon Society

NAME: ______PHONE: ______ADDRESS: ______STATE/ZIP CODE: ______E-MAIL: ______NEWSLETTER BY: Email: ___ or US Mail: ___ Make checks payable to: Mail Checks to: Straits Area Audubon Society Rose Rynerson, Treasurer Single Membership: $12 10490 East US 23 Family Membership: $15 Cheboygan, MI 49721

Straits Area Audubon Society www.straitsareaaudubon.com 1 April 2020, Vol. 22 No 4

The format of this April Kettle is out of the ordinary, however, these are out of ordinary times. There are no field trips planned or trip reports to be shared or upcoming meetings. Fortunately, we are birders and there is much to see and do in our beautiful northern Michigan.

Steve Baker shares a few of his late winter - early spring photographs. 1) Snow Buntings 2) Snowy Owl 3) Snowy 4) immature Golden Eagle

Straits Area Audubon Society www.straitsareaaudubon.com 2 April 2020, Vol. 22 No 4

Looking Back in Time …. Jack Kirby, a past editor of The Kettle, has provided excerpts of the May 1987 issue for your reading enjoyment.

Article: REFLECTIONS ON WHITEFISH POINT

Whitefish Point has always been a special place for me. Extending out into the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, it represents much of what I love about northern Michigan. Whitefish Point brings thoughts of the beauty and power of Lake Superior, of miles of rugged shoreline and forests, of lighthouses, shipwrecks and wildlife, especially birds.

Whitefish Point is a great place to witness the spring bird migration. Over the years more than 270 species have been recorded there, and the Point has now gained national reputation for its spectacular spring migra- tions of hawks, owls and loons. Each spring more people than ever visit Whitefish Point to observe the migration. The timing and pattern of migration varies from year to year, depending upon weather. Local conditions often change so rapidly that the Point appears to have its own weather system. A spring day can mean 50 mile-an-hour, wind-driven snow, or maybe instead cold dense fog. Such variability can cause con- siderable problems for those of us who plan trips weeks or months in advance, as well as for the migrating birds. New bird arrivals may linger for hours or even days, waiting for the right conditions to attempt the 20 mile crossing into Canada. Some appear to never find the courage, and instead follow the shoreline south around Whitefish Bay to enter Canada near Sault Ste. Marie.

My memories of Whitefish Point are mostly fond ones, and they often relate to weather. I especially recall an episode when Laurie and I camped at a nearby State Forest campground. During the night there was a spring blizzard and the next morning we had to dig a path from the campsite to the road in order to get our 4 -wheel drive Jeep out of the campground. Such episodes seem to gain fondness in retrospect.

But not all memories relate to inclement weather. Many days and nights during my banding sessions the conditions were fair and even sometimes quite good. While banding at these times, during the many nightly net checks, I would stop to stare at the northern lights, the stars, or the ever-present lighthouse beacon as it streaked through the tops of nearby jack pines.

And what do I remember best about my first birding trip to Whitefish Point? The answer is easy. I remember finding what I thought was the largest and most fragrant patch of trailing arbutus this side of Heaven! Jeff Dykehouse

Field Observations: EARLY SPRING 1987

The titmice are coming! Since our April meeting, three area feeders have been visited by tufted titmice. The species has been slowly expanding its range north over the last decade, but this practically marks an inva- sion. Lucky birders who saw the titmice include Nancy Waldron and Joan Grant of Burt Lake (SW side). Keep your ears poised for the loud "peter-peter-peter" call when you are out birding or mushrooming this spring.

Our osprey platform on the Indian River Spreads is still awaiting tenants. Because of the late date, it is very unlikely that the platform will yet be occupied this year, unless a local pair of ospreys or eagles decide to use it for a re-nesting attempt. Steve Baker

Straits Area Audubon Society www.straitsareaaudubon.com 3 April 2020, Vol. 22 No 4

SPRING BIRDING AT TAWAS POINT - 1987

The Saginaw Bay Area is well-known as one of Michigan’s birding hotspots, and Tawas Point State Park is the jewel of the Bay shoreline. Points of land frequently serve as havens for birds in migration, and the diver- sity of habitats at Tawas makes it a particularly attractive stopover. A weekend visit in late May is likely to yield a good variety of shorebirds and warblers. The Park is located just outside the town of East Tawas in Iosco County, along US-23 approximately 150 miles southeast of Cheboygan.

Open grassy meadows just outside the Park campground provide ideal habitat for birds such as bobolinks. Nearby, along the road to the day-use area, stands the "warbler tree", a large pine that often hosts an assort- ment of warbler species. In 3985, a year of notoriously poor warbler migration, we spotted black-throated green, chestnut-sided, bay-breasted, magnolia, yellow and yellow-rumped warblers in that tree alone.

From the day-use parking area paths thread through scrubby vegetation frequented by eastern kingbirds, brown thrashers and song sparrows, and alongside ponds where mallards and blue-winged teal shepherd their young among the reeds. There belted kingfishers can be seen fishing, while Caspian, Common and Black terns wheel overhead. On one side of the point the land stands high enough above the water to allow bank swallows to nest, and tree and barn swallows join them in flight. Offshore spits are usually covered with gulls and terns, and mergansers patrol the Bay waters.

Near the Point's tip a boardwalk leads over the sand to a wooden platform with benches overlooking the Lake Huron shoreline. Patient waiting there has rewarded us with sightings of dunlins, ruddy turnstones, semipalmated sandpipers, sanderlings, spotted sandpipers, killdeer, semipalmated plovers and an occasional red knot. Some local birders swear that whimbrels are guaranteed at Tawas in late May, but our experience has not borne this out.

Additional species found at Tawas in the spring include chimney swifts, warbling vireos, white-crowned and chipping sparrows, red-headed woodpeckers and many other species. But birds aside, the natural beauty of this lakeside park on a gold-and-green spring day invites a long walk in the sunshine. Even when birds were scarce, our visit there was never a disappointment. Chris and Mike Grant

and Looking Way Back in Time ….

This article (from March, 1893) is from the Looking Back section of the St. Ignace News. The sparrows re- ferred to are the English sparrows. Folks did not like them because they ate grain intended for farm animals. Glen Matthews

Straits Area Audubon Society www.straitsareaaudubon.com 4 April 2020, Vol. 22 No 4

MSRW Spring 2020 Update Submitted by: Kathy Bricker Dear Hawk and Nature Enthusiasts, American robins have returned north in droves, joining common grackles, red-winged blackbirds and many other migrants. These signs of spring bring joy at a time of concern about corona virus 19. Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch, of course, changed our plans to expand research and education this spring. Along with the popular Mackinaw Raptor Fest, we also canceled two owl banders, the new Mackinac Island hawk counter and the raptor naturalist. We paid each person part of their fee to compensate for the last minute notice. Fortunately, Kevin Georg (from Johnstown, Pennsylvania) had already settled in to counting hawks by March 5th. He has recorded more than 111 golden eagles, along with 256 red-tailed hawks (our signature species). Kevin will continue the hawk research until June 5th. Many guests have already come and are still welcome at the hawk watch in Mackinaw City. For the coming weeks MSRW urges you to stay six feet from others, as experts will call out what birds are overhead. Hotels and restaurants are closed, so please plan accordingly. Former MSRW owl researcher, Nick Alioto (from Sunderland, Ontario) moved to Cheboygan in February. He will be trapping and banding hawks full time. Banding reveals valuable information, such as age, sex, and (when birds are recovered) where they come from. If you do not come to see the kettles or banded hawks in person, you still can enjoy the MSRW Migration Blog and Data at www.mackinacraptorwatch.org/blog/, while watching the return of migrants at your home feeders and parks. Please be careful, especially if you are in a high risk health category for COVID-19.

We look forward to seeing you when this threat passes and we all can travel and bird together again.

STRAITS AREA AUDUBON SOCIETY GENERAL MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 11, 2020

Attendees: 24 (including 11 guests) Respectfully submitted by: Cyndi Kress

Herm Boatin opened the meeting. Program: Backpacking in Denali National Park

Speaker Rick Barber introduced himself by giving his professional background and describing his backpacking passion.

Introduction: History of Alaska, which included designation of border “states” for the various tribes of native people. Program included a slide presentation of Alaska’s native plants and animals.

Dale Giddings led the nature sightings. Kevin Georg gave a brief report on the raptor watch.

Kathy Bricker spoke about the upcoming Raptor Fest, noting that further information is available at macki- nawraptorfest.org

Raffle: Cyndi Kress won the eight donated passes to the Mackinaw Art Museum/Millcreek Discovery Park/ Mackinaw Point Lighthouse/Colonial Michilimackinaw with Pete Chimner winning the Loon Call.

Note: For those who missed the March meeting, check out Rick’s Denali backpacking video: Sunrise Cable Network: https://vimeo.com/397796590

Straits Area Audubon Society www.straitsareaaudubon.com 5 April 2020, Vol. 22 No 4

RAPTOR WATCH NUMBERS - 04/01/20

Turkey vulture -71 Bald Eagle -54 Sharp-shinned - 19 Red-shouldered - 26 Red-tailed - 544 Rough-legged - 33 Golden Eagle - 15 Northern Harrier - 1 Cooper’s Hawk - 2

4/1/20 Total = 765 Spring 2020 Total = 2036 (146.75 hrs)

An Escape

Let's head for the UP! Jean and I headed across the bridge in search of birds or whatever could be seen and allow us to get outside and away from coronavirus worries for a bit. We would take the hand sanitizer along and avoid other humans. We packed a lunch and filled water bottles and were off!

The newly acquired window commuter pass worked fine at the bridge and few cars were in line to explore the great, still pretty white north. We settled into the right lane of I-75 with a leisurely 65 mph despite the 75 mph limit. What's the hurry? We were passed by just one car all the way to the Rudyard exit. Pretty slow in the UP! Getting off we headed west for a common route in search of snowy owls.

Driving slowly, ever so slowly, with eyes on every post, roof-top and lump on the snowy ground. Nothing. Nada. Skunked so far. Moving south along Centerline Road was discouraging so far, but better than being cooped up at home. We traveled the mile or so nearly to the crossing of M-48. We would turn left at M-48, travel a bit and then turn left on Hanze road – the “usual” route in search of snowies. BUT WAIT! Is that a car on the shoulder ahead across M-48? Could that be another birder who has sighted something? Let's check it out!

After about a quarter mile, we approached the white subaru along the side of the road. A man sat in the rear of the vehicle holding something on his lap wrapped in a towel. Two others were helping him with something – what is going on here??? We turned around and parked be- hind another vehicle, owned by a curious and helpful neigh- bor, along south Centerline Road.

As we approached the car we realized that the fellow in the back of the car was a familiar face. He was wearing a Raptor Watch hat! He had presented at our SAAS meetings. He was an owl bander of some experience. He had lots of black hair and a wild black beard – it was Nick Alioto! Helped by two other dedicated birders, Shannon Dolan and Lisa Tollenaar, he was banding the carefully restrained snowy owl on his lap.

So an escape turned into a most rewarding day. Caring people were assisting one of our favorite creatures. We were smiling and, for a bit, forgetting about the stress of eve- ryday life. We needed that. Submitted by: Al and Jean Moberly

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An interesting website to check out: Nature Discovery's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Nature -Discovery-327017934273/ Note: You will need to log into your Facebook account to view this site.

Straits Area Audubon Society www.straitsareaaudubon.com 6 April 2020, Vol. 22 No 4

STRAITS AREA AUDUBON SOCIETY 2019 - 2020 OFFICERS President: Herm Boatin 313-580-5439 NATURE LINKS [email protected] Straits Area Audubon Facebook Page V.President: Dale Giddings 231-525-8874 www.facebook.com/straitsareaaudubonsociety Treasurer: Rose Rynerson 231-597-9788 MAS (Michigan Audubon Society) [email protected] www.michiganaudubon.org Secretary: Eileen Martini 231-445-1411 Mackinaw Straits Raptor Watch [email protected] www.MackinacRaptorWatch.org Past President: Jean Moberly Hawk Migration Assoc. of North America 231-268-9726 [email protected] www.hmana.org Exe.Com. At Large: Cyndi Kress Whitefish Point Bird Observatory 231-238-4079 [email protected] www.wpbo.org MAS Rep: Karen Busch 231-818-2901 MNA (Michigan Nature Association) [email protected] www.michigannature.org The Nature Conservancy http://nature.org/greatlakes ONLINE EXTRAS Little Traverse Conservancy www.landtrust.org If you take a bird / nature picture and think it might be of interest to our members, send it to [email protected]. THE KETTLE EDITOR All input for The Kettle should be submitted to the Editor’s email box : [email protected] five days PRIOR to the 1st day of the month.

Williams Office Equipment, 312 W. Elm Street, Cheboygan, MI 49721 Please consider this service for your computer, copier, printer and fax needs.

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