tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24302397036604723922024-03-24T11:35:05.876-04:00 The Muskegon County Nature ClubMuskegon's Chapter of the Michigan Audubon SocietyM.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-3252949022952088502024-03-20T19:13:00.003-04:002024-03-20T19:14:28.810-04:00Problem Receiving Newsletters<p><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>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.</b></span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">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!</span></b></span></div>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-56034987893094135682024-03-15T08:19:00.000-04:002024-03-15T08:19:28.901-04:00Wickstrom Project Update<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"> At our March 13 meeting </span><span style="font-size: small; outline-color: currentcolor !important;">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.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; outline-color: currentcolor !important;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; outline-color: currentcolor !important;"><span class="ydp25b40fffApple-tab-span" style="outline-color: currentcolor !important;"></span>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. </span></p><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 16px; outline-color: currentcolor !important;"><p style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline-color: currentcolor !important;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="outline-color: currentcolor !important;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; outline-color: currentcolor !important;"><span class="ydp25b40fffApple-tab-span" style="outline-color: currentcolor !important;"></span>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).</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="outline-color: currentcolor !important;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: small; outline-color: currentcolor !important;"><span class="ydp25b40fffApple-tab-span" style="outline-color: currentcolor !important;"></span><span> </span>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.</span></span></div></div>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-20113051285210340442024-03-06T09:03:00.001-05:002024-03-06T09:05:08.956-05:00March Events<p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">March 13</span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Winter Meeting</span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Norton Library 11:00 a.m.</span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span></span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span></b><span> </span>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.</span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span><span> </span>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.</span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">March 16</span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Black Lake Park</span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Field Trip</span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span></span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span></b><span> </span>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. </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span><span> </span>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! </span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> </span>The trip will end around noon. Hope you can make it.</span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">March 19 Program</span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Education and Restoration at O.D.C.</span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jamie Krupka and Tanner Bricker</span></b></p><p style="color: #161a1e; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span></span></b></p><p style="color: #353535; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span><span> </span>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.</span></p><p style="color: #353535; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span><span> </span>The Outdoor Discovery Center began in 1999 through a partnership between <i>Wildlife Unlimited</i> 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.</span></p><p style="color: #353535; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span><span> </span>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.</span></p><p style="color: #353535; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span><span> </span>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.</span></p><p style="color: #353535; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span><span> </span>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.</span></p><p style="color: #353535; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span></span></p><p style="color: #353535; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="ydp22b1e166Apple-tab-span"></span><i>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!</i></span></p><p style="color: #353535; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /><i></i></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-66685805887071674362024-02-18T20:40:00.001-05:002024-02-18T20:42:17.022-05:00February 17 Field Trip Report<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">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.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 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.</span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-45118315060965103272024-02-06T16:38:00.004-05:002024-02-08T08:32:26.694-05:00February Events<p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span dir="ltr">February 17 Field Trip</span></span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Pere Marquette Park & Muskegon Channel</b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></b> The trip will begin <span dir="ltr">at 9:00 on Saturday morning</span>, 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. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> Remembering that it's usually colder and windier at Lake Michigan than at your house, dress for the weather. We will quit <span dir="ltr">around noon</span>. Hope to see you there!</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span dir="ltr">February 20</span> Program</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Birding in Sweden</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eric Gustafson</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"> Eric Gustafson will be presenting "Migration at Falsterbo". </span></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span> 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. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> 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. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> 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. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Social time <span dir="ltr">begins at 6:00 p.m.</span> at the Loutit Library, <span dir="ltr">407 Columbus Avenue, Grand Haven</span>. The program runs <span dir="ltr">from 6:30-8:00</span>. We hope you can join us!</b></span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-34269493329147663022024-01-25T19:44:00.000-05:002024-01-25T19:44:27.989-05:00Wastewater CBC Report<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">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</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">from 8:00</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">until the last party finished</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">at 16:35</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. 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.</span></p><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">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).<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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).<br /><br /><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have attached a spreadsheet that details the results each zone in 2023.*<br /></div><br />Many thanks to all who helped with the count, this year and in the past. I hope to see you next year.<br /><br />Brian Johnson</div><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">* Anyone wanting a copy of the spreadsheet may contact Ric or Brian.</div><attachment _mf_downloadablestatus="Tap to Download" _mf_downloadingstatus="Downloading" _mf_show_save="1" _mf_state="1" id="11020bb1-0198-622e-6ff9-b72ad6859f72@yahoo.com" save="save" src="11020bb1-0198-622e-6ff9-b72ad6859f72@yahoo.com" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px; margin: 1px;" subtitle="14 KB" title="MW CBC 2023.xls" type="com.microsoft.excel.xls" webkitattachmentid="784d7d42-f924-446b-9ff6-5236168f8599"></attachment>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-75170546041060785342024-01-04T11:28:00.003-05:002024-01-16T12:03:46.260-05:00January Events<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: currentcolor; text-align: center;"><b style="outline: currentcolor;">Jan 16 Program</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: currentcolor; text-align: center;"><b style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="font-size: large; outline: currentcolor;">CANCELED DUE TO BAD WEATHER!</span></b></div><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><div><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: currentcolor;" /><div data-setdir="true" dir="" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: currentcolor; text-align: center;"><b style="outline: currentcolor;">January 20 Field Trip</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: currentcolor; text-align: center;"><b style="outline: currentcolor;"><span style="font-size: large; outline: currentcolor;">Resource Recovery Properties</span></b></div><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: currentcolor;" /><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> 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.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: currentcolor;" /><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> We will quit around noon. This trip is open to the public; We hope to see you there! </span></div>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-52139749777111668402023-11-19T18:27:00.000-05:002023-11-19T18:27:07.176-05:00November 18 Field Trip Report<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <span> Nine people birded two locations this Saturday morning. They enjoyed walks around the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve and the trail from </span>Snug Harbor to Lost Lake at Muskegon State Park.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> 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 </span>Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Mallard, American Robin and Dark-eyed Junco.</span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-37929096057758201722023-11-06T13:24:00.002-05:002023-11-06T13:28:27.511-05:00November Events<p class="ydp7c44e3bfp10" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="lucida console, sans-serif"><b>November 18 Field Trip</b></span></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp10" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b>Snug Harbor (Muskegon State Park)</b></span></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp11" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="lucida console, sans-serif"><b>Ken Sherburn, Leader</b></span></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp11" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span face=""lucida console", sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"> We will meet </span><span dir="ltr" face=""lucida console", sans-serif">at 9:00 on Saturday morning</span><span face=""lucida console", sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">, November 18, in the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve parking lot.</span><span class="ydp7c44e3bfApple-converted-space" face=""lucida console", sans-serif"> </span><span face=""lucida console", sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">For an hour or so we will walk around the preserve looking for whatever bird species we can find.</span></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp8" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span class="ydp7c44e3bfApple-tab-span"></span> Later we will drive out to the Snug Harbor parking lot at Muskegon State Park to bird that area until about noon.<span class="ydp7c44e3bfApple-converted-space"> </span>Hope to see you there!</span></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp9" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp9" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #161a1e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span dir="ltr">November 21</span> Program</span></b></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp10" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;">1-Year Quest to Photograph America's Owl</span><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">s</span></b></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp11" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Mike Overway</span></b></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp12" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp13" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span class="ydp7c44e3bfApple-tab-span"></span> Shortly before the pandemic, Mike Overway of the Holland Audubon Society had the brilliant idea of a collaboration of planned vacations, mission trips, and bird outings that would cleverly allow for the possibility to see and photograph all nineteen of North America's resident owls in one calendar year. Join us to see how the best laid plans and some dubious but splendiferous luck worked out as he bounced all over the United States.<span class="ydp7c44e3bfApple-converted-space"> </span>Hear about the friends who helped, the fascinating people encountered, the wonderful birds and mammals seen, and how this potentially ill-timed effort unfolded.</span></p><p class="ydp7c44e3bfp13" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span class="ydp7c44e3bfApple-tab-span"></span> Mike and Amy Overway are lifelong Holland residents and have three adult children. They enjoy traveling, camping, outdoor activities, and mission trips, and are heavily involved at church. Mike has been a "birder" for over 20 years, a carpenter for over 25 years, and a lover of nature for as long as he can remember. Recently, he has realized that he may be more of a "natural treasure hunter" than anything else as he and Amy have spent time looking for the next new fish while snorkeling, the next new peak, stream or cave while hiking, the next shark tooth, the next fossil, the next rock, or the next seashell, all along with the next new bird. They are certainly blessed with wondrous variety!</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span face="lucida console, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> MCNC programs are in conjunction with the Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society at the Loutit Library, <span dir="ltr">407 Columbus Ave., Grand Haven</span>.<span class="ydp7c44e3bfApple-converted-space"> </span>Social time <span dir="ltr">6:00-6:30 p.m.</span>, program <span dir="ltr">6:30-8:00</span>).</span></i></div>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-87942106661858228242023-09-17T12:07:00.005-04:002023-10-20T10:24:35.904-04:00October Events<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(22, 26, 30); color: #161a1e; font-weight: 700;">October 21 Field Trip</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b>* Canceled *</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Due to the bad weather forecast, our Clear Springs Field Trip has been <b><u>canceled!</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e;">October 17 Program</b></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Birds of Prey"</span></b></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blandford Nature Center</span></b></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our programs are in conjunction with the Owashtanog Islands Audubon Society. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Location:</b></span> Loutit District Library, 407 Columbus Ave., Grand Haven</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Date:</b></span> Tuesday, October 17, 2023</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Social Time:</b></span> 6:00-6:30</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Program Time:</b></span> 6:30-8:00</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Blandford Nature Center's live Birds of Prey program will feature some of our many feathered wildlife ambassadors that call Blandford Nature Center their home. Our birds of prey are native to Michigan and have permanent injuries, making them unable to survive in the wild. We will have several of these birds at the library and will be discussing what makes a bird a bird of prey. We will also be passing around natural artifacts. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Loutit Library has asked our officers and members to register on their website for bird programs. Please visit the Library’s calendar at <a href="https://www.loutitlibrary.org/calendar/#/events/"><span style="color: #094fd1;">https://www.loutitlibrary.org/calendar/#/events/</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span>and register. Registration is free and will help the library keep track of interest in programs presented there. In addition, by registering you will receive an email reminder of the program and notices for future Muskegon County Nature Club and Owashtanang Island Audubon Club programs. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-29769667176429547672023-09-07T08:54:00.004-04:002023-09-11T21:47:41.242-04:00September Events<p><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">September 16 Field Trip</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;">Dune Harbor County Park</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;">8:00 - Noon</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our field trip this month will be at the new Dune Harbor County Park (the old Nugent Sand Co. properties on the west side of Muskegon) on Saturday morning, September 16. Originally we posted that we’d start at 8:00 at the park entrance on Lincoln Street south of Winnetaska Road (across from Southwood Ave.). There will still be a club member there at 8:00 if that’s where you go. But we’ll actually start at the parking lot on Seminole Road along the south side of the park. We will look for birds on the path around the lake. The trip will end around noon. Hope to see you there!</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;">September 19</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;">First Meeting of the Season</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;">5:30 - 6:15 p.m.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our first of three business meetings this season will be at 5:30 p.m. on September 19 at the Loutit Library before Steve Hamburg's program. We should know more details that day about the George Wickstrom project at the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center. This will also be a good time to renew your membership dues ($20 per year). All members are invited to attend. </p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;">September 19 Program</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;">Birding in Uganda</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;">Steve Hamburg</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13.8px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial-BoldMT" style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Loutit District Library, 407 Columbus Ave. in Grand Haven.</p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Uganda in eastern Africa is a beautiful country with a diversity of habitats including forests, plains and rivers. It is situated on the edge of Lake Victoria and is where the Nile River begins its long journey north toward Egypt. Not only does the country have some of the last remaining populations of wild chimpanzees and gorillas, but it has a great variety of birdlife. In 2021, Covid restrictions made it difficult to travel, but Uganda was one country that had not yet closed its borders to tourists. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Steve was able to spend three weeks there, visiting several national parks and doing what he likes most, birding.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>S<span style="background-color: white;">teve Hamberg was born and raised in Holland, Michigan. He graduated from Calvin University with a degree in Physics, then moved to Kansas where he received his PhD in Radiation Biophysics, and after that his MD degree, both from the University of Kansas. In Miami, Florida, he did his residency in Internal Medicine with the University of Miami. He next </span><span style="background-color: white;">moved to Swaziland in southern Africa where he practiced as a missionary doctor for four years. In 1990, he moved back to Holland and joined an Internal Medicine practice until the practice was acquired by Spectrum Hospital. He continued as a physician with Spectrum, focusing mainly on care of nursing home residents until he retired in 2022. Ever since in Africa, he has enjoyed international birding as a hobby. To date, he has traveled to 90 countries and has seen over 7,500 species of birds worldwide.</span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-14227615028240151142023-08-06T13:20:00.005-04:002023-08-11T18:48:27.919-04:00August 19 Field Trip<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>NOTICE: Change of date (updated Aug. 11):</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our August field trip to the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center (Wastewater) will be on <b>August 19, the third Saturday of the month, as usual</b>. (It was previously posted as a week later.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our group will meet just inside the Maple Island Road entrance to the MCRRC at 9:00 a.m. Besides looking for shorebirds, we’ll also try for late summer grassland birds. Having a walkie-talkie tuned to Channel 11, Subchannel 0 can be helpful but is not necessary. Bring yours if you have one; the club will also have a few there for borrowing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This trip will end around noon. The public is welcome.</span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-50298122171662825762023-07-16T09:47:00.001-04:002023-07-16T09:48:15.909-04:00Muskegon Peregrines Update<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Below is a summary of recent email and</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Discord </i><span style="font-family: verdana;">(birding app) posts regarding Peregrine Falcons in downtown Muskegon. Here's a photo from Wildside Rehab of one of the juveniles that was "rescued" and is now in rehab prior to release.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGaqHVOM0KeuvvbQu46ymbY6NerlYH9AnGGY4gN7AdwsZ37X1fS_3fzU1LoGuOe5JC_Ul0Lc8zJQwOPbtZ3lxtHpxGQUHvqU4jT8g9ERy0hBZzLFEiNdjP0E9mp1Mup03IC79DbhP_oCMw_dc48BCFRN6OBJfhYtWveOFjQLu7N3qBtqzY_UBim4Almg/s1146/1689292354662blob.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1146" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGaqHVOM0KeuvvbQu46ymbY6NerlYH9AnGGY4gN7AdwsZ37X1fS_3fzU1LoGuOe5JC_Ul0Lc8zJQwOPbtZ3lxtHpxGQUHvqU4jT8g9ERy0hBZzLFEiNdjP0E9mp1Mup03IC79DbhP_oCMw_dc48BCFRN6OBJfhYtWveOFjQLu7N3qBtqzY_UBim4Almg/s320/1689292354662blob.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As some of you may recall, peregrines successfully fledged numerous youngsters for several years using the nest boxes on what used to be the tallest object in Muskegon County, the smokestack of the B.C. Cobb plant.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Those boxes were moved to the roof of the Shoreline Inn before destruction of the smokestack. Although the boxes were never used as nest sites, peregrines were sometimes seen on that roof killing pigeons and rearing young.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unlike the old Cobb Plant properties, ground level in downtown Muskegon is no place for a fledgling falcon.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Three juveniles, one last year, two this year, were recovered from the ground near the Huntington Bank Building and it's been confirmed that peregrines are using that rooftop ledge for nesting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although there's nothing definite yet, it's possible that the Shoreline Inn boxes might be moved to the Huntington Bank building with future youngsters perhaps being banded as were the Cobb Plant young. </span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-16639717600282490602023-06-25T09:32:00.005-04:002023-07-11T08:56:12.100-04:00July 8 Butterfly Field Trip<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Five people arrived at the Muskegon State Game Area headquarters for our scheduled butterfly field trip but left soon afterward due to rainy conditions.</span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-34280066307580651192023-06-04T09:51:00.006-04:002023-06-04T09:54:15.233-04:00June 3 Allegan Field Trip Report<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nine adults and four juveniles birded two sections of the Allegan State Game Area this morning. All told we found 59 bird species along the way. <i> (Photos below by Carol DeWitt.)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We began with stops along the fields and woodlots of the farm unit. Notable species included many Dickcissels; Willow, Least and Great-crested Flycatcher; Bobolink; Ring-necked Pheasant; Green Heron; Brown Thrasher; Vesper, Field and Grasshopper Sparrow; Bobolink; Eastern Meadowlark; Red-tailed Hawk; Eastern Towhee; Orchard Oriole; Cedar Waxwing and American Redstart.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3hPfSiB81DfDJlwBF4_NrecFYTc0X81LmmtPwtszBYtuNFZZqNbSzdILY5fXwvwL_QMBVbFiVB_HRzEWVZAPTGjMjrBclJB-cmivgMkjt0devUCaCf6fcLdwLy6ynSVNYaLhaGCV1vL_9jEII8vE3s2GARPc3Hau3V_WylzTXq1HDhrkEbTUk3LL/s2400/2023-06-03%208829%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3hPfSiB81DfDJlwBF4_NrecFYTc0X81LmmtPwtszBYtuNFZZqNbSzdILY5fXwvwL_QMBVbFiVB_HRzEWVZAPTGjMjrBclJB-cmivgMkjt0devUCaCf6fcLdwLy6ynSVNYaLhaGCV1vL_9jEII8vE3s2GARPc3Hau3V_WylzTXq1HDhrkEbTUk3LL/s320/2023-06-03%208829%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_YSN1qO9HI_-oYfF4iQE47Ocw2-lqzHi202F9UxI1BArxS1EOkFry2_DctQLjFllfqnTOekUrf4sYxDh-H4r398qTPT1RRFxN2LqfokeQGZ3u_sC_Uq_NMZjVh8_IWfy7jtvcEVLc-kkXOQTAhdzxq157_yvk2cUb6OZJ2y-C3WAIPvGQGH8T3R9/s2400/2023-06-03%208832%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_YSN1qO9HI_-oYfF4iQE47Ocw2-lqzHi202F9UxI1BArxS1EOkFry2_DctQLjFllfqnTOekUrf4sYxDh-H4r398qTPT1RRFxN2LqfokeQGZ3u_sC_Uq_NMZjVh8_IWfy7jtvcEVLc-kkXOQTAhdzxq157_yvk2cUb6OZJ2y-C3WAIPvGQGH8T3R9/s320/2023-06-03%208832%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then we drove a few miles east of Fennville to bird the huge tract of woods in the eastern SGA. Bird species included Eastern Wood-Pewee; Ovenbird; Hooded, Cerulean and Blue-winged Warbler; Yellow-billed Cuckoo; Veery; Scarlet Tanager; Pileated Woodpecker; Acadian and Least Flycatcher; and Yellow-throated Vireo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFho53dBHLVDEDyXumFyeTFwO6Nu6LqYYZVScqTNNdYBbHSJZR5UHvLcWHY-1y3RXvXEOQn2brUf08hwQQTKF5YcJf0VmBpZsOh1heV7L0f35rbka0lseEGc_4uZYANDxvWHle5ID4w1r2utzT2kHIdufHOyEjt_aMLK7mmqoBRnTTnj35mZ4bVdT/s3368/2023-06-03%208834%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2759" data-original-width="3368" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFho53dBHLVDEDyXumFyeTFwO6Nu6LqYYZVScqTNNdYBbHSJZR5UHvLcWHY-1y3RXvXEOQn2brUf08hwQQTKF5YcJf0VmBpZsOh1heV7L0f35rbka0lseEGc_4uZYANDxvWHle5ID4w1r2utzT2kHIdufHOyEjt_aMLK7mmqoBRnTTnj35mZ4bVdT/s320/2023-06-03%208834%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxHDT55d_5o87bVeVMcJYWLWlF7zm8kRHegn8w03MyQvGAckFKs6IF4UFTbaiSP970io3n6qrXFVPj1dG1ktnOpYZqLemUytmpe4bIWo9eqn4VUQ9fW7EO5BDRzZXGEYzQvZftf3IwGmuppAGCYHNxMjRCDQE0B6nSrMkXuuaZ2FYPKfemzyAAcQE/s2400/1%202023-06-03%208831%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxHDT55d_5o87bVeVMcJYWLWlF7zm8kRHegn8w03MyQvGAckFKs6IF4UFTbaiSP970io3n6qrXFVPj1dG1ktnOpYZqLemUytmpe4bIWo9eqn4VUQ9fW7EO5BDRzZXGEYzQvZftf3IwGmuppAGCYHNxMjRCDQE0B6nSrMkXuuaZ2FYPKfemzyAAcQE/s320/1%202023-06-03%208831%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak with food for her family.</i></span> </div></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We stopped birding around 12:30. Most of us then enjoyed a late lunch at the Crane's Pie Pantry Restaurant west of Fennville before returning home.</span> </p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-46721668553537558022023-05-28T13:36:00.003-04:002023-05-28T13:36:33.913-04:00June 3 Field Trip to Allegan County<div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" style="outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #454545; outline: currentcolor !important;">Our monthly field trip is scheduled for </span><span style="color: #454545; outline: currentcolor !important;">this Saturday, June 3.</span><span style="color: #454545; outline: currentcolor !important;"> We will bird the Allegan State Game Area in the morning and enjoy lunch at the Crane’s Pie Pantry Restaurant west of Fennville at midday.</span></span></div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" style="outline: currentcolor !important;"><div style="color: #454545; outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br clear="none" style="outline: currentcolor !important;" /></span></span></div><div style="color: #454545; outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Allow about an hour of travel time from Muskegon to the US-31 / M-89 interchange south of Holland. We we will meet at 8:30 in the parking lot of the Shell gas station a half mile east of the interchange where M-89 crosses the Blue Star Highway. From there we will drive to various places on the nearby farm properties of the Allegan State Game Area to look for whatever birds we can find. Having a walkie-talkie in your vehicle tuned to Channel 11, Subchannel 0 can be helpful, but is not necessary.</span></span></div><div style="color: #454545; outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br clear="none" style="outline: currentcolor !important;" /></span></span></div><div style="color: #454545; outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="outline: currentcolor !important;">Around noon we’ll drive to the Crane’s Orchard Pie Pantry Restaurant, 6054 124th Ave. (M-89), Fennville, MI. for lunch. Some of us may return to Muskegon with a stop at New Richmond Bridge Park </span><span style="outline: currentcolor !important;">along the north side of the Kalamazoo River </span>. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; outline: currentcolor !important;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This trip is open to the public. Hope to see you there. </span></div></div>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-87426689557072950932023-05-23T09:48:00.007-04:002023-05-23T19:08:09.725-04:00Report: Big Day Count May 20, 2023<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Six people started Saturday morning's <b>Big Day Count </b>at 5:00 by the outer gate of Lane's Landing. Our goal was to find as many bird species as possible in one day. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">At one time or another eleven people participated as the group birded the State Game Area, the Muskegon Resource Recovery (Wastewater) properties, Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve, and Muskegon State Park's Snug Harbor, Lost Lake Trail, and Muskegon Channel northside. Two people finished at 9:15 p.m. <i>(Photos by Glen Miller.)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpioqB9fDOl-9sryVyd_q9Punn8lZkqSsCfGePnCAjyiPVxDm-wBLLB4yNwFuYNzoXuCDkqxCUonRCTddAokeE3l3wOK3DTS8c-vemn0pSbHExZuHytPS1CaY4XIq1mDzC_8yElxf_RdOI_9pD2RW8S29FvGVaK2tQPTXnTVLH9A6fc3cBF08NY3d/s5474/GFM_7530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3737" data-original-width="5474" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpioqB9fDOl-9sryVyd_q9Punn8lZkqSsCfGePnCAjyiPVxDm-wBLLB4yNwFuYNzoXuCDkqxCUonRCTddAokeE3l3wOK3DTS8c-vemn0pSbHExZuHytPS1CaY4XIq1mDzC_8yElxf_RdOI_9pD2RW8S29FvGVaK2tQPTXnTVLH9A6fc3cBF08NY3d/s320/GFM_7530.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Lane's Landing and SGA provided 75 species. Besides the usual suspects these included Trumpeter Swan, American Bittern, Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos, Common Gallinule, Yellow-throated Vireo, Brown Creeper, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Prothonotary, Blue-winged, Black-and-White, Cerulean and Wilson's Warblers, Acadian Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Towhee and Scarlet Tanager.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMq94VYtCCaIHU66_HXif_aP1UBOHGf-hS8yCzkBH9iKQE4BFcRVqX07Cg3Z9mt7Kwwqz6Yog2Pt20BRGvJYztexHUFp4xOAyuPMyt6tdbuoLuzEipgUdoDoZb4Xcw4e3_z-v5XpRnnOjrGgOAMb0nAmPFMrRnk5MVTZdvzxPSZbSgBIqEB89KeNJ/s4727/GFM_7534.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3405" data-original-width="4727" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMq94VYtCCaIHU66_HXif_aP1UBOHGf-hS8yCzkBH9iKQE4BFcRVqX07Cg3Z9mt7Kwwqz6Yog2Pt20BRGvJYztexHUFp4xOAyuPMyt6tdbuoLuzEipgUdoDoZb4Xcw4e3_z-v5XpRnnOjrGgOAMb0nAmPFMrRnk5MVTZdvzxPSZbSgBIqEB89KeNJ/s320/GFM_7534.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Wastewater properties gave us 42 more including Red-tailed Hawk, Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, Wilson's Phalarope, American Pipit, Baird's and White-rumped Sandpipers, Sanderling, Orchard Oriole, Lesser and Greater Scaup, Redhead, Canvasback, American Coot and Kestrel, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Vesper, Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows, Bald Eagle and Common Raven.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2GIZ3bf89CP6W2knOg3jC12ed-bmpyRlMMlEQ5ut07ZDmkvLCVldrjeCgGxKQQZl2bohhDqs6rHDweOrH3t5_8PJn6qa8taduhZLY6wyxvArxZ50G2jimUHK6klDkpA5RBAu2IDhRC4vFN-1u08muA2pA4dqpAGBSA_h3n61KterAs6HcL_AGrgs/s6880/GFM_7540.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4584" data-original-width="6880" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2GIZ3bf89CP6W2knOg3jC12ed-bmpyRlMMlEQ5ut07ZDmkvLCVldrjeCgGxKQQZl2bohhDqs6rHDweOrH3t5_8PJn6qa8taduhZLY6wyxvArxZ50G2jimUHK6klDkpA5RBAu2IDhRC4vFN-1u08muA2pA4dqpAGBSA_h3n61KterAs6HcL_AGrgs/s320/GFM_7540.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After supper we added Mute Swan and Blackpoll Warbler at the nature preserve, Winter Wren on the Lost Lake Trail, and Purple Martin at the channel. We had no great misses today but were disappointed at finding no Bonaparte's Gull or Black-throated Green Warbler along our way.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTRQ2RK5TUVpMWgfB3JLzC71tENlzhM1jR_kCPki_PeJBBXf9Hz4S5Buudn3jhn04LS-zjfb1jgz96AaEcBf-cs7LvGthIq7Nhc2CWnZZgvi90p7tSYqjJDMZ-QHPtZ1zclKZA_HNFP7NNzoV3uMns7J1lhmGb7Hymkxo2WEsP8PP5iWzNswFEI1b/s5830/GFM_7535.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3748" data-original-width="5830" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTRQ2RK5TUVpMWgfB3JLzC71tENlzhM1jR_kCPki_PeJBBXf9Hz4S5Buudn3jhn04LS-zjfb1jgz96AaEcBf-cs7LvGthIq7Nhc2CWnZZgvi90p7tSYqjJDMZ-QHPtZ1zclKZA_HNFP7NNzoV3uMns7J1lhmGb7Hymkxo2WEsP8PP5iWzNswFEI1b/s320/GFM_7535.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The grand total was a very respectable <b>121 species</b> for the day. Thanks to all who participated!</span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-37133888047366868902023-05-02T09:30:00.002-04:002023-05-02T09:36:13.705-04:00May Events<p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">May 18, 2023</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Potluck Picnic Meeting</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our annual membership potluck supper, meeting, and bird walk will be at Snug Harbor, May 18, 2023. See your newsletter for details.<span> </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We've had two M.C.N.C. meetings this season: Sept. 15, 2022 at the Roosevelt Park Community Building and Jan. 26, 2023 at the Norton Shores branch library. Our final meeting will follow this evening's supper and will include an election of officers for 2023-2024. Anyone interested in being next year's president, vice-president, secretary or treasurer should let Beth know sometime before the meeting.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">May 20, 2023</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #161a1e; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Big Day Count</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Diehards will meet at 5:00 a.m. at the outer gate to Lane's Landing just beyond where Maple Island Road crosses Mosquito Creek a mile north of the entrance to the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center (MCRRC). Be careful pulling into and out of this driveway as traffic on Maple Island Road can be fast.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shortly after five we will drive a mile to the inner gate, stopping occasionally to listen for night birds. When it's light enough to see, we will walk the mile north to the Muskegon River and back. Then we'll drive up Maple Island Road less than two miles to the MDNR headquarters for birding along the Maple River.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lunch as usual will be brown-bag on the porch of the headquarters building. During the afternoon we'll bird the MCRRC properties and perhaps Patterson County Park (depending on what species we still need).</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After an optional supper at the North Muskegon McDonald's, we'll bird the nearby Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve before driving west to Snug Harbor at Muskegon State Park and concluding our day along the north wall of the Muskegon Channel.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our "purpose" is to have our group count as many bird species in the county as possible in one day. Anyone is welcome to join our group anytime along the way.</span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-64078858456111452802023-04-27T10:31:00.006-04:002023-04-27T10:32:39.813-04:00Bluebird Nest Box Monitoring<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once again this summer some of our members will help monitor the bluebird boxes on the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center (MCRRC) properties. Monitoring boxes is a great way to learn more about cavity nesting species and to get up close to nature! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Simply sign up for a week when you'll be available and then choose whatever day (10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.ml) during that week that works for you. (You will receive an email reminder prior to your scheduled appointment.). Pick up your monitoring field sheets at the Administration Building prior to monitoring your nest boxes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sign up online <a href="https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b044badaf28a4ff2-take?useFullSite=true#/"><b>by clicking here</b></a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Anita Friend, MCRRC</span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-26440705734750182032023-04-16T10:01:00.005-04:002023-04-16T12:04:25.736-04:00April 15 Field Trip Report<span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Finally! </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">A beautiful day for a field trip!</span><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA9GU2kwnoCDFB9ttUoLLxGnBK3Rs6ssQzQkOYKZRsQdmyHeCK3O9XnYK1eQXTZ6RPhqVzNl4ahj92DIuwasbAgE90iDtBFlcC1xCz0dojaSVCHIGb6aT7kvdlutO9uN0qPuquxU3637JunWb-4cPKfOoqPca2xL-mkPUNMx8LASheH9K1TP4tgpr/s4608/MNC%20Black%20Lake%20Park.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA9GU2kwnoCDFB9ttUoLLxGnBK3Rs6ssQzQkOYKZRsQdmyHeCK3O9XnYK1eQXTZ6RPhqVzNl4ahj92DIuwasbAgE90iDtBFlcC1xCz0dojaSVCHIGb6aT7kvdlutO9uN0qPuquxU3637JunWb-4cPKfOoqPca2xL-mkPUNMx8LASheH9K1TP4tgpr/s320/MNC%20Black%20Lake%20Park.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>photo by Pat Bazany</i></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fourteen of us spent three and a half hours strolling Black Lake Park Saturday morning. It felt like spring, and the birds acted like spring. By the time we left, we'd recorded 52 species!</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Of note were three Eastern Towhees (one of the two males scratching the leaf litter for bugs), an American Robin making mud-trips to its nest, Brown Thrasher, two American Wigeon, Bonaparte's Gull, Horned Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Wild Turkey (two males on the ground displaying their tails, a female perched high in a tree over our heads), both kinglets, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Pine and Yellow-rumped Warblers, and <u>way</u> too many Brown-headed Cowbirds. <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span> Other species included Wood Duck, Gadwall, scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, American Coot, Sandhill Crane, Red-shouldered Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied, Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers, Tree Swallow, Chipping, Field, White-throated, Song (and House) Sparrows, plus most of the usual suspects. Notable by its absence was Gray Catbird of which we saw and heard none!</span></span></span></div>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-48623772491460211432023-04-04T18:58:00.007-04:002023-04-04T22:00:11.734-04:00April Events<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> <b>April 15 Black Lake Park Field Trip</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; text-align: left;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> </span>Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the Black Lake Park parking lot on Wood Road about a mile south of Pontaluna Road. We will walk the entire park slowly looking for resident and migratory birds. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> </span>It's a small park so this trip should end before noon. The public is welcome. Hope to see you there!</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b>April 18 Program</b></span></p><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white;"><p class="MsoNormal elementToProof" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="ContentPasted0" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">How and Why Birds Sing</span></b><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></p></div></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span class="ContentPasted0"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">There is more to bird song than the tones and melodies we find pleasing to our ears and use to identify birds we cannot see. Just as we use spoken language to communicate with each other, birds use vocalizations and songs to communicate. There are two ways to explain bird song. First, we try to learn the physical mechanisms birds use to sing and how they acquire their songs. Laboratory studies showed that the ability of birds to sing and vocalize involves, to different degrees, genes, experience, and practice. Second, we need to try to understand <u class="ContentPasted0">why</u> birds sing.<span class="ContentPasted0"> What do birds gain by singing? </span>Some reasons seem clear; birds sing to defend their territories from rivals and to attract mates. However, what exactly are bird songs communicating to their rivals and potential mates? Are all vocalizing birds communicating “truthful” information? Do birds “lie”? Why? Asking these sorts of questions should give us a greater understanding of what is happening when we hear birds singing but they need not detract from the pleasure we get when we hear the dawn chorus.<o:p class="ContentPasted0"> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span class="ContentPasted0">To learn more about the complexities of bird song, please attend our <span dir="ltr"><span dir="ltr">18 April</span></span> program </span><span class="ContentPasted0">presented by Michael Lombardo.</span></span></p></div></div></blockquote><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Michael P. Lombardo is an Emeritus Professor of Biology at Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI. At GVSU from 1991-2021. He taught classes in Evolution, Human Evolution, Human Sexuality, Ornithology, and Vertebrate Natural History. He earned a B.S. in Zoology from The Ohio State University (1976), M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Zoology (1978) and Ecology (1984) from Rutgers University, was a Junior Fellow in the Michigan Society of Fellows at the University of Michigan (1987-1990), served as Secretary of the Association of Field Ornithologists (2011-2016), and is a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society. </span></span></p><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div class="elementToProof" style="background-color: white;"><p class="MsoNormal elementToProof" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span>His main research interest is the evolution of social behavior and among his over 50 publications in peer-reviewed science journals are papers on bird behavior, the evolution of sexually transmitted diseases in birds, the evolution of reciprocity, and the role of microbes in influencing the evolution of sexual and social behavior of their hosts. Trained as an ornithologist, he more recently turned his attention to topics in human evolution and has published papers on the evolution of sports, human adaptations for fighting, and the evolution of throwing in humans.</span><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></blockquote><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Our programs are in conjunction with the Owashtanog Islands Audubon Society. Social Time: 6:00-6:30, Program: 6:30-8:00, at the Covenant Life Church, 101 Columbus Ave. in Grand Haven.</i></b></span></span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-67759723030764299892023-03-06T09:20:00.015-05:002023-04-04T19:19:36.321-04:00March Events<p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>March 18 Field Trip</b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><br /></span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>Our scheduled field trip to the Upper Macatawa Natural Area was canceled due to the bad weather.</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span dir="ltr">March</span></b><b><span dir="ltr"> 21</span> Program</b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Fostering Backyard Habitats to Attract Birds</b></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Curtis Dykstra</b></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span class="ydp2b623640Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Learn to maximize your yard's maximum potential as bird habitat. Go beyond just the use of bird feeders and look at how you can create an intentional habitat structure in your own yard that will attract birds for their benefit and your viewing pleasure. The three main ingredients that work in concert with each other to achieve this goal will be discussed and you’ll learn what unique birds your yard could attract. Additionally, speaker Curtis Dykstra will describe the motivation behind and implementation of Hemlock Crossing’s bird feeder observation area and what opportunities Ottawa County Parks has for you to learn and enjoy birds even more!</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span class="ydp2b623640Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Curtis graduated in 1999 from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, with a degree in Environmental Studies. Since then, his experience as an educator and naturalist includes being a teacher, State Park Ranger in eastern North Carolina, and Assistant Director of Outdoor Education at Camp Roger in Rockford. Since 2013, Curtis has served as a Parks Naturalist for Ottawa County. He is an avid birder and delights in sharing this passion with others.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span class="ydp2b623640Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>(Our programs are in conjunction with the Owashtanog Islands Audubon Society. Social Time: <span dir="ltr">6:00-6:30</span>, Program: <span dir="ltr">6:30-8:00</span>, at the Covenant Life Church, <span dir="ltr">101 Columbus Ave. in Grand Haven.)</span></span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span dir="ltr"><br /></span></span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span dir="ltr">March</span></b><b><span dir="ltr"> 25</span></b></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Bluebird Box Cleaning at M.C.R.R.C.</b></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Grand Rapids Audubon Club</b></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><span dir="ltr"><br /></span></span></i></p><div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;">Email from Steve Minard (Grand Rapids Audubon):</span></div><div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;">March</span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;"> 2</span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;">5</span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;">,</span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;">2023,</span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;">Saturday,</span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;">9:00</span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;">AM,</span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;">Leaders: Steve Minard and Ruth Fridsma</span></div><div class="s4" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13.2px;"><br /></span></div><p class="s7" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;">Bluebird</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;">Box</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;">Cleaning</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;">At</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;">The</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;">Muskegon</span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;">Wastewater (Resource Recovery Centerj</span></p><p class="s7" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.2px;"><br /></span></p><p class="s7" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">One</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">way</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">we</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">can</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">help</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">our</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">local</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">nesting</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">birds</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">is</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">by</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">providing</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">places</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">for</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">them</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">nest.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Jim Ponshair</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> started several </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">bluebird</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">box</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">trails</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">at</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Muskegon</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Wastewater.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> This Has helped the Wastewater win environmental awards. T</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">his</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> does </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">add</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">up</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">a</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">large</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">number</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">of</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">boxes</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> clean every </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">year</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">and</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">we</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">need</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">a</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">good</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">size</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">group</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> do the job. </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">The</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">annual</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">bluebird</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">box</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">cleaning</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">is</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> a great </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">way</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">learn</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">your</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">way</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">around</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Muskegon</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Wastewater.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">It</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">’</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">s</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">also</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">a</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">good</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">way</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> learn about</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">bluebird</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">boxes,</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">how</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">clean</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">them,</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">and</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">see</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">how</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">type</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">of</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">box</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">and</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">habitat</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">affects</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> who uses</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">box.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Since</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">we</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">’</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">re</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">at</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Wastewater,</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">we</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">usually</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">see</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">some</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">good</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">birds</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">while</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">we</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">work.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">You</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">may</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">even</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">get</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">meet</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">mice</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">or</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Flying</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Squirrels</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">up</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">close</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">and</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">personal.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">And</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">you</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">get</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">help</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"></span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">bluebirds,</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">swallows,</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">chickadees,</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">wrens</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">and</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">other</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">birds</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">that</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">use</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">boxes.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> This year you can meet the group, or head directly to clean your group of boxes. Send Steve an email at </span><a href="mailto:sdminard@gmail.com"><span class="s9" style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">sdminard@gmail.com</span></a><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> to get a group of boxes to clean. If you want, we will m</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">eet</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">at</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> the </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Maple Island</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Road</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">entrance</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Muskegon</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Wastewater</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">System at 9:00 am.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> From th</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">ere,</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> we will split </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">up</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">clean</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">out</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">boxes</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">in</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">different</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">areas.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> Lunch is one your own this year. </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Following</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">lunch you can meet at 1:00 pm for some birding at the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">nearby</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Muskegon</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">State</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Game</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Area Headquarters </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">off Maple Island Rd </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">look</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">for</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">early</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">migrants.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">This</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">can</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">be</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">an</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">all</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">day</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">trip,</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">or</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> you can</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">head</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">out</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">before</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">or</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">after</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">lunch.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">For</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">all</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">carpenters</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">and</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> box </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">builders</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">out</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">there, we always need</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">more</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">bluebird</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">boxes.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> Please bring any boxes you have available.</span></p><p class="s7" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s10" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px; text-decoration: underline;">Essentials:</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Meet</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">at</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Maple</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Island</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Road</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">entrance</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">to</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Muskegon</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Wastewater</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">System</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">at 9:00 </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">am.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">This</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">is</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">a</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">bit</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">north</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">of</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">White</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Road.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Come</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">dressed</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">for</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">weather.</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">Bring</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">your</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> spotting scope </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">if</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">you</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">have</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">one</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">and</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">bring</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">some</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">tools</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">(screwdrivers,</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">pliers,</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> scrapper, </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">hammer</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">and</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">nails)</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"></span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">and</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">gloves</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">for</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">cleaning</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">out</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">the</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">bluebird</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> </span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;">houses. Or head directly to your boxes.</span></p><p class="s7" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="s10" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px; text-decoration: underline;">Safety Hazards:</span><span class="s8" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13.2px;"> Driving in a caravan can be hazardous. Get directions from the leader for travel to the next stop. Please exercise caution on the roads at all times, and watch the car ahead of you when driving in a caravan. Please have a passenger handle all radio or phone communications while in a car.</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #161a1e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><br /></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-3153829177091858202023-02-19T07:35:00.002-05:002023-02-19T07:36:59.419-05:00February 18 Field Trip Report<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Except for the wind, it was a beautiful cold Saturday morning. But the wind was strong and straight off the Big Lake, always trying to tip over the six of us as we looked for birds along the Grand Haven Channel and at the state park shoreline.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> Pigeon Creek channel was more protected but fairly birdless. So the best bird-watching, not </span>surprisingly, was through the window at the feeding stations of the nature center at Hemlock Crossing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span> I did add a Year Bird at each of the three locations: #35 Common Merganser at Grand Haven, #36 Bufflehead at Pigeon Creek, and #37 White-throated Sparrow (two surprisingly early individuals, one bright, one drab) at Hemlock Crossing.</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span> That location also provided </span>Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White- and Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Northern </span>Cardinal (basically all the common feeder species except House Finch and Hairy Woodpecker).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Ric</span></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-76592208616024493652023-02-02T18:24:00.003-05:002023-02-04T16:27:13.305-05:00February Events<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> February 18 Field Trip</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> The trip will begin at 8:00 a.m. in the Chinook Pier parking lot at the Grand River Channel (near the steam locomotive) in downtown Grand Haven. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>From there we will drive a mile west to the Lake Michigan shoreline at Grand Haven State Park to look for whatever waterbirds might be on the big lake.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Next we will drive several miles south to the boat launch parking lot north of Pigeon Creek (south of the Consumers Power Campbell Plant). Weather permitting, we will look for birds from the boardwalk east of Lakeshore Ave. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Finally we will drive east on Croswell St. and south on West Olive Road to the Hemlock Crossing Nature Center. We'll watch birds at the feeder stations through the huge viewing window. They'll have hot cider and hot chocolate at the desk for fifty cents. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dress warmly for the outdoor locations. This trip will end around noon. The public is welcome.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i> In case any future field trips are canceled due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the cancelation will be posted here no later than 7:00 a.m. on the day of the scheduled trip.</i></span></p><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>February 21 Program</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Long-time Muskegon County Nature Club member Brian Johnson will provide a photographic overview of local birds based on his birding and banding projects in Muskegon County. Brian will present as many species as possible with quick commentary on status, abundance, habitat preference, phenology, and age and sex differentiation. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brian has banded Saw-whet Owls in northern Muskegon County for several years and will share his experiences with this elusive and beautiful bird. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our programs are in conjunction with the Owashtanog Islands Audubon Society. Social Time: 6:00-6:30, Program: 6:30-8:00, at the Covenant Life Church, 101 Columbus Ave. in Grand Haven.</span></i></p></div>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430239703660472392.post-75761770362020069952023-01-22T09:37:00.004-05:002023-01-22T09:43:53.748-05:00January 21 Field Trip Report<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUgNcfaopA_D060sCu_AKktZcZnfqI1NmvSLktkovtQQ2ryTDlAGgXZZv2hRcwQw7ziSoFn8vP8o9_xpeE0zMPpO-a3aYPgcCKxzvqIjzRcENTVxqBZnayCKMYdwspvP2WIEDWGO2Ut1z0649RWCjMrqWghI97jqcjQuN4Hku4-UESwzhGnukZiPB/s4032/IMG_2829.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUgNcfaopA_D060sCu_AKktZcZnfqI1NmvSLktkovtQQ2ryTDlAGgXZZv2hRcwQw7ziSoFn8vP8o9_xpeE0zMPpO-a3aYPgcCKxzvqIjzRcENTVxqBZnayCKMYdwspvP2WIEDWGO2Ut1z0649RWCjMrqWghI97jqcjQuN4Hku4-UESwzhGnukZiPB/s320/IMG_2829.heic" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Nine of us in eight vehicles drove 18 miles around the Muskegon County Resource Recovery Center properties this morning. Thanks to Glen Miller for snapping the photo above.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Things didn't seem particularly birdy, but we still found 31 species in our 3 1/2 hours. Of note were two Rough-legged Hawks (a dark morph north of the East Lagoon and a light morph south of Apple Ave.), Snow Buntings on the Center Dike, a Sandhill Crane south of White Rd., and a pair of Hooded Mergansers in the Clay Pond.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Best birds of the day were 17 Cackling Geese on the far side of the Clay Pond. Fortunately two people noticed their short necks, small bills, and size (just a bit larger than a nearby Mallard) or we would have overlooked them as Canadas. The latter were the most numerous species today with multi-hundreds here and there on the properties. There were also hundreds of gulls at the landfill.</div></span><p></p>M.C.N.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08189113679779558155noreply@blogger.com