This entry is now located at: https://michpics.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/birds-of-michigan-osprey/
Michigan in Pictures has lots more Michigan Bird photos!!
The Ruffed Grouse and how to manage land for it in Michigan
n21_107-9216, photo by sgowtham.
Managing Michigan Wildlife: A Landowners Guide is produced by the Michigan DNR and is designed to tell landowners how they can improve wildlife habitat on their property and ease the consequences of our changed ecosystems. They have this to say about the Ruffed Grouse:
Ruffed grouse live in 34 of the 49 continental states and in all Canadian provinces. Michigan is an important portion of the grouse range. Often thought of as a bird of the deep forest, grouse actually thrive best in young, aspen forests and brushlands. When aspen is not available, oak, lowland brush, and dense stands of trees are optional habitats. Grouse are a welcome sight at bird feeders in neighborhoods where natural habitat is available. Despite human encroachment, grouse are able to survive.
You can manage for grouse in Michigan if you own 20-40 acres of woodlands, and birds have access to other nearby woodlots. When habitat needs are met, ruffed grouse usually spend their entire lives in an area of 40 acres or less. If critical habitat is not available, grouse will disperse up to several miles in search of a new home. Birds are basically solitary and do not collect in coveys like bobwhite quail, although several grouse may feed or roost together. Be aware that populations fluctuate even when habitat needs are met.
Learn much more about this popular game bird from Wikipedia and Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) from All About Birds where you can hear the grouse’s unique thrumming call.
Gowtham took this photo in Pelkie. Check it out bigger and in his Nature slideshow.
Fish Dinner: Blue Heron Style
Fish Dinner, photo by Mario.Q.
Mario took this great shot of a blue heron fishing on the Red Cedar River.
Check it out bigger in his Great Outdoors slideshow.
Much more about blue herons on Michigan in Pictures.
Great Horned Owl
gh4282010-3, photo by Sherri & Dan.
Wikipedia says that the Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus is also known as the tiger owl, or cat owl because of its catlike ears, eyes, shape of head, and appearance when huddled up on its nest. The UM Animal Diversity Web Bubo virginianus page notes that while the owl can see during the day, it has even better vision at night and does its most effective hunting then. They also warn that when the great horned owl has young in its nest, it can be very hostile.
Here’s some fun facts on Great Horned Owls from All About Birds:
- The Great Horned Owl is the only animal that regularly eats skunks.
- The Great Horned Owl will take large prey, even other raptorial birds. It regularly kills and eats other owls, and is an important predator on nestling Ospreys. The reintroduction of Peregrine Falcons has been hampered in some areas by owls killing both adult and nestling falcons.
- The Great Horned Owl is a regular victim of harassment from flocks of American Crows. Crows congregate from long distances to mob owls, and may continue yelling at them for hours. The enmity of the crows is well earned, however, as the owl is probably the most important predator on adult crows and nestlings.
- Even though the female Great Horned Owl is larger than her mate, the male has a deeper voice. Pairs often call together, with audible differences in pitch.
All three of the sites above have cool photos and owl calls and you might also enjoy this video of a great horned owl being harassed by crows in Mt. Clemens.
Check this out bigger in Sherri & Dan’s slideshow!
Lots more Michigan birds from Michigan in Pictures!
The Ring-necked Pheasant in Michigan
98 of 365 – Strutting , photo by reddeviltj.
The Michigan DNR Landowner’s Guide has this to say about Pheasants in Michigan:
After their introduction from China in 1895, it didn’t take long for ring-necked pheasants to become one of Michigan’s most popular wildlife species. Because pheasants thrive in a mix of cropland, hayland, grassland, wetland, and brush, populations exploded in southern Michigan. Much of the farmland in the 1940’s and 1950’s provided outstanding pheasant habitat. At that time, farms had small fields from 10 to 20 acres in size surrounded by brushy fencerows and diverse crop rotations.
However, by the 1960’s farmland began to change and people weren’t seeing as many pheasants. The number of farms fell from 190,000 in 1940 to less than 60,000 by 1990. The amount of land farmed also decreased from more than 18 million acres in 1940 to less than 11 million acres in 1990. Although predation, genetics, and overuse of pesticides are among many explanations for the decline of pheasants, Michigan’s changing agricultural scene and loss of habitat are the main reasons.
Furthermore, farming practices have changed over time. Many practices are no longer wildlife friendly, and are aimed at making more money. This has been detrimental to pheasants. Such practices include early and numerous cuttings of hayfields, overgrazing by livestock, spraying of pesticides and herbicides, double-cropping, and fall plowing and disking of crop residues.
You can get information from the DNR about pheasant hunting in Michigan and also see the All About Birds entry for the Ring-necked Pheasant and Wikipedia’s Pheasant page.
Be sure to check this out bigger!
Lots more Michigan birds from Michigan in Pictures!
earth day should be every day, you know
earth day should be every day, you know { 112 / 365 }, photo by caterpillars
The concept that protecting the only home we have is something we can afford to focus on just once a year seems crazy to me.
Get out and love this world, people – today and every day. It’s one of the best I bet.
This photo is part of Laura’s 2010 ft. 365 project set. See it bigger in the slideshow and check out more of her work at Ell Dy Photography.
In case you missed it, there was a writeup on Earth Day’s roots in Michigan on Thursday that you might enjoy.
Thank you for flying with Great Blue Heron Airlines
photo removed by photogapher :(
Great Blue Heron, photo by leonb47
Feel free to move about the cabin…
Check this out background bigtomic or in Leon’s Birds slideshow. For more on Ardea herodias see Know Your Michigan Birds: Great Blue Heron.
Hooded Merganser Party
Hooded Merganser Party, photo by Adore707.
While these birds are partying*, you probably won’t have to shout at them to keep it down. The All About Birds entry for Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) says that they are silent except in courtship when male gives a deep rolling frog-like sound. Their wings do produce a loud whistling in flight which you can hear under “Sounds” at the link above.
This small fish-eating duck frequents wooded ponds and nests in holes in trees. More fun facts:
The Hooded Merganser is the second-smallest of the six living species of mergansers (only the Smew of Eurasia is smaller) and is the only one restricted to North America.
Although up to 44 Hooded Merganser eggs have been found in one nest, one female probably does not lay more than about 13. Larger clutches result when more than one female lays eggs in a nest.
The Hooded Merganser finds its prey underwater by sight. The merganser can actually change the refractive properties of its eyes to enhance its underwater vision. In addition, the nictitating membrane (third eyelid) is very transparent and probably acts to protect the eye during swimming, just like a pair of goggles.
For more, including photos, see the UM Animal Diversity Web entry for Lophodytes cucullatus (hooded merganser) and Wikipedia’s Hooded Merganser page. If you haven’t had your fill of ducks, there’s always the ever-growing Michigan in Pictures Duckie Gallery.
See this bigger in Eli’s Birds slideshow (view the set).
* Three boys and one girl? I’ve been to parties like that…
Rough-legged Hawk (Dark Morph)
Rough-legged Hawk (Dark Morph), photo by Michigan James.
Wikipedia says that the Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) is called the Rough-legged Hawk in North America:
It is between 50 and 60 centimetres long with a 130 cm wingspan. Its breeding range is northernmost Europe, Asia, and North America, but it migrates further south in winter..
It breeds on cliffs, slopes or in trees, laying about four eggs, but more in good lemming years. It hunts over open land, eating small mammals and carrion. This species, along with the Osprey, is one of the few large birds of prey to hover regularly.
There’s more information and pictures on All About Birds.
James took this photo in Carsonville in Sanilac County. Check it out bigger and in his hawk slideshow.
Fly Away With Me: Cooper’s Hawk
Fly Away With Me, photo by palofmine2.
All About Birds has this to say about the Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii):
Among the bird world’s most skilful flyers, Cooper’s Hawks are common woodland hawks that tear through cluttered tree canopies in high speed pursuit of other birds. You’re most likely to see one prowling above a forest edge or field using just a few stiff wingbeats followed by a glide.
You can hear the call of the Cooper’s Hawk at that link and they say that if one of these birds starts treating your bird feeder like a take out, just remove it for a few days and it will move on. More at Wikipedia’s page on the Cooper’s Hawk and at Accipiter cooperii: Cooper’s hawk from the UM Animal Diversity Web.
See this bigger in Renee’s slideshow.
Lots more Michigan birds from Michigan in Pictures!
Michigan in Pictures 