Here Comes The Sun … and the Northern Cardinal

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Here Comes The Sun

Here Comes The Sun, photo by Beth Crawford 65.

When I saw this I thought that it might be a nice time to tip my hat to the Arizona Cardinals for their part in an exciting Super Bowl XLIII, show a little gratitude for a break in the bitter cold and take a look at a common winter bird in Michigan.

All About Birds has some facts about the Northern Cardinal:

Population density and range of the Northern Cardinal has increased over the last 200 years, largely as a response to habitat changes made by people. However, it is listed as a species of special concern in California and may disappear there because of habitat loss.

The female Northern Cardinal sings, often from the nest. The song may give the male information about when to bring food to the nest. A mated pair shares song phrases, but the female may sing a longer and slightly more complex song than the male.

The male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding territory from other males. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder. (I know I do that all the time too)

Since the male gets all the press and the helmet and ball-cap royalties, it’s probably good that I’m featuring the female. You can see more photos of cardinals male, female and St. Louis from the Absolute Michigan group on Flickr and Beth has a bunch of cardinal photos as well (slideshow)! You can also purchase some of her photos at her Etsy store.

More info at Wikipedia’s Cardinal entry, Cardinalis cardinalis (northern cardinal) and from the Animal Diversity Web at UM and at Birding in Michigan where they share a poem:

A day and then a week passed by:
The redbird hanging from the sill
Sang not: and all were wondering why
It was so still-
When one bright morning, loud and clear,
Its whistle smote my drowsy ear,
Ten times repeated, til the sound
Filled every echoing niche around;
And all things earliest loved by me,
The bird, the brook, the flower, the tree,
Came back again, as thus I heard
The cardinal bird.

-William Davis Gallagher

St. Johns, Michigan Bicycle Band

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

St. Johns, Michigan Bicycle Band

St. Johns, Michigan Bicycle Band, photo by Seeking Michigan.

I thought I’d follow up yesterday’s rant with something from the Archives of Michigan. A number of people have assured me that the Archives and Michigan’s broader arts & cultural support will remain following whatever reorganization happens. I hope so.

This photo made me think about how much more attention early photographers had to pay to lighting and composition. I can’t imagine getting this shot with the cameras they had in 1890. It was the December 2005 Image of the Month and you can read a lot more (and see another picture) there:

According to the Clinton County Republican-News Centennial Issue (published in 1956), the St. Johns Bicycle Band existed from 1886 to 1891 and usually consisted of about twenty pieces. The Republican-News Centennial Issue includes this photo of band members (pg. 6) and identified the drum player above as George Woodruff.

More at seekingmichigan.org and in the Seeking Michigan Fickriver.

What was … and what might have been

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Polaris Ring by David Barr

Michigan Library II: Polaris Ring by David Barr, photo by farlane.

Since I’m writing a rant today, I figured I’d use my own photo.

The Freep reports (also Detroit News) that Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is expected to announce the disbanding of the Michigan Department of History, Arts & Libraries (HAL) in her State of the State Address tonight at 7 PM.

There’s no word as to how that would impact the libraries, arts organizations and museums that HAL works with, but one can only imagine that it won’t be good. With universities and schools, the State Fair and other state programs facing deep cuts, you can bet that there will be a lot of hand wringing by the Governor and legislators on both sides of the aisle in the days and months to come.

I just want to say that this crisis has been looming for years and as a person with the job of watching Michigan, I’ve watched our elected officials on all sides worry about their political capital, re-election, counting coup on each other and pretty much doing everything but making the hard choices they needed to make. Now, they will face a mountain of unhappy choices and wonder theatrically what they could have done.

My answer? The jobs we elected them to do…

Michigan public television stations will broadcast the address and the Freep will be streaming the State of the State online and I’ll be somehow or other live blogging it at Absolute Michigan.

The sculpture in front of the Library of Michigan is called Polaris Ring by David Barr. Here is the info about it from their “Visions of Michigan” page.

From Easter Island to Africa, from Greenland to New Guinea — David Barr’s work is displayed worldwide. Specializing in project that employ geographic, geometric and geological elements, his Polaris Ring outside the Center’s main entrance often reminds visitors of a modern-day Stonehenge.

Fifty steel columns encircle a five ton kona dolomite boulder. Smaller stones spinout in a spiral pattern on either side.

”The combination of stone and steel represents the interface of prehistoric imagery with man’s technological imagery and strengths,“ Barr notes. The result is a mystical progression of space and volume that draws people toward the facility.

Based on a universal symbol — Polaris, the North Star — viewers are able to stand behind the sculpture’s center stone and look between the two tallest columns to see the star.

”Instead of having to look at the overall sculpture from the outside, I want people to be able to experience if from inside as well,“ he says.

I hope you get a chance to experience this sculpture and this very cool museum.

Trail

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Trail by Andrea Koch

Trail, photo by Anapko.

This photo is part of Anapko’s Ice set (slideshow). Be sure to check it out bigger!

At play in the ice fields of Lake Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

ice field 04

ice field 04, photo by northern_latitudes.

Last Saturday, we checked out the Great Lakes ice from far above, so I figured we could zoom in for a shot of the scene on the beach. It was really hard to pick one from the 16 that Tim has, but guess that’s what slideshows are for. You can also see them in his Harbor Springs set (slideshow).

The scene reminds me a lot of the ice jam that happens on the shore of Lake St. Clair every spring – available on Michigan in Pictures here, here and here.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

H in the D

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

H

H, photo by JoeJoeSmoe.

Looking up in downtown Detroit with the Guardian Building on the left, One Detroit Center in the middle One Woodward Ave on the right and the People Mover cutting through. In case you’re wondering, this is not an HDR.

Check it out larger right here.

Powerline Trails

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

DSC_9909-1

DSC_9909-1, photo by Skywalker_ranch [Dennis].

Powerline trails, running south out of Gaylord
Two tracks, and the sky looks fine
Heavy snow so deep that you better not fall,
and we can ski to the cabin on the Crawford County line.
~Mustard’s Retreat, Powerline Trails

This photo is part of a neat set of black & white pics (slideshow) that Dennis took yesterday.

The photo reminded me of the song Powerline Trails by Michigan folk duo Mustard’s Retreat. I’m guessing that if you enjoy this web site, you’ll also enjoy their music.

Through the miracles of the internet, you can listen to Powerline Trails, what one reviewer calls possibly the only sexy song about cross-country skiing in existence.

More winter backgrounds on the Michigan Winter Wallpaper page

Detroit’s Belle Isle Ice Blob

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

The Ice Blob

The Ice Blob, photo by Cherie S..

Cherie says this has been shot to death but how can anyone not want to shoot this thing?

You can get this bigger right here and in her Michigan can be a Winter Wonderland set (slideshow). There’s a whole lot more pictures in this thread discussing the ice formation @ Belle Isle in Exposure.Detroit and also the Belle Isle ice show on Flickr.

I wasn’t able to come up with a definitive answer as to the hows and whys and wherefors of this amazing creation, but Chris Rabior at DetroitCity.com says that he’s done some digging and it it appears that this has been an annual attraction since at least the 60s and that our unusually cold winter has allowed for a much more impressive ice buildup than recent years.

More winter backgrounds on the Michigan Winter Wallpaper page

Blizzard on Lake Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

BLIZZARD ON LAKE MICHIGAN

BLIZZARD ON LAKE MICHIGAN, photo by Lara Salonen.

Yesterday when I was looking for photos from the Great Blizzard of 1978, I came across Lara’s photo. You can see it larger here and in her Michigan’s UP set (slideshow).

It’s a picture of the Menominee North Pier Lighthouse, and – as you can see at that link – it’s the second photo of that light of Lara’s I’ve blogged.

It never ceases to amaze me how changeable the Great Lakes are!

Happy Birthday, Michigan!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

The Capitol of Michigan

The Capitol of Michigan, photo by Ravi Vora.

Today (January 26, 2009) is Michigan’s 172nd birthday. I have to say she doesn’t look a day over 150 – must be all that fresh water!

The Michigan Historical Museum explains the somewhat lengthy process that Michigan took to becoming the 26th State of the Union:

Following the Compromise of 1820 it was the practice to admit a free state and a slave state at the same time. However, when both Arkansas and Michigan were ready for statehood, Michigan was involved in a dispute with Ohio over the Toledo Strip. President Jackson signed a bill on June 15, 1836, that admitted Arkansas but required the people of Michigan to settle the dispute before Michigan would be granted statehood. Michigan would need to consent to a compromise measure drawn up by Congress. The compromise gave the Toledo Strip to Ohio and the western two-third (2/3) of the present Upper Peninsula to Michigan.

A convention to consider the compromise took place in Ann Arbor on September 26, 1836, after delegates were elected. They deliberated for four days; then they rejected the compromise. On December 14 a second “Convention of Assent” was assembled, which—two days later—passed a resolution that accepted the compromise. After this news reached Washington, a bill was introduced to admit Michigan to the Union. Congress passed the bill, and President Jackson signed it on January 26, 1837.

Toledo for the Western U.P.? No offense to Toledo, but I think we made out all right in that one. More about Michigan’s path to statehood from Wikipedia.

Ravi says to check this out larger and cooler.