Auto trail coming to Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, photo by Wigwam Jones.

The Great Lakes Echo has a feature by Emma Ogutu about a 7.5-mile auto trail through Saginaw County’s Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge that opens in May (assuming the eagles cooperate).

“Everything will depend on a pair of eagles which built a nest just 50 feet off the road. It all depends if they start nesting early or late– it’s critical that we do not disturb them,” DeVries said (Ed DeVries, assistant manager of the refuge).

The gravel trail, which was completed in November, will be the second of its kind in the state, after one in the Upper Peninsula’s Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

Along the trail are two new observation decks with spotting scopes to assist visitors in viewing more birds, DeVries said. The refuge has also constructed a parking area to accommodate the anticipated larger amount of traffic and a new fishing and canoe access site along the Spaulding Drain.

“Previously we had only one day in September where tourists were allowed to drive in the refuge,” DeVries said. “With the new trail, it’s going to be possible for more people to view a wider variety of birds and other wildlife throughout spring and summer seasons.”

The Shiawassee refuge was established in 1953 to protect and increase the breeding of migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge includes marsh areas, swamps, bogs, grasslands and forests and has one of largest and most productive wetland ecosystems in the state, according to the service.

Learn more about the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.

Check Wigwam Jones’ photo out background big and in his Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge slideshow.

Heading into the storm: Michigan braces for blizzard

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Providence Road by heinrick05

providence road, photo by heinrick05.

Much of the Mitten is bracing for a major winter storm that is predicted to drop well over a foot of snow from Grand Rapids to Detroit tonight and tomorrow. Meteorologist Bill Steffen has some great stuff on the storm and on Michigan weather in general. He’s named the storm the Groundhog Day Dump and writes that Punxsutawney Phil:

…has looked at the models and he’s definitely forecasting six more weeks of winter, maybe seven…and that this coming summer will be a couple degrees cooler than last summer.

The heaviest snow Tuesday night into early Weds. with snowfall rates of over an inch an hour. The heaviest snow looks to be across the southern half of Lower Michigan, with lighter amount as you go north toward Traverse City. The model data is in pretty good agreement. The models are in the 10-16″ range, a couple up to 18″, but I didn’t go quite that high. Winds will blow he snow into 3-4 foot drifts. All the models think this is going to be a very significant snowstorm and if they are right, some places will be approaching or exceeding all-time February record 12 or 24-hour snowfalls. And…if the models are right, there won’t be many schools open Weds. from Kent Co. to the south at least and maybe all the way to Cadillac. The GFS gives us a steady 25 mph wind with gusts to 35 (850 mb wind to 78 mph!). That’s at least “near blizzard” conditions for Tuesday night and Weds. AM.

Keep in mind that’s snowFALL not snow cover. The numbers have been pretty consistent. CAUTION: Numbers from these models are often too high and sometimes WAY too high. The heaviest snow ever in G.R. in a single day was 16.1″ during the blizzard of ’78. The 24-hour snowfall record for G.R. in any February is 11.4″ ON 2/3/2007. With records going back to the late 1800s, Grand Rapids has NEVER had a foot of snow in 24-hours during the month of February. This storm will be moving, not backing up and stopping like the blizzard of ’78. So, feel free to get excited, but don’t go overboard.

So panic … but keep it in perspective. More blizzards on Michigan in Pictures and also see Great Blizzard of 1978 on Absolute Michigan.

Check this photo out bigger and in Heinrick’s Michigan slideshow.

Eben Ice Caves: Fortress of Solitude, Michigan Branch

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Ice Caves_3986

Ice Caves_3986, photo by Mike Hainstock.

Mike took a trip to the Eben Ice Caves (click that link for the what & where) with the Superiorland Photography Club. He took the opportunity to try out his Vivitar 285 flashes, wireless triggers and some colored gels, and fellow Absolute Michigan group member Kim Nixon was there as well.

See this bigger in Mike’s Eben Ice Caves slideshow and also check out the most interesting Eben Ice Cave shots on Flickr!

Lake Michigan (and Michigan) on Ice

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Lake Michigan on Ice

Lake Michigan on Ice, photo by Happyhiker4.

Mark writes that there was a somewhat rare occurrence on the Northwestern shore of Michigan’s lower peninsula – the sun actually came out!

Check it out bigger in his slideshow and have a wonderful winter weekend!

PS: Speaking of ice, there’s the Zehnders Snowfest 2011 this weekend in Frankenmuth. It’s celebrating its 20th anniversary as one of the nation’s top snow sculpting events.

PPS: Speaking of ice sculpting, apparently the Virgin Mary has made an appearance in Michigan, on ice.

PPPS: Much more Michigan ice on Michigan in Pictures!

Will the Road To Oz wind through Michigan?

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

The answer is YES!

The Road To Oz

The Road To Oz, photo by DetroitDerek Photography.

In Road to ‘Oz’ may lead Johnny Depp to Michigan, the Freep reports that the Michigan Film Incentive may be about to land a whopper!

Michigan’s biggest Hollywood movie project yet — a $105-million production at a huge new studio in Pontiac — has won approval for a $40-million tax credit that alone comprises more than 60% of all credits for 26 projects approved in the last six months of 2010.

Many signs hint that the movie is “Oz: The Great and Powerful,” a Disney prequel to the classic “Wizard of Oz” with Michigan native Sam Raimi directing and Johnny Depp negotiating for the lead role.

The Disney film would be the first major project for the Raleigh Studios in Pontiac, an $80-million reconstruction of a former General Motors plant. Once completed, the studio is set to have nine sound stages with a total of more than 175,000 square feet and about twice as much office and other space, according to the Raleigh Studios Web site.

Derek’s wife Kerry took this shot – see it bigger and more in his My Faves slideshow.

Make it a Michigan Valentine’s Day!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Onward & Upward (Series)

Onward & Upward (Series), photo by LadyDragonflyCC – Frozen Series Loaded.

Valentine’s Day is not far off, so we thought it would be a good idea to start folks thinking about how to Make it a Michigan Valentine’s Day! That link goes to our Facebook, but if that’s not your thing, you can comment below. Get some great ideas for gifts & getaways in Celebrate Valentine’s Day the Michigan Way on Absolute Michigan.

With this photo I was also hoping to share the thought that Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be extravagant or involved … simple and from the heart works really well a lot of the time.

See it background big and see more in LadyDragonflyCC’s Frozen Possibilities slideshow.

Happy Birthday Michigan!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Fireworks over the Capitol

Fireworks over the Capitol, photo by City Saunter.

January 26, 2011 is Michigan’s 174th Birthday. You can learn about Michigan’s rough & rocky road to Statehood on Absolute Michigan.

Check this out bigger in Ariniko’s Lansing slideshow and here’s hoping you find something about Michigan to celebrate today!!

PS: Also check out her City Saunter project to walk every street in Lansing!

Greater Buffalo or “When I grow up I want to be an aircraft carrier”

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Greater Buffalo

Greater Buffalo, photo by joeldinda.

Joel’s Borucki’s Lakers set features photos some great old photos along with history of the vessels. He uploaded one the other day of the steamer Greater Buffalo heading toward Lake Erie on the Detroit River that was taken in August 4, 1939. On another photo of the Greater Buffalo he writes that this photo is easily the most interesting ship in the Borucki picture collection and says:

Greater Buffalo, shown here passing under the Ambassador Bridge, was launched at Lorain on October 27, 1923, for the Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Company, and made her first trip on May 13, 1925. She could carry 300 crew members and 1,200 passengers between Buffalo and Detroit on an overnight basis. Her sister ship Greater Detroit alternated on the run with her. These two Frank Kirby-designed ships were the last, largest, and (perhaps) fastest sidewheel passenger ships built on the lakes; when they were launched their construction costs were reported as $3.5 million apiece.

Greater Buffalo was requisitioned by the Navy in 1942, converted to an aircraft carrier and renamed USS Sable; she and USS Wolverine (the former Seeandbee–another Kirby design, and the other “fastest” claimant) worked as training ships out of Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago. She was retired after the war and broken up in 1948.

There’s a couple more photos of the Greater Buffalo/U.S.S. Sable in the UD Mercy Marine Historical Collection.

Check it out big as a battleship and in Joel’s Borucki’s Lakers slideshow.

Project Monday: Detroit Urbex Film & 100 Largest American Cities

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

The Best I Ever Had

The Best I Ever Had, photo by Thomas Hawk.

sl33stak aka Jamie MacDonald is one of the photographers of the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr. About his Motor City Explorers. An Urbex Love Story at Kickstarter he writes:

I am trying to get a project off the ground at Kickstarter and need YOUR help. How? I need a few Detroit urbex’rs willing to be the subject of the documentary, and I need exposure! In order to do this I need to get enough funding to cover my expenses in creating this short film.

If you are interested and can pledge a few dollars that would be great. If not, can you spread the word? Let as many people know as possible? If you are interested in participating as either a subject, or a guide, or just want to come along for the ride then Flickr mail me!! I am shooting for June to film this.

Speaking of projects, one of Flickr’s most prolific photographers is Thomas Hawk. One of his projects is to document the 100 Largest American Cities. This photo appears in his massive #11, Detroit, MI set (slideshow) and you could (and should) check it out background bigalicious.

New Year’s Resolution Case Study #77: The Tufted Titmouse

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Im not Fat, Im Fluffy!

Im not Fat, Im Fluffy!, photo by Spring Noel.

All About Birds says that the Tufted Titmouse is common in eastern deciduous forests and a frequent visitor to feeders. They eat mostly insects in the summer but aren’t above seeds, nuts, and berries and (in the case of this fellow) cheesecake and jelly donuts. Fun facts:

     

  • Experiments with Tufted Titmice indicate they always choose the largest seeds they can when foraging. (see above)
  • Tufted Titmice hoard food in fall and winter, a behavior they share with many of their relatives, including the chickadees and tits. Titmice take advantage of a bird feeder’s bounty by storing many of the seeds they get. Usually, the storage sites are within 130 feet of the feeder. The birds take only one seed per trip and usually shell the seeds before hiding them.
  • Tufted Titmice nest in tree holes (and nest boxes), but they can’t excavate their own nest cavities. Instead, they use natural holes and cavities left by woodpeckers.
  • Tufted Titmice often line the inner cup of their nest with hair, sometimes plucked directly from living animals. The list of hair types identified from old nests includes raccoons, opossums, mice, woodchucks, squirrels, rabbits, livestock, pets, and even humans.
  • The oldest known wild Tufted Titmouse lived to be 13 years 3 months old.

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Check out Birding in Michigan’s Ode to the Tufted Titmouse and see more birds on Michigan in Pictures.

See this bigger in Spring’s Birds slideshow.