I had a whole post almost ready to go about the massive 17″ rise in water level of Lake Michigan/Huron due to this round of storms & runoff, but after a week of weather induced brutality, I think we could all use this beautiful picture of an Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly that Diane took last summer in the U.P.
See more in her Butterflies gallery on Flickr & have a safe weekend everyone!
Wood duck in the Autumn by Bill VanderMolen
Michigan Public shares that Governor Whitmer signed legislation last week naming the Wood Duck Michigan’s state duck. The legislation was sponsored by Representative Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) & passed both the Michigan House and Senate by wide, bipartisan margins.
The Wood Duck joins a whole bunch of Michigan’s state symbols that are detailed on Michigan in Pictures!
You can see a lot more pics of Wood ducks that Bill has taken over the years. Follow him on Flickr, Facebook, or Instagram for his latest!
Untitled by Lee Rohr Photography
The University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web entry for American beaver (Castor canadensis) says in part:
Beavers are primarily aquatic animals, and the largest rodents in North America. They have a waterproof, rich, glossy, reddish brown or blackish brown coat. The underhairs are much finer than the outer, protective, guard-hairs. The ears are short, round, and dark brown in coloration. A beaver’s hind legs are longer than its front legs, thus making the rear end to be higher than the front end while walking.
Beaver skulls and teeth are disproportionately large. This is crucial for cutting through hard woods like maple and oak. Most noteably, the upper incisors, bright orange in color, are at least 5 mm wide and 20-25 mm long. These teeth grow throughout the animal’s lifetime and are a necessity to survival, just as the animal’s closable nostrils, closable ears, and transparent eye membranes are for aquatic existence.
Beavers live in lodges, of which there are three types: those built on islands, those built on the banks of ponds, and those built on the shores of lakes. The island lodge consists of a central chamber, with its floor slightly above the water level, and with two entrances. One entrance opens up into the center of the hut floor, while the other is a more abrupt descent into the water.
Lee shared all these photos this month in the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr. See more amazing pics in their Wild Life gallery and for sure follow them on Flickr for the latest!
More Michigan animals on Michigan in Pictures!
Bald Eagle Cam by Spring Lake Township
Spring Lake Township’s Eagle Camera is officially up and running on YouTube, offering you a chance to watch a pair of local eagles in real time as they nest, soar, and raise their young! One of the eagles was sitting on the branch looking the other way right before I shared this so be sure to tune in!
If you’d like to tune in on the discussion & see some dynamite closeups by Suzi Hackney Mccabe, head over to Visit Grand Haven.
Let’s get Backpacking by Lee Eckstrom
The post about summer jobs available through the Michigan DNR was really popular so here’s a related opportunity via Leelanau.com …
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is currently seeking summer interns interested in gaining hands-on experience in areas including wildlife and plant communities, history and cultural resources & outdoor recreation and stewardship while exploring one of the most beautiful places in the country.
Head over to the Lakeshore’s website for available internship opportunities and all the details.
Lee took this while backpacking with his Boy Scout Troop on North Manitou Island way back in 2008. You can see more from the island & Leelanau County in his Manitou Island Backpacking gallery on Flickr.
Thirteen line ground squirrel by Bill Dolak
Scientific American shares that every calendar year has at least one month with a Friday the 13th, but no year has more than three. If you’re the superstitious type, buckle up because 2026 has three: February, March and November!
Bill took this photo way back on May 14 of 2014 which was a Wednesday. You can see more in Bill’s massive Kalamazoo, Michigan gallery on Flickr & follow Bill’s Pictures on Facebook for his latest!
PS: You can learn more about the 13 lined ground squirrel on Michigan in Pictures!
Woody Getting Ready by Howell Nature Center
While most of the nation turns its eye towards Punxsutawney Phil, true Michiganders know there’s only one source for your winter woodchuck weathercast: Howell Nature Center’s own Woody the Woodchuck. Woody has been a fixture at the nature center since (at least) 2017 when I shared the photo from John Heinz Jr of lil Woody figuring out if something was or wasn’t food.
If you’re in the neighborhood, their free Groundhog Day Celebration is already underway, but you can also tune into their Facebook livestream that starts at 8:20 am!
UPDATE: They had a little trouble with the livestream but ultimately got it going. Sadly, Woody is in agreement with Phil that we have 6 more weeks of winter on the way!
Here are a couple more pics of Woody cause I love her, especially the little baby pic by John! More Groundhog Day, woodchuck & whistle-pig fun on Michigan in Pictures!
Bohemian Waxwing by Sheen Watkins Photography
Sheen recently shared her winter encounter with Bohemian waxwings that says (in part):
Often mistaken for their more familiar cousins, the Cedar Waxwings, Bohemian Waxwings differences are quite noticeable. Slightly larger, with muted gray bodies and warm cinnamon accents beneath their wings, tail and on their lores. Their soft, almost melted waxy looking plummage complements winter’s softer light.
…They arrived the way waxwings always do—suddenly and together. A flock descended on a cluster of trees heavy with berries, moving with a quiet, choreographed urgency. Waxwings are communal feeders, virtually overtaking a tree before moving on. They arrive, thrive, and leave—often as quickly as they appeared.
That fleeting time of when then move south combined with their behavior is what makes these encounters feel so rare. Seeing Bohemian Waxwings each winter is never a guarantee. Some years they pass unseen. Other years, luck and timing intersect, and I find myself standing in the cold, bundled and unmoving, watching bird life unfold just feet away.
Read on for much more & for sure follow Sheen Watkins Photography on Facebook & check out her website for more work!
More birds on Michigan in Pictures.
Are you looking for a summer job in the outdoors or do you know someone who is? The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for new members for their 1,300 person team of summer park workers and spend the season in Michigan state parks, boating facilities, and other amazing outdoor spaces. You’ll welcome visitors, help campers, and keep our parks looking their best. With flexible scheduling, these positions are perfect for college students, teachers, retirees or anyone interested in working at Michigan state parks. Apply online today!
While you may not be able to hold three bear cubs like DNR worker in these photos, you might be able to! You’ll also be making the state better for everything that Michigan in Pictures is about, so if you do get a summer internship with the DNR and want to share a photo here every so often with a link to support you, just send me an email and we’ll work it out!
Ross took these shots of baby black bears being held during a bear den visit way back in April of 2014. See more in his awesome Wildlife gallery on Flickr and view & purchase his work at rossellet.com.
Tough to be a bird by Watermark Photography
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service shares that birds of all shapes and sizes have special adaptations for living in cold climates:
SHIVERING Birds have much higher metabolic rates and burn more energy to stay warm than we do. Black-capped chickadees weigh less than half an ounce and can maintain a body temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit – even when the air is 0 degrees! They do this by having great insulation, being very active and remembering where they store their food. A steady supply of food is essential, because chickadees eat more than 35 percent of their weight every day! Compared to many other birds, chickadees have a large hippocampus – the part of the brain that’s responsible for spatial memory. In the fall, this part of their brain gets even bigger.
FLUFFING FEATHERS All cold-climate birds pack on body weight in the late summer and fall in anticipation of the long, cold winter, but feathers also play an important role. All birds stay warm by trapping pockets of air around their bodies. The secret to maintaining these layers of air lies in having clean, dry and flexible feathers. The cleaning process, generally known as preening, depends on the species of bird. While all birds produce a special oil from a gland near the base of their tails, some cold-tolerant birds use this oil to weatherproof their feathers. Other birds like egrets, herons and mourning doves grow special feathers that disintegrate into a powder that they use to waterproof their feathers. Regardless of what weatherproofing method they use, preening helps birds keep a water resistant top layer and a toasty warm inner layer.
ROOSTING & CUDDLING Similar to people who may cuddle for warmth, small birds like tree swallows crowd together in shrubs, vines and evergreen trees to share body heat. They can also slow down their metabolic rate to conserve energy. Cavity nesters like nuthatches, titmice and downy woodpeckers use tree cavities and nest boxes to stay warm. Cavities and boxes provide protection from the weather and help birds hide from predators. Larger birds like American crows and ring-billed gulls are also known to flock together for warmth.
Read on for ways you can help including providing high energy foods like suet, peanuts and black oil sunflower seeds & a heated water bath.
Jeff of Watermark Photography shared this photo of a snow-covered blue jay earlier this week. See more on his Facebook & see more (and purchase photos) in the Birds & Wildlife gallery on his website.
Michigan in Pictures 